Evening star., 1894-01-01

The sale Of the Metropolitan road was not
consummated. the reason for the failure. ft
is understood, being in part the inability OF
the intending purchasers to obtain any as
surance that they would be permitted to
make use of the trolley. Meanwhile the
time allowed by law for the change OF
motive power on the Metropolitan railway
was expiring and il became evident that
the experiment made on that road with in
dependent motors would not be successful.
When in July the time which Congress
had granted for substituting some other
motor for horse power came TO an end the
failure of the company TO comply with
the requirements of Congress was brought
TO the attention OF the Department of Jus
tice and proceedings looking 10 the for
feiture of the company's charter, the pen
atty liked by Congress for failure to
make the change We're instituted in the
District courts by the Attorney General.
The pending suit TO forfeit the charter
because Of the failure of the company to
pay special assessment taxes was on the
calendar FOR trial and the district attorney
decided 10 proceed first with the trial OF
that case. The railway company won its
case. decision having been rendered ON q
demurrer against the government.
The forfeiture proceedings, based on the
law requiring a change of motive power.
are still pending. The general impression
that those interested I'm the Metropolitan
railroad were seeking opportunity to
equip their road with trolley caused con-
siderable discussion and marked evidences
OF the popular disapproval of sucn a pro-
ceeding were given. However, early I'm the
extra session Of Congress bill was intro
duced framed by the friends of the railway
company granting that road authority and
time TO equip its lines with the under
ground electric system. The officials OF the
road expressed their intention of so equip
| ing the road II Congress granted the au-
thority and this. taken as an assurance TO
the public that they no longer entertained
an idea of making Of the trolley, put
an end TO the public discussion. The bin
is still pending.
In January some residents Of the SOUTH
east section of the city inaugurated
movement to compel the Anocostia railroad
| on the portion OF Its line running through
the city 10 abandon the use OF one-horse
| cars. The Commissioners finally decided
| to withhold action in the matter and IL 10
still held in abeyance. The Washington
and Arlington Railroad Company made ef-
forts early in the year TO secure the privi-
| lege of laying rails and running its cars
1 over the Aqueduct bridge. A report in
favor OF such a plan was obtained from
the District Commissioners. but the matter
! was delayed in Congress and meanwhiie
| the railroad passed into the hands OF a
/ receiver and suspended operations
gratifying announcement was made early
in the year that the Columbia Street Rail-
/ way Company would equip it's road with
the Buda Pesth electric system.
The Washington, Alexandria and Arling-
ton Railway Company made an oner in
February 10 build a bridge 10 Arlington on
the plan proposed by Col Hains in 1856.
but the legislation necessary TO authorize
such a construction has not yet been se-
cured from Congress. There was opposition
\ to the plan from citizens CT Georgetown
who were opposed 20 the erection of a new
bridge. which might obstruct their hsrbor.
A question that received much consicera-
tion from the District officials as well as
some of the railway companies early in the
year was that of the provision OF efhcient
Tenders for cable and electric cars. The
Commissioners decided that IL would be un-
wise for them TO prescribe a form Of fender
10 be used. as il might render the District
| liable at law for accidents that might result
| from the use Of the fender. so no concerted
action has been taken toward the adoption
of a street car fender. The extension of the
| lexington ana Soldiers Home railway. au-
thorfzed by a law of the last Congress. Was
partly constructed during the year. During
the year Mr.. William ]. Stephenson sue
ceeded Mr. Pearson as president OF the
Metropolitan railway and Mr.. George T.
Dunlop assumed the presidency OF the
Washington and Georgetown railway sys-
TEN.
Among the Churches.
II has been a year OF activity among the
| churches and religious organizations OF the
city. In May the general assembly OF the
Presbyterian Church met in the New York
Avenue Church. and the proceedings of the
body were followed with profound interest
not only by the residents of Washington.
| but by the whole religious world The chief
event of the meeting OF the assembly was
the trial of the appeal in the case of Rev.
DIR. Briggs. The action of the New York
presbytery which had dismissed the
charges against Dr. Briggs. was REVERSED
and the accused professor was deprived OF
his Office as a minister OF the church A
number of changes have been made in the
pulpits of the city. The Rev. Hugh John
ston of Toronto assumed charge ofthe Met
/ ropolitan NJ. Z. Church. Rev. MIR. Come
lius. pastor of the Eastern Presbyterian
Church died and his place has been flled
4 Au~ De-
other Church deprived of its head during
| the year by death is St. Marks Episcopal
Church, Rev. A. Florida Steele. who had
been rector of the parish ever since It's
foundation, having died in the early fall
after brief illness. His place has not yet
been permanently filed Rev. Mr. Holmes.
the assistant pastor of the First Preshyte-
rian Church. left Washington 20 take charge
of a church inBuffalo.a and Geurley Presbyte-
rian Church has a new pastor in the PER
son of Rev. MIR. Nerbrycke. Rev. DR.. ID. p.
Seaton, well-known colored divine. ac-
cepted the pastorate and is now in charge
of the Ebenezer NJ. E. Church.
The movement in the Episcopal Church
| toward the accomplishment OF the Protest.
ant Episcopal cathedral project has made
much progress during the year. A site has
been selected in the beautiful region ncrth
OF the city on the Woodley road. and this
site has been purchased in part and 90
mated in part for cathedral purposes.
Gratifying progress likewise has been
made under the direction of Bishop Hurst
and the board of trustees OF the American
University toward carrying out the plan OF
erecting a great university in this city to
be conducted under the auspices OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
One Of the remarkable happenings m
the churches during the year was the rais-
ing by pledges of the sum of $4,000 at one
meeting of the members Of Calvary Bap-
| tist Church to be used I'm erecting a new
church structure OF this sum seventy
thousand dollars was subscribed by Mr.. s.
w. Woodward. who had offered to dupli-
cate the subscriptions made by other mem
bers of the church.
Several new churches were completed
during the year. and the construction OF
! others was commenced. Notable among
these are the new Eastern Presbyterian
Church. the Second Baptist Church. the
Gunton Temple Memorial Presbyterian
Church. which were completed and dedi-
Gated. The corner stones OF St cypriaa's
Catholic Church, intended for the accom-
mediation of the large number OF colored
Catholics of East Washington. OF the new
st. Matthew's and of st. Paul's Catholic
Church. were laid with impressive ce-e-
monies. The members OF the Z Street
Baptist Church have procured a site ana
agreed upon a plan for a handsome new
church structure.
The Catholic University has prospered
during the year. ami its accommodations
have been greatly enlarged by the COM
pletion of the Mcmahon Hall OF Philosophy.
ba tanfv l,of