Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-07
PL ANS ARE RE ADY
The Ninth Street Cars and the New
System.
Some Rum0rs Denied by the Company
The Plans so Far and the
Estimated Cost.

Some weeks ago The Star announced
that the Metropolitan Street Railroad Com
pany had decided to improve the 9th street
line Of its service bX equipping 1t with an
electric underground system somewhat
similar to that which has been 80 success
fully operated In Buda-Pesth. The pro-
pos ed system. however, Is vastly improved
over that used in Europe and IL the result
Of continued experiment by the General
Electric Company of New York. Recently
rumors have been in circulation to the eff
feet that the Metropolitan company had
given up its intention. and this morning q
reporter for The Star called on President
Samuel F. Phillips to find out how matters
stood. Mr.. Phillips smiled when informed
Of what the gossips were saying.
Since my last interview with you." he
remarked. 'the constructionsof the under
ground electric system on 9th street has
been making most important and substan-
tial progress. All the drawings which
constitute such an important part Of the
work are completed. OF course you are
aware that these drawings form the very
foundation for any successful construction.
/ am happy to state that these drawings
of not only the line Of the road bed but
also of our construction, have been ap-
proved by the Engineer Commissioner Of
tIo liSlTlCt. ne company mas also lOr-
mally met the Commissioners and agreed
with the Engineer Commissioner as to the
removal of all the water mains which will
interfere with the construction of the
foreground conduit. These difficulties out
of the way have left the company free and
competent to make it's contracts, with
certainty that the work will not be inter-
rupted when begun"
Can you tell me anthing about the con-
tracts that have been nader asked The
Star man.
Contracts have been awarded" said MIR.
Phillips Ito the General Electric Company
of New York for all the electric generators
a. the power station, which will be located
on IL street between o and p, at the
company's power house. which Is already
completed. The General Electric has also
Eeen awarded the contract for all the
motors and appliances necessary to per-
fectly install the road electrically. These
are to be furnished in 125 days"
contracts have also been awarded" he
continued, Ito the ePnnsylvania Steam
Company for all the heavy steel wheel
rails. SO pounds to the yard. which will be
used on the tracks; also for all the slot
rails and electrical conductor bars. Con-
tracts have been awarded for boilers to
Campbell & Zell of Baltimore Contracts
have also been awarded for a number Of
cars. Bids'for the engines will be opened
tomorrow and bids for foreign and do
opened today, will be opened next Thurs
day. AS soon as the cement contract is
awarded. the specifications for building the
conduit will be placed in the hands of va
rious contractors for estimates. These
specifications are all ready and a large
number of contractors will be invited to
bid. This work, by the terms of specif-
cations, will be required to be placed down
and finished at the rate of 1000 feet
day, SO that when the ground is once open
ed the entire conduit will be laid in six
weeks.
I'm consequence of the comparatively
short time 1t takes to lay the conduit"
continued the president 1.-The company
prefers to wait until the freezing weather
of January and the early part of Febrl-
airy passes.
I'm the meantime all the materials will be
assembled on the streets and in store yards
in Washington so that when the contractor
begins, as he is compelled by the specifica-
lions. on the LIST of March. the work can be
pushed rapidly to completion and the con-
duit and installation finished by the LIST of
May. In the meantime the power plant
will be placed In position and everything
be in readiness to run, 1t is hoped. by the
LIST of July"
What will be about the probable cost
Of the 9th street improvement
About S7OO,OOO," said Mr.. Phillips.