Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-02
THE COLUMBIA CABLE
Official Permission Asked by the Company
to Use the System.
Attention Called to the COngestcd
Condition of Traffic at New
York Avenue.

AS heretofore stated in The Star. the Co.
lumbia Railway Company is about to
change its motive power and substitute
cable for horse power
This morning President w. +. Baker of
the company, accompanied by AIr. Nathan
iel Wilson, the attorney OF the company;
Mr.. Osceola Green, one of the board of
directors, and Mr.. A W. Wright, cable con-
structor of Chicago. APPEARED before the
Commissioners. Mr.. Wilson, on behalf of
the company presented the following for
NAL request of the company:
by ;he authority of the board of direct
ors Of the Columbia Railway Company, I
respectfully make application for permit
to enable the company to construct an un-
derground cable for the propulsion of its
cars, and to construct also the necessary
vaults and street work. in accordance with
the plans hereafter 20 be filed
1T is the intention of the company to
begin work Immediately.
'W. +. BAKER. President"
Mr. Wilson said the engineer from Chi
cago was on hand ready to begin work at
once, and he was willing to guarantee the
completion Of the road by the first Of the
new year.
Commissioner Ross inquired what pro-
vision the company proposed to make re-
garding its terminal facilities at New York
avenue lHu loln street.
4 Congcsted Point.
THAT is an important question to deter
mine" said Capt. Powell. There are al
ready four tracks on New York avenue be-
tween 14th and 18th streets and the advent
OF another cable road will complcate mat
ters and increase the danger at this point.
There is even now bill pending in Con-
Sress preventing the use of the streets for
switching cars, and the Commissioners with
this in view, have been considering propo-
sition that would, II adopted Simplify mat
ters, and lessen the DANGER especially ot m I.
corner OF 10Th street and New York ayenne
me plan Is to have the WASHINGTON and
Georgetown railroad abandon its east track
on 10th street and run It's northbound cars
up 18th street.
The Georgetown cars could then continue
or the Present tracks of the 14th street
ioao 10 Georgetown, while the 14th street
cars could continue up 18th street The
west track on 18th street would he use-i
Tor all south-bound cars. and no cars north
bound would be permitted. The lexington
read would be compelled to turn up 18th
street from q and come over the tracks of
the Columbia railroad to 18th strset, thence
down that street to G where it would re-
sumo Its main line. The Columbia road. on
the other hand, would use the east track
or the Washington and Georgetown rail-
road on 10Th street. and con tinung to fol-
low that street to 14th. where 1t would oc-
cupy the tracks of the lexington road run
ming north to New York avenue and there
resume it's main line
In view of the determination of the COM
pany to change its motive power Mr. Will
son thought the order of the Commits sioners
TO compel the company to relay its tracks
with grooved rails should not be enforced.
as II would entail large expense upon the
company. When the cable road is con-
structed the rails would have to be taken
up, and 1t would really be an unnecessary
expenditure
The matter was taken under advsement
by the Commissioners.