Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-26
ROAD CABLE
It is Said the Directors Favor This Motive
Power.
No Definite Time Fixed, but 1t is
Claimed That the Change Will
BE Made Soon.

AT meeting OF the board OF directors OF
the Columbia street railroad on Wednesday
last committee was appointed. OF which
the president. Mr.. Baker. is a member, to
secure estimates of the cost of making a
change in the mechanical power. This
committee has invited estimates from the
representatives OF the Buda Pesth electric
underground system and from the COM
panies that put down the cable. No further
action has been taken in the premises, IL
lis said. as all the information desired has
not been secured. No definite time has been
fixed upon for making this change in the
motive power. but one of the directors said
this morning that he supposed the commit
tee would be able to reach some fnal con-
clusion very soon, and then, he laid, the
work OF construction could be begun
While estimates are being secured of the
cost OF putting In the two systems named
IL is understood that a majority of the
board favor the cable system. Il is fur
ther stated that no effort was made to OBJ
tain an estimate Of the expense of the
Underground electric system, which Is in
lbyrthose who are familiar with the affairs
Of the road outside Of the MANAGEMENT
that the cable road is the mechanical
power which will be introduced In this
road IL any change is made 1t is esti-
mated that the cost of the cable for the
three miles Of double track which con-
sututes tne line OF this road viii be half
q million of dollars.
Reasons for the Action.
1t is explained that the motive for this
action on the part of the directors at this
time is largely due to the necessity which
is before the company of making a large
expenditure Of money. and the conclusion
was reached that 1t would be wise to as
sumo the cost of change in the motive
Nom xx-ha aAn.
charges on the road and MANY which
would likely arise in the future For ex
ample, the company have not completed the
equipment of their road with the approved
grooved rails as required by law, and the
Commissioners, acting under the same an
thority, advertised for proposals to Law
these rails at the cost of the company. This
item alone, IL Is estimated, would amount
to about So, 200.
Then, again, a resolution was recently in
troduced in the Senate requiring the com,
pany to equip the road with an entire SET
of new cars. This resolution has not vet
become a law. but it is among the possibili-
ties. 1t is calculated that these two items
alone would involve an expenditure on the
part OF the company of at least SlOO.Oo and
that having been accomplished tie conn
pany would be still threatened with legisla-
ton requiring a change in the motive pow
er, or giving some other company the r,ght
to use their tracks.
In view of all these considerations n ,s
stated. the directors reached the conclu
sion that they ought to be in a nosition
to say that they were going to make y
change In the motive power 1t will be re-
membered that about a year ago the stock
holders authorized the directors to make
a change in the motive power of the road
Thereupon the directors announced thai q
was their intention to equip the road with
the underground electric system in opera
tion In Buda Pesth.
Reasons for the Delay.
1t Is explained now on the part Of the d.
rectors that the delay in making this
change has been due. in the first instance
to the financial depression and. in the Sec
ond place. to the experiments which were
being made by other roads with electric
systems. The company Is also anxious to
secure extensions both at the east and west
ends Of the line. and a bill is now pending
IN congress TO secure these additional privi-
leges In the meantime, IL Is believed by
the officials of the road that neither the
Commissioners nor Congress will insist up-
on the payment of the moneys which the
proposed improvements would involve. in
view of this contemplated change. which
would, 1t is claimed. also include the others
The road is thought to be well adapted
for a cable, as IL is practically a straight
line, there being only three curves in it.
and they are of very slight character,
and the grades throughout being extremely
easy. The power house. IL this system is
introduced. can be erected on the property
of the company, where the stables are now
located. The suggestion was made to a
director this morning that perhaps an ar
rangement could be made with the Wash
ington and Georgetown road by which the
cable could be run from the power house
of that road The director said that he had
not thought of that plan, and had never
heard 1t mentioned before.
The prospect now is that the number of
cable roads in this city will be Increased. IN
the Columbia road adopts that system II
will be the second in the city which has
equipped its lines with that form Of mechan-
ical power. Then II is understood that the
purpose of the Metropolitan bill. which was
introduced In the Senate yesterday, is to
enable that company to equip the 9th street
, line of its road with the cable. The bill
specifies that the motive power shall be the
underground, and omits the important word
electric" OF course, this bill has simply
been introduced and has not been con-
sidered as yet In either house.
May BE Restored.
The civil service commission has rendered