Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-03
A N E w R o U T E
Senate Committees Action on Washing
ton and Alexandra Road.
To Use the Long Bridge Eventually
The Company Pleased With
the Changes.

The Senate District committee today took
final action upon the bill authorizing the
Washington, Alexandria and Mt. Vernon
Electric Railway Company to extend its
line into the city of Washington. A radical
change was made by the committee In the
bill which came from the House. The
Senate committee struck out all that por-
ton of the route proposed by the House,
extending along 18th street, and f street to
the river, thence by a steam ferry to the
Virginia side. and Inserted a new route.
which is TO proceed from 14th and E.
streets northwest, down 14th street to the
Long Brige, with a branch extending east
on b street from 14th street to Center
Market and q loop on street to 13 1-2, and
thence down to B street 1t is provided
that the company must within year
construct a double track from the Virginia
shore to Arlington.
The BILL Of course has no jurisdiction
over the right Of way beyond the foot of
14th street. The company proposes for the
present to make connection between the
foot of 14th street and the Virginia shore
by means Of steam transfer down the
channel around the flats and touching at a
point below the Long bridge. The ultimate
object of the company is to make arrange.
ments to cross the river on the Long
bridge.
1t is provided that a double track may be
used on b street from 13 l-2 street to con-
meet with the tracks OF the Belt line rail-
way, which are to be used to the river
The company is authorized to use an over
head trolley wire for a distance of 100
feet at the river terminus. and may con-
denim property to the extent of $50 by 2OO
feet for its ferry slip. 1t is expressly pro-
vided that on the line Of the road, with
the exception of the 400 feet at the slip,
no overhead wires shall be used. nor steam
pow er used within the city limits.
1t is further provided that the tracks
within the city shall not be used for the
transportation of any cars other than those
used to transport passengers on street rail-
ways. The House provisioIE permitting the
transportation of dairy products and other
freights through the city was stricken out
The road must be commenced within one
year and completed within two years. The
company may operate its cars by under
ground cable or electric power, and the fare
of cents. or six tickets for - cents. shall
include the transfer to the Virginia side.
Maj A. d. Anderson the general counsel
OF the railway company, said the company
is well pleased with the committees action,
and. In fact, prefers the new route to the
one proposed by the House, as II does away
with the Objectionable heavy grade on +
street and the swift and dangerous current
which would render navigation of the upper
ferry slip dangerous.
He said the company has always wanted
TO cross on bridge, but as there is more
prospect of the reconstruction of the Lcng
bridge than Of buil1ing the Memorial bridge
the company is glad to have this route via
the Long bridge. When asked how the
company proposes to get across the Long
bridge, he said that is a matter of private
arrangement between the companies inter-
ested and he could not discuss it. He said
the route down l4th street is on a direct
line to Mt. Vernon and Alexandria, and the
branch line proposed to the east gate of
Arlington Will. in time. be shorter than the
suggested route on f street.