Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-29
THE BELT LINE BILL
Commissioners Give Their Views on the
Proposed Route.
The Streets That Meet Their Views for
Railroad PurpOxes-Danger Mt
Thomas Circle Feared.

The Commissioners this morning reported
the bill changing the name of the Capitol,
North Street and South Washington Rail-
way Company to the Belt Railway Com
pany and granting the company additional
powers.
The route of extension is amended so
as to read:
Beginning at Florida avenue and NJ street,
thence west along NJ street to New York
avenue, thence westerly on New York ave-
nue. to L street, thence west along l. street,
11th street and L street to Goth street,
thence north on Goth street to NJ street,
thence west on NJ street to 22d street, north
to the end of ODD street as now existing. or
as may be extended. to 8 street, west on S
street to oath, north on oath to U street,
east to 23d street. south to s street; and
from L street and 9th street northwest.
east to l., to Sth street, thence north on
Sth street to Florida avenue, thence along
Florida avenue to the starting point; pro-
extensions hereby authorized shall be COM
menced within six months and completed
within two years after the date of the ap-
proval of this act the authority hereby
granted shall cease.
The Report.
In the letter transmitting the report the
Commissioners say:
The bill proposes an abandonment of
certain portions of the Belt Railway Com
pany's tracks and the addition of certain
tracks in the southwest, and of tracks on
NJ street northwest, from 4th to Goth
streets. The latter named addition Is the
most important change proposed by the
bill. The change would furnish an east
and west line in the northwest section.
The Commissioners are of the opinion
that such a line. especially If extended
through Northeast Washington and made
to include a north and south line in the
extreme northwest kalorama Heights, is
desirable for public convenience. The new
territory named is at present without street
railroad facilities
A crossing of 18th street at Thomas circle
which the NJ street line of the bill would
necessitate. is regarded as sufficiently OBJ
jectionable to render this part of NJ street
unavailable. The north and south cable
tracks and the converging traffic at this
point already makes 1t at times crowded
and dangerous
Best Route.
The different streets from O to K inclu-
sive. have been carefully considered for Sc
lecting the east and west route freest from
objection, and for giving accommodation to
the greater number. The route recon-
mended on the whole nearest fulfilling
these conditions is from Florida avenue
and NJ street; thence west along NJ street to
New avenue, thence westerly on New
York avenue to l. street; thence west along
l. street, 11th street and l. street 10 10Th
street; thence north on Goth street to NJ
street; thence west on NJ street to 22d
street; north to the end of 22d, as now eX-
listing. or may be extended, to ) street
west on to 9th; north on oath to L street;
east to 23d street; south to street. and
from l. and 18th streets northwest. east on
L TO Sth street; thence north on Sth street
to Florida avenue; thence along Florida
avenue to the starting point.
The route contemplateS a single track on
each of these streets east of 9TH and west
of 23d, and double tracks between 9Th and
23d. 1t would pass the entrance TO the
grounds of the Deaf and Dumb institution
Convention Hall and X street market. and
connect with the lexington and Soldiers
Home railroad, operated by the same COM
pany the Belt line.
The Commissioners are not able to recon-
mend the abandonment of operation of cars
and removal of tracks as proposed in the
bill. except on E street between 11th and
9th, and from 9th street and Louisiana
avenue westerly to 18th street and south
to b street south
The Commissioners do not recommend the
South Washington addition OF tracks as
proposed in the bill
The above-named recommendations would
require so many amendments to the bill
lnclosed. Some new sections have been
added to the draft for covering require
ments not in the present charter of the
Belt line, but which have been incorpor-
ated in all street railway reports from this
oftice to the present Congress and whose
adoption is recommended.
Upon request of some of the holders Of
bonds secured by an existing deed of trust
prior lien has been added to section 4.