Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-29

Washingtonians who are proud of the city
IN which they dwell are grateful to those
members Of the House of Representatives
who yesterday took issue, and successfully,
with those who would. If they could only
have their way. iniict upon the national
capital more OF the ancient in street-car
equipment AS all readers of.The Star are
doubtless aware, an effort is being made by
the Philadelphia capitalists who own the
Belt and the lexington roads to secure the
congressional gift of such streets as they
need as right of way for what they are
pleased to term a "cross-town' line. The
value Of the franchise which is thus sought
Is unquestionably great. and within a few
years would be worth an enormous sum,
yet this corporation appears before Con-
gress. and. by it's agents. declares that any
other motive-force than horsepower would
be unreasonably expensive and productive
OF financial loss: in fact. that the company
wealthy enough to purchase and operate
a score OF franchises in this and other
cities-is too poor 20 properly equip the ex-
tensions which IT Is endeavoring to beg
from Congress, and against which there is
so much Of popular opposition. That there
should be those In Congress who can be
counted as willing and ready to argue in
favor of the unnecessary antique is rather
surprising. but that there are such persons
IS a lamentable fact. Washington wants no
more horse-cars within it's limits; IL has too
many of them now. The cable system and
the underground electric system-both NOV
ing with admirable smoothness-have made
plain to every fair-minded person the prac-
ticability Of varieties of power much more
satisfactory than that afforded by horse
flesh Therefore it is unreasonable to urge
hat ha NH oh, fo ~, i0 tn
stance being represented by the Belt Com
pany. should be given power to use horses
on the proposed extension for two years.
after which. in certain contingencies, IAN
underground or surface mechanical motor
Crowded the District Commissioners are
satisfied that there is practical one in ex-
istence) may succeed the horses. The prop
osition is ludicrous when looked at from the
business standpoint Representative Hep
burn made this quite plain yesterday after
noon when he supported his declared belief
that the proposition was not made in good
faith The excavation OF the street for the
purpose of laying one of these tracks and
the replacing OF the pavement" said he
involves an expenditure of $1,000 a mile
This proposition conveys the idea that 1t is
the purpose of this company to put down,
for only two or three years use, an ordin-
airy morse railway, ana then, at the END OF
that time, to tear it up and replace it at
an expense Of $1,000 a mile for the purpose
OF putting down a new track for different
Kind of motive power. do not believe they
intend anything of the kind. but that If
they are once permitted to lay this for
surface motor, that will be the motor. If
they are once permitted to have a horse
railway we shall have the same difficulty
with them that Congress has had with the
Metropolitan road Following this fiat
footed statement, with which every disin-
terested person must be in accord. Mr.. Hep
burn demanded that the company should
be required to put down the best available
motor. In view OF the fact that an ex-
tremely valuabls franchise is being begged
for, the people of the District will doubtless
be pardoned for insisting upon a modern
and unobjectlonable motor.