Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-04
G H AN GE OF FROM T
How the New Mount Vernon Bill Was
Evolved.
The Road to Use the Long bridge, as
1t Intended All the
Time.

1t is probable that Senator Mcmillan will
some day soon call up IN the Senate for
Passage the bill granting the Alexandria
and Mount Vernon Railway Company a
right of way through and into the city, as
amended at the meeting of the District COM
mittee yesterday. Little doubt Is felt for
the passage of the bill in its present shape,
as the company has now frankly admitted,
what has been suspected for some time by
the Senators In charge of the bill, that there is
prospect of entering the city by way of the
Long bridge. The course of this bill through
the Senate has been curious, and has been
marked by considerable blessing on both
SIDES. The company asks for city route
around the White Lot and along L street to
the river. which it really did not expect to
utilize. but such as 1t desired to secure in
case the arrangements with the Pennsyl-
Va MIA road for the use of the tracks on the
Lon bridge should fail to materialize.
The company was forced to show its
hands in this matter by the apparent Eager
ness Of the subcommittee on the bill to wipe
out the proposed spur down 1ith street
and to maintain the q street route
at all hazards. At meeting between
the subcommittee and the representa-
tives of the company on Thursday
last one Of the Senators brought about a
complete change Of front by proposing that
the company should post a $4,000 guGran-
at the same time moving to strike out the
14th street spur. At his the company
agreed to a new bill simply granting a right
of-way from the end of the Long bi idge Up
14th street. and thence to the market.
1t Is now understood that the company
will not attempt to use steam transfers by
way of tine river around the flats TO the Vir-
ginia shore, but that II has a definite agree
ment with the Pennsylvania road to bring
its cars across the river on the bridge, prob
ably with an overhead trolley. There is a
provision In the bill for four hundred feet of
overhead line from the end of the bridge
northward, which will just about bring the
Mount Vernon road in connection with the
Belt Line.
1t may be. and 1t is so stated on good au-
thority, that the Mount Vernon company
Will not at this time attempt city con-
struction on 14th street, but will content
itself for the present with a transfer sys-
tenn with the Belt company. This will OBJ
viatc the necessity Of the construction of
the road with a conduit, which must be
used In case of any building by the new
company.
Although the provision for the running Of
freight cars on this road was stricken out
by the Senate committee, il is expected by
the Senators that the company will be per-
mltted to run occasional combina ton cars
furnished with small compartments for
light freight. The Senate committee seri-
ouSiy objects to granting any street railway
company the privilege to run freight cars in
the street, but 1t has been represented that
1t will be great accommodation to the peo-
pie OF virginia near the city to be allow ed
to send light freight into town by a road
that will stop Its cars at almost any farm
house.
The officers of the company have assured
the Senate committee of their eagerness to
proceed with the construction of the road
just as soon as the bill as now amended has
become a law.