Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-21
NOT ALONG 18th STREET
The Commissioners Report on the Rock
Greek Railroad Bill
In Place Of the 18th street Route a
Avenue is Recommended.

The Commissioners have returned House
bill 2S71. amending the charter of the Rock
Creek Railway Company, with the following
report:
1t does not appear to the Commissioners
that there is public necessity for street
railway on 18th street from U street to
/ street, as proposed in the bill. and 1t has
been shown to their satisfaction that a large
number of owners of property abutting
thereon are earnestly opposed to such rail-
way.
The roadway on 18th street is paved and
is not wide. The property fronting 1t is
improved. The street is lined almost wholly
by dwellings; it has established curbs, side
walks and parkings. and has trees and
street lamps along the curbs. 1t is believed
that instead Of laying new tracks in the
direction of gridironing the residence streets
of the national capital the suburban rail-
ways should be accommodated in entering
the city. where they can be, by the use OF
present tracks, the charters and franchises
for which were granted free, with the res
ervation by Congress of alteration, amend
ment or repeal
1t does not seem either lawful or just that
one company should have exclusive rights
in streets as against the public interests
and against provision for equitable compen-
sation for a division Of part of the granted
rights.
The Rock Creek railway along Boundary
and streets meets present car lines on
Connecticut avenue and 14th, 11th. 9th and
1th streets, all going to the heart Of the
city. After careful examination, the Com
missioners judge that Connecticut avenue
is the natural and least Objectionable route
for securing the main object of the bill. and
IT is therefore recommended that the bill
be amended as follows:
Connecticut Avenue Instead.
Strike out the route given in the proposed
amendment and insert: Beginning at the in
tersection Of Florida and Connecticut ave-
nues and running thence southeast along
Connecticut avenue to 18th street; thence
south on 18th street to H street; thence
east on H street to 18th street west; thence
south on 18th street v est to E street north;
thence east on E street north to 5th street
west; thence north OF 5th street west to H
street; thence west or II street to 18th
street
East of Connecticut avenue the proposed
amended route Is the same as the route in
the bill except that from 9Th to 18th II
street is inserted in lieu of F.
1t Is further recommended that the Rock
Creek railway be authorized to extend
branch from 18th street east and north
through Mount Pleasant for needed accom-
modation for that suburb and travel TO and
from the Geological Park, this amendment
being by adding to the above amendment
the words: ALSO from the intersection Of
18th street and Superior street prolonged,
eastward on line of Superior street to Gen.
trail avenue, thence north on line of 18th
street in Washington to Howard avenue"
Such a branch would meet present demands
and could, by authority of subsequent leg
slation, be extended as future opening Of
approaches to the Park might permit and
the public accommodation require.
The Commissioners also recommend the
addition to the bill of certain stipula tons
and conditions which are deemed by them
proper and desirable and which have been
adopted for insertion in general form of
street railway bill prepared by them For
convenience a new draft of the House of
Representatives bill. embodying amend
ments herein proposed, has been prepared
and Is respectfully submitted herewith for
favorable action.