Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-13
TROLLEY DISCUSSED
At the Hearing of the Traction Com
pany's Bill.
SOME LIVELY REMARKS MADE
Arguments for and Against the
Measure Presented.
MIR. NEWLAND'S INVESTMENTS

The Washington Traction Company's bill
was given hearing before a subcommittee
or the House District committee this morn
ing. General Manager Wheeler of the trac-
tlon company opened the argument He
SAID the necessity for this bill lies in the
lact that Congress prohibits ,he suburban
eiectrlc railways from coming into the city
with overhead trolleys This bill proposes
a method by which those roads can obtain
access to the heart of the city. The trac-
ton company has asked for independent
streets and would like to complete the road
before next winter The company wants to
bring Its road down 18th street, because 1t
Is wide street and is midway between
lIth and 18th streets. There is a space here
OF seven blocks without a parallel road
The company does not want to conflict with
otner roads If it can be avoided. Mr.
wheeler presented what he termed a petit
.ioh signed by a majority of the property
noIdefs ana residents on 18th street favor
ing the road.
He read letters from the presidents of
the suburban roads favoring the bill.
Mr.. SomerviIIe's Advocacy.
Mr. Thomas J. Somel Vile, in behaIr or
the citizens executive committee appeared
In behalf of the bill. lie read a statement
OF the distances between existing lines In
the extreme northwest portion OF the city,
showing that it is nearly three-quarters OF
mile from the MetIo politan cars to the
i4tn street cars at Dupont Circle. There
are nearly 10000 people living in that sec
ton or the city who feel the need of quick
transit TO the business centers of the city
ne READ the resolutions recently adopted n +
the meeting of citizens favorng the bill
NJ. Chaptn Brown, in behalf of the citi-
zens OF Mt Pleasant, advocated the bill
ne salo ms associates are not welded to
any particular road. They want quick tram
SIT to the city. The citizens want a road
not necessarily the rC ad proposed in the bill
but any road that will reach 18th street in
MI. Ileasant. This bill, however, meets the
demand of the citizens in this respect He
suggested that the road which the COM
mittee may authorize shall be compelled to
begin work on that line in Mt. Pleasant
The underground system "a Success.
Congressman Newlands spoke in behalf
of the Rock Creek Railway Company. He
reviewed the history of the L street un-
derground system. When the work was
commenced the leading electrical experts
in the country assured the company that
the underground system was a failure 1t
mas not proven so, however; it has been
operated for a year through all kinds of
weather, and has been a success During
the recent severe storm the overhead troll
ley was temporarily disabled while the
Underground system was NOT affected As
10 the pending bill, 18th street is the
natural artery for a trunk line to the heart
OF the city. AT L street il is a mile from
enc existing road to another. The Rock
creek company wanted to come down 18th
street just as the Traction Company pro-
Hoses, but the Commissioners amended the
Rock creek bill to bring 1t in over the Met
rOpOlitdn tracks, down Connecticut avenue
The Rock Creek Company is willing to do
tEat, of course. but the Traction Company's
bill would afford facilities equally as salts
/ factory.
Mr.. Stephenson Of the Metropolitan Rail-
way Company asked how ii is proposed to
connect the Tenleytown railway with the
/ U street line, to which Mr.. Newlands re-
piled that a line can come down Massach chu-
setts avenue or connect at a point beyond
Rock creek.
Opponents of the Dill.
The opponents of the bill were then
heard Mr.. Longshaw appeared in behalf
of the property owners of B street, near the
Capitol. on b street there are six property
owners and he represents five of them. b
street is very steep and very narrow, only
thirty-six feet in width. b street is a
means of communication between East and
West Washington. The road, IL extended
along there, will utterly ruin the property.
! Mr.. Woodal presented a petition of cit-
zenS against the occupancy of q street be-
| tween 18th and I'D streets.
Mr. Wheeler said the amended bill has
abandoned all of the proposed route west
of nth street.
Against Putting 1t on 18th Street.
| DR.. Bates, representing property owners
| of 18th street, protested against the route
along 18th street north of II street The
citizens of that section don't want any
road on 18th street.
| DIR. Bates brought out the point that if
the Buda-Pesth and the Love underground
| systems use the same street there Will have
| to be four tracks, and that the two sys-
TENS cannot use the same track.
DR.. Bates then proceeded to an argument
against the practicability of the under
| " n
| superable objection to any form of conduit
read IN 18th street the fact that there is a
large water main on the street which would
come directly under the tracks. There Is
also a big sewer in the street. He held
that 18th street is the worst street in
! Washington for a conduit road.
| Mr. Wheeler replied that the feature of
his system is that the conduit does not so
below the frost line, and would not affect
the water main. The U street main is not
at all affected.
Bishop Hurst's Opposition.
Bishop Hurst opposed the bill. He said
18th street is only thirtytwo feet wide. He
said he is sorry to see Congressman New
lands appearing here in the interests of a
railroad, he does not think it modest nor
delicate for him to do it, and that it is
| contrary to Anglo-SaXon impulses. Bishop
Hurst spoke with some bitterness, and his
words created surprise. MIR. Richardson
called Bishop Hurst to order and protested
against his attacking a Congressman IN
such an unwarranted manner.
| Mr. Newlands said the attack upon him
was utterly unwarranted. A few years ago
a company in which he is interested bought
LOO acres of land along Connecticut ave-
nue. extended, and before he came to Con-
gress the Improvements were commenced.
The company has spent over 81, 100000 in
improving that section, building railroad,
etc, and has never called upon the District
1 or the government to advance a dollar.
The company has graded Connecticut ave-
nue. extended at its own expense, and has
1 expended $2OO.OO0 for bridges. He thought
he has a perfect right to come before this
| committee as property owner and tax
payer to speak upon a matter of great pub
1 lie interest, involving the convenience of
| the people of that section, accommodating
the public, too. He resented the attitude
of Bishop Hurst.
| Chairman Heard's Remarks.
| Chairman Heard said he thought that
with this eXplana ton the matter should be
dropped.
| Bishop Hurst then proceeded to protest
against the road occupying Massachusetts,
| avenue extended, and said he would favor
| selling the site Of the proposed Methodist
! University.
! Ex-senator b. K. Bruce objected to build
ing the road on street.