Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-26
STREET RAILROAD AFFAIRS
Additions Recently Made to the 0ity's
Transit Facilities
Completing the City Branches OF the
lexington Line Work Soon
to Re Done on Other Lines.

To one familiar with Washington for the
past quarter Of century the immense in
fiuence exerted upon it's development by
the street railroads is fully understood and
appreciated. 1t is not so many years ago
that an observer could stand on the
dome OF the Capitol and see the lines Of
houses radiatng, like the spokes of
wheel, with great barren places between
them, dotted only here and there with
house. Those built-up streaks of brick and
mortar were pierced by the street rail-
roads that rap from near the center of the
city to its different boundaries. When the
cross-town lines were built later on the
carpenter and builder followed to work on
the adjoining squares, and in the more pop
ulous neighbour ,ods when the street cars
were introduced, the residences on the
streets along which they ran were slowly
but surely me5amorphosed into business
places and the jewellers forced back to
make room for the merchants
The magnificent distances for which
Washington is so justly famed made the
establishment of street railways here ex-
pensive, and at The same time profitable.
They gave the salaried man an opportunity
to seek home where land could be pur-
chased cheaply and a modest abode erected,
that would not be frowned into insignif-
canoe by the mansions of the rich. In every
direction taken by the iron rails and the
bob-tail cars the march of improvement
was steady. For quite number of years,
until recently, the building of street rail-
ways within the District limits was limited
in the extrene. The railroad companies
seemed to be outstanding their resources
to meet the inevitable demand for i'm
proved motive power, FATHER than devoting
them to the extension of their lines for a
more comprehensive accommodation of the
public and a corresponding increase of re-
ceipts and profits. Perhaps this was wise.
a q ms
contemplation by the various companies as
regards the power used for the propulsion
of their cars assure the community of not
only abundant means of transit, but a rapid
transit wei.
Recent improvements.
In the past twelve or fifteen months, how
ever, there has been a substantial increase
in the mileage of local railroads, and 4
large portion of the population has been
given more opportunities for convenient
transportation throughout the city than 1t
has hitherto enjoyed.
Not the least important of the improve
ments mentioned is the extension of the
city lines of the lexington railroad, which
has proven beneficial to both the people and
the property of the neighborboods IL ira
verses. The operations now going on al the
junction of Pennsylvania avenue and 9Th
street are the concluding features of the
work on this extension. The new line be-
gins at 18th and ID streets northeast, where
a barn and stables covering the entire build
ing area of square No. 1890 nave been erect
ed, and runs along ID to 4th northeast;
thence to G; thence to Delaware avenue
where the tracks of the Metropolitan are
used until LIST and G streets northwest are
reached, where the rails of the Belt Line are
used until the lexington line is again reach
ed at 4th and G. streets, continuing along
the latter thoroughfare to 18th, opposite the
Treasury Department Another extension
leaves the Metropolitan tracks at 9Th and
Louisiana avenue and runs down 9Th street |
by the Baltimore and Potomac depot, reach
ing eth Street by way of ID. This work is
now being completed.
Another extension, valuable alike to a
rapidly increasing community and the !
Brightwood Railway Company. is the branch
of the latter corporation which leaves the
7th street electric line near the District
line and runs to Takcma. This line is now
used by the residents of Takoma, who f)r-
Iaerly depended on the accommodation
trains on the Metropolitan branch of
the Baltimore and Ohio 10 bring them
into Washington. The lexington line also
made an extension in the suburbs by con-
tinung it's tracks to University station. |
greatly to the convenience oil the many |
residents of 8rookland. The Brightwood |
line also built road from 9TH street to |
Mount Pleasant and has seen no reason to |
regret this part of its enterprise. |
Work Soon to lie Done.
The most important works on local rail- |
roads now in progress or immediate contem- |
plation are the putting in of the. cable sys- |
TEN on the Columbia or H street road, as it |
is Familiarity called. and the Buda-Pesth |
electric system on the 9th street branch Of |
the Metropolitan Company. There is a |
small army of laborers and skilled inechan-
les at work on the III street Improvement, |
and the conduit and new tracks, are being |
pushed ahead rapidly. 1t is expected by the |
company and contra ctors that the new sys-
TEN will be iE operation from 18th street |
and New York avenue to 18th street ana |
Boundary northeast by December Is. |
The actual work of excavating for the 9th |
street conduit which will carry the electric |
wires OF the Buda-Pesth system-improved |
by the General Electric Company-is expect
ed TO begin in about ten days. |
The Rock Creek and Chevy Chase road |
also ccntemplates extending its road to Ken
sington, and this work may be commenced |
at any moment, as the pending negotiations |
are nearly completed. |