Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-05
BISHOP HURST OBJEC1.s.
He Doesn't Wa ut Railroads on Massa-
chusetts Avenue or 18th Street.

osSsss hNsnue or lsth Street.
The Washington Traction Railway Com
pany is having a hard time, and petitions
and letters against the route of the pro-
posed road are piling up at the District
building. Today Bishop Hurst of the Ameri-
can University and the members of the ex-
ecutive committee of the board of trustees
of the university entered a vigorous pro-
test against the road. This is what Bishop
Hurst says on the subject:
Permit me to add my petition to many
others, requesting you not to recommend
the Incorporation of the Washington Trac-
uon Company, whose proposition is to build
a trolley (underground) road on Massachu-
sets avenue extended. The American Uni
Verslty has important interests at stake just
west OF the Loughborough road, and we do
not desire a railroad on Massachusetts, ave-
nue. up to the university site Qoughborough
ROAD, or to go through our grounds, con-
sisting of eighty-seven acres
Three years ago / recommended In per-
son to the honorable Commissioners the
readiness Of the trustees of the American
University to dedicate the right of way for
the extension of Massachusetts avenue
through our site. No railroad was. at that
time, thought of, and the dedicati ton was
based upon the farther extension of the ave
hue as a drive. Should a railroad be char
this dedication of right of way through the
university grounds would, naturally, be
withdrawn. The present facilities furnished
by the Tenleytown line are ample for u.s.
and VIII be for long time to come and We
desire most respectfully to ask that Massa-
chusetts avenue be preserved intact from
railroads, SO that ii may constitute a safe
and beautiful driveway for the citizens of
Washington for all the future. The univer-
sity is prepared to dedicate in writing
ground for the extension of the avenue
through our site, provided there be no rail-
road on the avenue. We would like to see
one avenue, the finest We have, extending
to the bounds of the District free from all
railroads and safe for all vehicles 1t can
be made the finest in America.
Il suppose the Washington Traction Com
pany does not intend soon to build road on
Massachusetts avenue extended, but rather
to obtain the franchise and to hold it for
the future. AS understand, the avenue is
not yet extended beyond the Tenleytown
road, and will not be unless additional ap-
propriations are made; and that there is not
likelihood of the avenue being graded be-
yond that point for some time to come. j
see no object, therefore, in granting a char
ter to a company with no early prospect of
making use of it in the first part of the
route named, viz: Massachusetts, avenue
extended.
-Four years ago, when Congress was Pc
titioned to extend Massachusetts, avenue to
the site of the university. 1t was understood
that q distance of loo feet from the in
slTuulenlS OF the naval observatory would
be necessary to keep them from disturbance
from passing vehicles. / question very
much whether an underground trolley would
not render this distance. necessarily, greater.
Il beg leave to inclose herewith a commu-
nication to your honorable body, represent
ing a majority of the executive committee
of the American University, asking you not
to permit the proposed road on Massachu-
sets avenue We consider IL deleterious to
our interests and to the locality Of fine
residences on both sides of Massachusetts
avenue extended"
Further Objection.
Bishop Hurst, also in his private capacity
objects to the railroad on 18th street. In
his letter he says:
My home would not have been located at
the corner of Massachusetts avenue and
18th street If 1 had serious suspicion that
effort would be made to run a street rail-
road along 18th street. This street is only
thirty-two feet wide, and to lay a double
track, which is involved in the charter
would necessitate taking away our reserya-
ton and the fine shade trees which now line
the street There are two schools on the
street. and a third (the Force) is near nth
street. This street, certain times Of the
daV 80 llxr.D -lea