Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-09
BRENTWOOD RAILROAD
Discussed Last Evening at a Meeting of
the Citizens Association.
A Continuous Ride to the Heart of the
City for Suburban Residents-
Clearing House System.

well attended meeting OF the Brentwood
Avenue Citizens Association of Brightwood
was held last night in Brightwood Hail.
The meeting was called to order at s
O'Clock, with VIM. A. Galley. president, in
the chair and A. L. Keene as secretary.
The proposed amendment to the constitu-
ton 20 abolish all standing committees, and
that special committees should be appointed
whenever needed, after some discussion was
Unanimously carried.
The old officers were reelected as follows
President, VIM. A. Galley; vice president.
Capt. T. A. Lay; secretary, A. L. Keene
treasurer, A. G. Osborne.
The special committee appointed at the
last meeting to appear before the District
Commissioners and Congress in the interest
Of the fire, police and railroad questions
was increased by the addition of two new
members, and is now composed of the fol-
lowing: Capt. Thos. n. Lay. A. l.. Keene.
Major L. p. Williams. n. E., Robinson, E.
t. Bates and w. V. Cox.
On motion Of Capt. Lay the secretary was
requested to ask the chief of police to leave
key of the police telephone, in Bright
wood, at Mr.. Mattingly's store. for the use
of the citizens in case Of fire or police SER
vice
Railroad Facts From Other Cities.
Mr.. A. L. Keene, the secretary, who has
been at work for some three months in
gathering statistics relative to suburban
street railroads, ard has received personal
letters from seventy-five mayors of the
leading cities in the country submitted the
draft of memorial to the District Commits
sioners and to both houses of Congress on
this subject. which, after debate was, with
few amendments, adopted. The memorial
Is as follows:
After communicating with the mayors of
eighty-ive cities in the United States, the
appended statistics were received from sew
enty-iive OF them. Twenty-Five cities have
forty-seven wholly suburban street roads
of which twenty-six enter the hearts Of the
cities on their extended tracks, four enter
on other roads and thirteen transfer to city
roads. OF the thirteen that transfer with
city roads, five do so without additional
charge, and six charge an additional fare of
five cents. The tracks OF 121 city roads
have been extended into the suburbs. OF
this number thirty-three charge an addi-
tional fare. In the majority of cases the
additional charge is when the roads extend
into the suburbs eight, ten and fifteen
miles.
six cities have belt roads, three of them
being steam and three electric. Memphis
has clearing house system, whereby all
roads, except two, enter a union station in
the heart OF the city where a transfer is
given, which entities the holder to a con-
unuous ride to any portion OF the city or
suburbs without additional charge. Only a
Few cities have the antiquated horse or
mule car From the above 1t will be seen
that the District, the capital of the nation
Is behind other cities in great many par
ticulars.
I'm the majority of the cities in all sec
ton or the country suburban street rail-
way facilities are enjoyed and of that num-
Der majority enter the heart of the CITY
without additional COST twenty-six entering
on their own tracks.
THE people living along the Brightwood
street railroad are dropped at Florida ave
nue. and are required to pay an additional
fare to any portion of the city, or else walk
while the lexington road carries her pas
sengers to the business portions of the city
on Its tracks, and even to GEORGETOWN by
transfer. 1t can be readily seen by
casual observer. or by referring to the COM
panys annual report Of 1s93 that this sec
ton justly claims better treatment, as its
passenger resources from Florida avenue
to and beyond the District line are greater
than those of any other section.
Some Recommendation.
1--WE therefore respectfully urge that the
Brightwood Railroad Company be permitted
to extend it's tracks to the center of the
city; and to accomplish that object that the
plan OF the Traction Railroad Company and
its bill before Congress may receive your
sanction, together with the proposed branch
of the Brightwood Railroad Company down
New Jersey avenue to the Capitol We also
most respectfully urge that all new roads
and all roads changing their systems of
traction be required to adopt such a system
of underground electric propulsion as can
be used by suburban trolley roads. AS cit
liens of the suburbs we feel that we have
a right to claim passage to the heart OF the
city of Washington by a continuous ride for
one fare.
I'VE would recommend to your careful con-
sideration the clearing house system now in
vogue IN Memphis, which we consider the
best solution of the transfer question The
universal transfer system Is eminently I'M
just. and would mean death to all small
city roads or to suburban roads, especially
to the Brightwood road
Hoping that you viii act favorably upon
our petition, whereby a large suburban pop
ulation may be enabled to reach their offices
and places of business and avoid the pres
ent unjust discrimination or tax, we will
ever pray, &C."