Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-05
The Commissioners Report on the
Metropolitan Bill.
THEY SUGGEST some AMENDMENTS
They Think Some Sort of Surface
Motor Should Be Provided.
JOINT USE OF THE TRACKS

pleted their report upon House bill GIL, to
authorize the Metropolitan Railroad Com
pany to change its motive power. The re-
port is radical in many respects and con-
tains several important recommendations.
The section making all plans of construc-
ton and location subject to the approval of
the Commissioners is retained and a sec
ton is added providing for the maintenance
of passenger houses. Another important
recommendation Is that permitting the Rock
Creek railroad 10 use certain portions of
the tracks of the Metropolitan Company
and the latter to use such portions of the
Rock Creek Railroad Company's tracks as
designated.
Another change Is one which gives the
Commissioners power to permit the use of
the tracks of street railroads by the cars of
other railroad companies In the District at
ana near terminal points on lengths Of
track in each case not exceeding four
squares.
however. is one giving the company author
lily to equip its road with surface mo-
tCrs other than steam motors, or with an
Underground system for propulsion of cars
the matter the report fayors the adoption
Oh some form of surface motor
Text of the Report.
Inc full report of the Commissioners
which Is addressed to Senator Harris
chairman of the Senate District committee.
is as follows:
Inc commissioners of the District of
Columbia have the honor t. return horo.
with the bin II. r. GIL, TO authorize tho
Metropolitan Railroad Company to change
its motive power for the propulsion CT the
cars of said company and to recommc,.d
cmehdmenfs. with reasons therefor, as
given below:
amendment A.-Strike out all of section
after the word provided in line II and
substitute therefor the following: With
surface motors. other than steam ,pctors
or with an underground system for nro,
phlsion of cars, other than a cable system: :
Provided, that the change to said surface
motors or said underground system shall
be first male on the streets folluSir- to
wit: Beginning at 4 l-2 street AMI C street
southwest, running thence north on -
strIet 10 Missouri avenue, west TO 9th
street north to b street. west to 9th street
and north to 9th street ard Florida avenue:
Provided, that said change of propulsion
OF cars so required to be first made shall
be commenced by said company without
unreasonable della: after the approval of
this act, and shall be fully completed with
in eighteen months after said approval and
that within three years after the approval
or this act the change to sail surface mo
tors or said underground system shall be
made upon every other part and portion of
said eompanyS lines now existing with
in said District including extensions there
or on East Capitol street from 9th street
east to 18th street east, with single track
along each side of Lincoln Square, and II
surface motors are used. from the inter
section Of Water and o streets, south on
Water street, east en- p street to 4 IL
street and north on IL to o streets; Il
surface motors are not used then an ex-
tension on - street from o to streets
is hereby authorized and present tracks on
street from 4 IL to Water streets may
10 10. ,xf-.x a.
portion of said company's lines in the
Capitol grounds and In 18th ctreet from
III to streets shall be abandoned. tn.
tracks removed therefrom and the pave
nent restored by said company to good
condition, and there is hereby authorized
for said company's tracks route on II
street from 18th to 18th streets and south
on 18th to F streets northwest. or a route
or routes substantially parallel thereto. as
may be designated by the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia. And provided
further that the part and portion of said
company's lines on Florida avenue and OH
eth street shall be abandoned by said COM
pany, unless the nature of the mechanical
power used by said company will allow
the use for lis cars of the tracks of the
L street line of the Rock Creek Railway
Company. In default of completion of
either of said changes of propulsion of
cars as herein required all acts or parts
of acts chartering the said railroad cGm-
pany or other railroad company OF which
successor or assign or extending the lines
of eithe- are hereby repealed
Amendment B.-Insert the following Sec
tions numbered 3, 4 and ). after section
. and make section of the bill read sec
ton q:
section 8. All plans of location and con-
struction of track and other structures in
public places, pertaining to the said rail-
way, shall be subject to the approval of the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia.
and all work thereof shall at all times be
subject to their supervision. The said COM
pany SHALL from time to time deposit with
the collector of taxes of the District of Co.
lumbia such amounts may be deemed
necessary by said Commissioners to cover
the cost of inspection, supervision, changes
to water pipes and sewer connections.
changes Of curb and pavement, and work
not otherwise provided for, which may be
made necessary by the location, grade or
underground conduits of said railway; any
unexpended balance remaining after the
said reconstruction and extension of the
DAD shall be returned to said company,
with an account in full of the disbursements
of such deposits. Co.,.
Section l. That the said company shall
furnish and maintain passenger houses,
run cars to or into them, use first-cass
cars on its railway, with all the modern
improvements for the comfort convenience
and safety of passengers. and shall run
cars as often as the public convenience
may require, in accordance with n time
table to be approved by the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia, all as required
by said Commissioners. The said Com
missioners may make such regula tions as
to mode of use of tracks and removal of
ice and snow from tracks as, in their judg-
ment, the convenience and other interests
of the public may require Should the said
company. its servants or agents, fail to
comply with any of the above-named con-
ditions, or violate any ordinance or regu-
lation by this section authorized, said com
pany shah be liable to the District of Co
lumbia for fine of $50 for each and every
such failure or viola ton, said fine to be
recovered in any court having competent
! Jurisdiction, at the suit of the Commission
ers of the District of Columbia
Sec. ). 1t shall be lawful for said railway
company, having first obtained the permits
sion of the District Commissioners therefor
to make all needtul and convenient trenches
and excavations In any of said streets or
| places where said company may have the
right to reconstruct extend it's road as
| aforesaid, and place in such trenches and
| excavations all needful and convenient de-
| vices and machinery for operating said
| railroad in the same manner and by the
means aforesaid But whenever such
| trenches or excavations would interfere
with any sewer, gas, or water pipes. any
| subway, conduits or any public work of the
! kind, then the expense necessary to change
such underground construction shall be
J borne by said company. The said company
shall, before commencing work on said
! railroad, and, from time to time deposit
with the treasurer of the United States,
who is hereby authorized and directed TO
| receive such deposits such sum or sums as