Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-25
Passage of the Mount Vernon Rail-
way Bill Today.
PROVISIONS OF THE HOUSE MEASURE
What Mr.. Lapham Said in His
E. Report.
FULL TEXT OF THE BILL

.Ine HOUSE tSuAy PASSED Dy unanimous
| consent and without, discussion the bill
granting right Of way through the Airing
ton reservation for the Washington, Alex
| andris and Mt. Vernon railway. The bill
was managed by Representative Meredith
and Representative Lapham.
| 1t provides that the Washington Alex
andria and Mount Vernon Electric Railway
Company, body incorporated under the
laws of the state Of Virginia, be and is
| hereby authorized to construct and there
after maintain and operate its electric rail-
road across the lower and eastern portion
OF the grounds Of he United States govern
ment known as the Arlington reservation,
n the state of Virginia. opposite the city of
washington. said line to be east of and
contiguous to the River road, except that
said line running northerly may be diverted
from said river road easterly at a point not
more than twenty rods southeriy from the
intersection Of the River road with the
northerly line of said reservation Provided
that this diversion shall not exceed twenty
rods from said River road easterly; and for
such purpose said company is hereby
granted a right of way fifty feet I'm width,
not including slopes, through the grounds
aforesaid.
| And the said company shall repair at ifs
own expense in a manner satisfactory to
| the Secretary of War, any damage in
| jury or displacement that may be done TO
roads, footways, bridges or fences upon or
| through the government lands referred TO
| in this act by the construction or opers-
| ton of the said electric railway company,
| and shall erect such sheds or Other Shelter
| for the comfort and conveniaI.ee of pas
| sengers and at such points<as the Secre-
| tary of War shall drSeT Provided, that
said line or route <asdn be subject TO the
approval of tSecretary of War; and
when suctssffsht Of way shall cease to be
used~for the purpose aforesaid the same
shall revert to the United States govern
ment. And said road shall be commenced
| within one year from the date Of the pas
sage Of this act and finished within three
years. And provided further, that nothing
in this act shall allow the use of steam
power. And provided further. that the
said railway company shall not cross. en-
ter. touch upon or be granted any right
Whatsoever upon that part of the govern
ment land set aside and known the Ar
lington national cemetery. And that mate
rial for the building, grading or ballasting
OF said electric railway shall not be OBJ
tafned from nor shall the trees be dis
turbed on the Arlington reservation. And
provided further. that the tracks of said
company may be freely used for the pas
sage OF cars by the Falls Church and Po-
as said company may connect with the
Washington. Alexandra and Mount Yer
non Electric Railway Company. And the
cars Of said Falls Church and Potomac
Railway Company shall be propelled over
the said line. from It's junction Herewith,
by the motive power Of said Washington,
Alexandria and Mount Vernon Electric
Church and Potomac Railway Company
shall have the right to collect fares on its
cars as fully as II operating that portion
of the line in Its own right.
But said Falls Church and Potomac Rail-
way Company shall make just compensation
for the use of said track and motive power:
and in case any dispute should arise con-
cerning such compensation or manner of
use. any party In interest may apply to the
Supreme Court Of the District Of Columbia,
which court Is hereby empowered to fix the
nm fpYG and r,0ft
pc wer and the mode In which such use may
be enjoyed. Provided. that the limitations.
requirements sol restrictions imposed by
this act upon the Washington, Alexandria
and Mount Vernon Electric Railway Comp
any. And the said Falls Church and Poto-
mac Railway Company shall be subject, in
case Ct any violations. requirements and
restrictions aforesaid. to the same fine pen
alties and forfeiture of the privileges and
rights herein granted the Washington,
Alexandria and Mount Vernon Electric
Railway Company is subject to: Provided
that no cars owned or used by any steam
railroad company shall be drawn over the
tracks of this road lying within the reserv-
alton, and that the sidings and turn-ou;s
within the reservation shall not be used for
the purpose of the accommodation and trans
pc trtation Of passengers On TIE same day
The Committees Report.
Mr.. Lapham in his report on the bill.
said: The bill grants right Of way through
the Arlington reservation to the Washing
ton, Alexandra and Mount Vernon Elec-
trio Railway Company to construct and
thereafter maintain and operate its electric
railroad across the Arlington reservation
along the River road across said .ese-ya-
tion, between the cemetery and The river
and substantially parallel with the easterly
llne or the cemetery grounds. The said
electric railway company already has a
line constructed and In operation from
Alexandria to Mount Vernon and il pro-
poses to extend its line up the river to ana
10 tyD~x 49,
Washington, transferring its passengers
across the river by a suitable steam ferry
or transfer barge at Analostan Island"
thus opening up a line of electric railroad
from the city of Washington to the GEM
etery at Arlington and on to Mount Yer
non. the said line through the reservation
to be subject to the approval OF the Secre-
tary of War.
The road through the reservation is ro
quired TO be commenced within one year
from the date of the passage of thia act
and to be finished within three years
The bill also provides that the tracks of
this company may be used by the Falls
Church and Potomac Railway Company,
said Falls Church company being another
proposed line from the city of Washington
extending to Falls Church. The bill pro-
hibtts the use of steam power and also
prohlblts the passage over the rails OF the
company within the reservation OF the
cars owned or used by any steam railroad
and it further prohibits the storage of cars
upon the sidings and turnouts Of the road
within the reservation, or the assembling
or cars thereon, for any purpose except
only the assembling of cars necessary for
the Immediate use of passengers.
The necessity of better facilities for the
use OF the public in reaching the cemetery
at Arlington has existed ever since its es-
tablishment, and this bill if it becomes "A
law, will furnish cheap and expeditions
means for the yearly increasing numbers
or those who desire to visit that interest
ing and historic spot.
washington is becoming every year more
ana more center of the assembling of
large bodies of our citizens very many of
whom desire to visit both Arlington and
Mount Vernon, and il is expected If the
facilities for transportation proposed by
this bill are afforded, that many thousands
of our citizens will avail themselves of the
same upon holidays, like Decora tion day
and upon occasions when large bodies as
semble here from all over the Union be-
sides the daily flow of travel to those places
throughout the great portion of the year.
The bill has been carefully guarded so as
on the one hand, to provide for the amplest
accommodations on special occasions for
the great throng OF men. women and chill |
dren desiring to visit the cemetery, and on |
the other hand, to secure against any an
noyance arising from traffic not esscnti
to The fullest enjoyment by .ae pahlic Of