The Washington times., 1894-06-06
SURFACE MOTORS PROPOSED
Commissioners Act on the MetrOpol-
itan Bill.
MANY CHANGES SUGGESTED
The Gas Motor Favored-The Common Use
Of Tracks Proposed-Important Changes
Required Near the Treasury-Great Lati-
tuds Of Routes Granted.

turned to Congress their report on House bill
GIL, 'to authorize the Metropolitan Rail-
road Company to change its motive power for
the propulsion of the cars of said company"
The most important amendment authorizes
the company to equip its road with surface
motors, or with an underground system for
the propulsion of its cars other than a cable
system.
The Commissioners report on the bill as
follows:
'Strike out all of section / after the word
provided in line IL and substitute therefore
the following: With surface motors, other
than steam motors. or with an underground
system for propulsion OF cars. other than a
cable system: provided that the change to
said surface motors or said underground sys-
tenn shall be first made on the streets follow
ing. to wit: Beginning at Four-and-a-half
street and C. street southwest, running
thence north on Four-and-One-Half street
to Missouri avenue. west to Sixth street,
north TO u street. west to Ninth street and
north to Ninth street and Florida avenue;
Provided. that said change of propulsion of
cars so required TO be first made shall be com
menced by said company without unredsona-
bic delay after the approval of this act, and
shall be fully completed within eighteen
months after said approval, and that within
three years after the approval OF this act the
change to said surface motors or said under
ground system shall be made upon every
other part and portion of said company's
lines as now existing within said District, in
Guiding extensions thereof on East Capitol
street from Ninth street east to Fifteenth
street east. with single track along
each side of Lincoln Square. and. if
surface motors are used. from the intersection
of Water and o streets. south on Water street.
n
north on Four-and-a-half to streets: if sur
face motors are not used then an extension on
Four-and-a-half street from o 10 = streets is
hereby authorized. and present tracks on
street from FOur-and-a-hali to Water streets
may be abandoned; Provided, that the part
and portion of said company's lines IN the
Capitol grounds and in Fourteenth street
from II to F streets may be abandoned. and
there is hereby authorized for said companys
tracks a route on Ii street from Fourteenth to
Thirteenth streets and south on Thirteenth 10
streets northwest. And provided further
that the portion of said companys
lines on Florida avenue and on Seventh
street shall be abandoned by said COM
pany. unless the nature OF the mechanical
power used by said company will allow the
use of its cars of the tracks Of the L street
line OF the Rock Greek Railway Company:
when the Rock Greek Railway Company shall
have built a branch from its line on Eighteenth
street to Howard avenue. then the Metro
poliian Railroad Company shall permit the
Rock Greek Railway Company to run cars
over its tracks fr nm the intersection of Florida
avenue and Connecticut avenue to point in
F stree; not east of Eleventh street, upon
conditions of use by the Metropolitan Rail-
road Company of tracks OF the Rock Creek
Railway Company. from said intersection
northward, of equivalent value OF trackage
as selected.
Tho commissioners do not InoE unon the
underground electric system as being well es-
tablished and are of the opinion that great
latitude should be given for choice between
all conduit systems. excluding the cable sys-
TEN.
1t is further judged that, excepting a steam
motor. the new motive power allowed should
include surface motors.
The advantage of surface motors of COM
pressed air. gas yapOr or other kinds are very
considerable. and their use should not only
be allowed. out encouraged.
Il has been demonstrated that the gas
motor system not only costs less for construc-
ton and equipment than the overhead troll
ley. and consequently much less than for a
conduit system, but the expense Of operation
of the gas motor system is 20 per cent. less
than that of the overhead trolley.
Tho southern terminus OF the Ninth street
line is o street at Water. The route could
adyantageousy be ex. ended along Water
ington barracks. and thence north on
Four-and-a-half street past the company's
new car-house or depot, to JON the present
track
The Senate District Committee having
taken action for requiring the running of the
Noun Pleasant cable ears through on Four
teeEth street TO Pennsylvania avenue. the
Commissioners amendment herein is made
to r0aIg - the Metropolitan CompRnys tracks
to Ii and Thirteenth streets from Fourteenth
and streets between Thirteenth and Four
teeuth and II streets.
1t wolld he matter of accommodation for
the public for the Metropolitan east-bound
cars 10 leave II street al Fifteenth street and
80 south on Fifteenth street over the aban-
doned cable track TO f. and thence along f:
while the wcs;-bound cars should go up
Fourteenth street from F to H over the new .
cable track.
I. is suggested that the words ''and for
other purposes" should be added to the title
of the bill.