Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-20
SUBURBAN FACILITIES
A Plan to Give Entrance Into the City to
All Country Railroads.
The Underground System in Operation
Here Warmly Endorsed by the Presi-
dent of the Rock Creek Co.


Traction Company for a clearing house
system for the suburban electric railroad
companies. A number of the members of
the Builders Exchange and Representatives
from several OF the various citizens asso-
Citations of the District were present among
them being Tnos. J. King. W. c. Morrison
and Albert Stephan of the Builders EX-
Change, President Babson, Gen. VIM. Biz
ney anu NJ. |. Weller of the East Washing
ton Association, President W. }. Friz-eil of
the Northeast Washington Association, Mr..
W. l.. Cole OF the Alt. Pleasant Association,
President Buckley of the Anacostia Assoc
ciauon, Dr. l.. W. Ritcnie OF the George
town Association, Mr.. j. Harrison johnson
OF the Southwest Association, Mr.. Daniel
Ramey of the Brightwood Association,
President Newiands of the Rock Creek
" heller OF the Love Underground Electric
System, Mr.. II. ID. Walbridge, 5.
W Curriden and others.
Mr.. Stephan of the Builders Exchange
was chosen to preside over the meeting AMI
Mr.. ,. w. Curriden acted secretary. on
behalf of the system, Mr.. A. ID. Ander son
explained that the object of the projectors
was the formation of trunk line of cleo
trio railway lines, to prevent the
further distguration of the streets of the
city, and to establish an interchange of
passengers from one road TO another with
out extra expense to the passengers. The
a line down 18th street northwest TO Il,
thence to the market and on to the center
of the city, tapping all other existing cleo
trio roads. The projectors would use the
Love system of underground trolleys now
In successful operation on L street, and
would expeud at least s2.UO0.0O0 in putting
the road in operation.
Value of the Underground system.
Mr.. Anderson read a letter from Mr. F.
G. Newiands. the president of the Rock
Creek Railroad Co.. to Mr.. Wheeler, general
manager Love Electric Traction Co., as
follows:
Il take pleasure in saying. in answer to
your inquiry as to our opinion of the Love
electric conduit system, which has been in
operation on our u street line. that it has
given US entire satisfaction; and our ex-
perience justifies me in saying that the
claims originally made by your company
are correct, viz:
list. 1t can be kept in operation 1855 days
in the year with less delay than any sys-
tenn now in use. ID. 1t is absolutely i'm
possible for anyone to be injured by the
electric current. Sd. 1t requires skilled
labor to operate it. 18th. Cost of mainten-
ance as cheap as any known power. 9Th.
Does not Increase the cost of insurance
along the line of the road. Operating as
We have during the last year both the over
head trolley and your conduit system,
feel fully convinced that your system has
solved the problem of a motor power for
street railroads, and the commercial adj
vantages it has over the overhead trolley
will justify the trifiing additional cost of
construction"
In reply TO Mr.. Frizzeu Mr. Wheeler
stated that majority of the incorporators
Of the Washington Traction Company were
citizens OF the District, and explained that
the object of the meeting was more to Sc
cure an expression of opinion favorable to
the trunk-line idea than anything else.
Mr. Daniel Ramey said he knew the Love
GU Sfar1 n he Dp6 He
the meeting would indorse the project for
a trunk line of suburban roads. As it was
now, residents of the suburbs We're at the
mercy of the town lines, the latter, like
the dog in the manger, refusing to go out
into the suburbs themselves or allow sub
urban roads to enter the city on their
roads.
MIR. Ramey's remarks were applauded.
and Mr.. Cole, In a brief address, advocated
the proposed trunk line project, and offered
resolutions which favored the, proposition
of the traction company "as a movement
in the interests of the public. and COM
mended the same to the careful considera-
ton of the District committees of Congress,
and that a committee of five be appointed
by the chair to present these resolutions
to said committees Of Congress"
A General Committee.
The resolution gave rise TO considerable
discussion. in which it appeared that the
representatives of the various citizens as
to act on behalf of the associations, and
the resolutions were finally referred to a
committee of fifteen, representing the board
of trade. the Builders Exchange and the
various associations. as follo.ys: Boa I'd of
Trade. E. Kurtz Johnson; Builders Ex-
change, Thos. j. King; East Washington
Citizens Association, Gen. VIM. Birney;
Mt. Pleasant, James W. Somer vile; Iako-
ma PARK, Judge Thos. F. Miller; Brookland
Harry Barton; South Washington, o. T.
NeNT.rNr artNf
acostia. Geo. H. Armstrong; Northeast, w.
j. Frizzeil; Georgetown, DR.. l.. w. Ritchie
TenieytOwn. Andrew j. Riley; Lanier
Heights. H: d. Walb-idge, and Chevy
Chase. II. VI. Earle. The chairman of the
meeting was also added to the committee
The committee was requested to meet at
the rooms of the Builders Exchange at 5
o'clock next Friday evening.
The resolutions thus disposed Of Mr. King
moved that the meeting adopt the following
resolution not as the representatives of
the various associations, but simply as in
dividual citizens, and the motion was
unanimously agreed to: THAT We the c;ti-
zens of the District of Columbia indorse
the general plan of securing rapid transit
other than by overhead trolley, together
with clea -ing-house system for all present
and future suburban roads; Securing rapjd
transit to the center of the city t,y payment
of one fare. and by the use of one car
Preferred the Underground Wires
At the invitation of the chairman, I'resi-
dent Newlands explained the operation of
the underground trolley system as used by
his road. the Rock Creek railway, and said
that it gave the utmost satisfaction It is
not dangerous. was not unsightIy and less
expensive in the end than the overhead
trolley system. Even If he could Put up the
overhead trolley, he would not now do SO
much preferring the other plan. He was nor
interested in the Washington Traction
Company, but believed that the proposed
clearing house system would be Of immense
benefit and advantage to the people of the
whole District His line had endeayorel to
get down nth street. but he was sorry TO
say that the District Commissioners seemed
to have more regard for the objections of a
few residents on that street than they did
for the people of the great territory in the
suburbs who would be benefited by such a
line.
Mr.. Newland's remarks were heartily an
plauded, and at their conclusion the meet
ing adjourned to await the action of tIte
committee appointed to consider the bill
and the proposed trunk line clearing house
system.
Rechabite Nfsitatfons.