Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-27
TRACKS ON II4TH STREET
Amendments Proposed to the W and G. Rail
road Bill.
Commissioners Plan to Prevent Con
sestion on 18th Street and at
New, York Avenue.


Commissioners completed their report upon
Senate bill 2O59. requiring the Washington
and Georgetown Railroad Company to make
certain alterations in its lines. The report
is interesting, and states:
THE Commissioners of the District of
Columbia have the honor to make the fol-
lowing report, after careful examination
on the bill Senate 2O59 requiring the Wash
1ngton and Georgetown Railroad Company
to make certain alterations in its lines,
which was referred to the Commissioners
for examination and report:
First. The change proposed in the bill
requiring the Mount Pleasant cars to run
on nth street and the Georgetown cars en-
18th street between Pennsylvania and New
York avenues, and dispensing with the
present cable tracks on New York avenue,
would afford much relief to the present
crowded and dangerous condition on 18th
street.
"A more complete, satisfactory and equal
ly practicable remedy, however, is to make
all south-bound cable cars go down 18th
street and all north-bound cars go up 14th
street. This would require one track only
on each street and on New York avenue
between 18th and 18th streets. This latter
is the alteration of tracks and operation of
the road recommended by the Commission
ers. who advise that the bill be amended
accordingly.
The Advantages.
Besides reducing the obstruction and the
danger each to a minimum, and permitting
convenient transfer of passengers from
Mount Pleasant to Georgetown, the ar
rangement proposed by the Commissioners
readily permits the use Of the present east
track on 18th street for the Metropolitan
south bound cars, leaving H street at 18th
street and going to F. This would dispense
with one OF the present four tracks on 1Ith
street. such change for the Metropolitan
hound re har rod in,
nectlon with the recommended change of
the Washington and Georgetown tracks.
The arrangement herein recommended
would also permit the lexington cars to
loop by the way of 18th street from to +,
thereby avoiding the end switch now made
at 10th and give better accommodation to
the public.
1T appears from official information re-
ccived at this Office, and action already
taken by the Columbia company, that that
company Will at once put in cable. The
alteration, recommended by the Commits
slonerS, III the tracks of the Washington
and Georgetown road would further permit
the Columbia cable cars to run on the
Washington and Georgetown track on New
York avenue and 18th street and make a
loop to + street or Pennsylvania avenue to
14th. This would dispense with another end
switch and with at least two Of the four
present tracks on New York avenue and
take the Columbia cars nearer to the treas
ury and to the avenue.
END switches in slhe street for mechani-
cal motor cars are intolerable nuisances
and should be prevented wherever practic-
able No street ia. Washington is wide
enough for four or even three tracks for
rapid transit cars growing in opposite Ci-
rectionS. a
To Prevent Duplication.
ITO cover the Case of the Columbia road at
once and before this company changes its
horse car tracks .on New York avenue
west of 14th, the Commissioners also rec
ommend the Insertion in the bill Of the
following section:
THAT, motive powers for cars permitting
and to the end that Abe greater convenience
of the public may be subserved without
the duplication or unnecessary increase of
railroad tracks and for the prevention of
switches or turntables in the streets the
District Commissioners shall have the pow
er to authorize and require the use of the
tracks of street railroads by the cars of
railroad companies in the District Of Co.
lumbia, at and near terminal points for
lengths Of track in each case not exceeding
four squares, for such compensation as the
interested companies may agree to; il said
companies fail to agree upon terms either
OF them may apply by petition to the SUI
preme Court of the District of Columbia
which shall Immediately provide for notice
to and hearing OF all parties interested, and
shall determine the cOmpenSat ton for such
use of track. And the said Commissioners
shall be authorized to permit extensions of
the lines of street railroads in said District
not exceeding in each case four SQUARES in
length at the localities and for the purposes
named hereinbefOre.
Other Changes.
Second. The Commissioners further rec
ommend that the words as approved by
the District Commissioners be added after
line seventeen of section 1 of the BILL and
that the following requirements be added
thereto: Third. The said company shall
extend it's road by a single track from 1st
street west on Is street north to New Jer-
sey avenue; thence norther1y on New Jer-
sey avenue to street, and to a connection
with one Of its present tracks on c street;
and shall, when notified by the District
Commissioners remove one of it's conduts
on LIST street north of B street west, and on
street, and repave and put in good con-
dition the District Commissioners may
direct, the space occupied by the said con-
duit.'
Third AS to section Of the BILL the
Commissioners remark that this company
already owns land and depots where cars
can be switched at the Georgetown, Mount
Pleasant, Navy Yard and arsenal termini
the switching and parking of trains in the
sary, obstructive and dangerous and should
be stopped as contempla ted by this section
of the bill.
I'm view of the intended prompt change
of the Columbia company to cable, and
the great desirability of relieving the bad
situation at 18th street, 1t Is respectfully
asked that legislation on the matters herein
may be secured at the present session of
Congress-