Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-13
CONFLICTING ROADS
Columbia and W. and G. Companies
Argue Against Each Other.
EACH WANTS AN EXTE NSION
North and South Line on 22d
Street Proposed,
G r o w D ED CEN It E r S

| A special meeting of the board of Com.
missioners was called this morning to hear
| those interested in the bills providing for
| the extension Of the Washington and
Georgetown and Columbia railroads, as sci
forth in Senate bill 1884 and House bill SOSa
respectively.
| The route sought by these two roads is
practically the same, the only difference
being that the Washington and Georgetown
| railroad desires to build a new north and
| south line on 22d street. The Columbia road
desires to extend it's line from its western
| terminus over the tracks of the Washing
ton and Georgetown railroad to 18th street,
and thence along F and g streets to the
| river. This is also desired by the Washing
ton and Georgetown road, with the addition
or the new north and south line.
President Dunlop Of the Washington and
georgetown railroad, when the meeting had
peen called to order, explained the bill in
.roaueed IN behalf of the road he repre-
sented. He said his company was in earn
est, and II the bill passed the construction
or the new road would be commenced i'm
mediately. In reply to a question from
commissioner Truesdell, he said the new
road, II allowed, would use either cable or
underground electricity as a means of
motive power and would be run on the
same scale OF efficiency as the lines now in
provided for the northern termination of
the road at r street. He thought 1t would
be better to have it continued through
kalorama. President Dunlop said he ac-
cepted the amendment and desired II in
corporated in the bill. He dweIt upon the
advantages of the proposed new road and
pointed out what public benefit it would
be and what an amount of good would be
accomplished.
Rapid Transit.
Gen. Parks spoke Of the section In the
northwest served by tho herdic lines. In
looking at this question the subject should
be considered in several ways. The people
wanted rapid transit. 1t was true that the
Herdic Company was satisfying the people,
but the tendency was for rapid transit
referring to the Columbia road and its
desire to extend its lines west of 18th
street ne called attention to the increased
danger incident to another cable line cross
ing. Gen. Woodruff, who resides at the
corner of 21st and G, spoke in favor of the
road. He had been arrayed against any
ROAD extending Its line through his section
heretofore because the citizens residing
there could get no additional facilities The
people along his street and in that section
wanted the Washington and Georgetown
railroad there. 1t would give them access
all over the city and that was what the
people wanted. The Columbia road would |
not give the citizens in that section any ad- |
dltional facilities in the way Of transporta-
ton.
Attorney Wilson, in behalf of the Column |
bia road, said that four years ago the CO.
lumDla road made application fo- the ex- |
tension OF its lines, as set forth in the bill |
uhder consideration. At that time the w. |
ana u X. X. opposed the bill on account of |
the slow means CT transit employed by the |
columbia road, which, running over the |
cable road, would seriously impair The use |
tulness t or the latter. But the situation
had changed, and now the Columbia rail- |
road had almost completed a cable road. |
ana the objections heretofore made were
wiped away. The company he represented
was IN FAVOR of the Mcmillan scheme of |
making the w. and G.. r. r. run down 18th
street and allow the Columbia road to use
the abandoned tracks of the w. and G. |
n. X on 10Th street, and thereby get to
the river.
The Columbia road had no proper west
ern terminus. 1t was a short line and il
was entitled to some consideration In the
interest or fair play the company wanted
q cnance TO show what it could do. Hay-
Ing first made the application for the ex-
tension sought, the Columbia road was en-
Titled to more consideration in the matter
than the w. and G. r. r.
Mr.. Dunlop asked if the Columbia road
we're granted the proposed extension would |
drlve the cars over the road with one
;able from the new power house. Mr.. VIII
son said that was the idea and he had ey- |
pert testimony to show that it was feasible
Mr.. Dunlop asked if there was any evil
ience OF cable road in the world of the |
ength the Columbia road sought being
operated by one cable.
Conflicting Tracks.
Col. Enoch Totten, attorney for the
Washington and Georgetown railroad, said
here was one great objection to the bill
or extending the Columbia railroad 1t
vas that Of allowing the Columbia road to
un over the tracks of the Washington and
georgetown railroad, taking away from
nat company some portion of its property. |
The Washington and Georgetown railroad
lad tracks covering all portions of the |
District, and, with the use of the transfer |
ystem would furnish transportation for
niles and miles for one fare. Then, again,
oCk at the extensions asked for
The Columbia road wanted one little
trip, leading to the wharf, while the
Washington and Georgetown railroad
'anted to build new line. to serve the
eople OF the northwest and southwest and
i've them easy and rapid access to the
usiress portions of the District
Attorney Wilson in reply stated that the |
lea that any street railway company had
monopoly over any street was long ago
xploded. The Congress of the United {
tates recognized that at the Capitol, and (
ne ne use of tracks of street railways by ..
iferent companies was now an established
ustom. The Columbia road was willing
hat there be incorporated In the bill a ,
roViso that 1t should exchange transfers '
rom the Metropolitan Railroad COMPANY .
Gen. Parks spoke Of the danger to pc !
estrans if the route asked for by the !
olumbia railroad were allowed :
Mr. Z. c. Glover, speaking as a citizen, ! :
eferred to the congested condition of af-
airs at the corner of 18th street and New
ork avenue as pointed out by Attorney
'ilson The representatives of the Column | |.
la road, he said, had stated 1t had no .
estern terminus. Why would 1t not be
ocd scheme to amend the charter of the
railroad, authorizing 1t to extend
s tracks from the intersection at the cor
Ell, of 18th and New York avenue along II ,
rect to 18th, and then as proposed in the
III? That would relieve New York avenue /
nd 18th street, and was much to be de- r
red. d.
Ross asked If the Columbia :
,ad would consent to joint occupancy :
the territory embraced in the Dill. and n
ttorney Wilson answered in the negative. =
Nominations by the President i
l