Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-27
PROPOSED RAILROAD UNION
A Bill to Consolidate the Metropolitan
and Columbia Lines
Plans for Extending the Columbia
Tracks Westward-POssible OPP
position to the Project.

bill was introduced in the House late
Yesterday afternoon. by Mr.. Harmer of
Pennsylvania authorizing the Columbia
Railway Company and the Metropolitan
Railroad Company to consolidate under the
title of the Metropolitan Electric Traction
Company, by vote Of the majority OF the
shares of the capital stock of the compa-
MES The companies are authorized TO sell
or lease their respective franchises and 9TH
err property, real or personal one TO the
other, and to provide for the joint I,ainte-
nance and operation Of the two railroads,
and to furnish power the one to the other
for the operation of their cars, respectively.
In the event of the consolidation, the capt.
tai stock OF the consolidated company shali
not exceed the aggregate of the capital
stock of the two companies; ana the con-
solidatei company is authorized to increase
it's capital stock and to issue Its bonds Sc
cured by mortgage on its FRANCHISES ana
real and personal property FOR the purpose
Of making and squipping such extensions or
its route or routes are or may he author
lied by law, but the amount of stock and
bonds to be issued shall be subject to the
approval of the Supreme Court OF the DIS,
trict of Columbia. The amount of stock and
bonds to be issued shall not exceed the cost
of such extensions and The equipment there
of and the expenses in ciient thereto. Inc
Columbia Railway Company shall charge
but one fare for each passenger conveyed
over the lines of said companies, or over any
part thereof.
Proposed Extension.
The same bill authorizes the Columbia
Railway Company to extend its lines along
the following route:
Beginning at the present terminus of its
line at 18th street northwest, thence with
double tracks to the middle of 10Th street
west thence north along 18th street west
to H street north, thence along. H street
north to 18th street west, thence along
18th street west to F street north, thence
with a single track along F street north to
New Hampshire avenue, thence with
single or double track along New Hamp-
shire avenue to the Potomac river, and
with a single track from the intersection
of New Hampshire avenue and street
north along New Hampshire avenue 20 q
street north, and along G street north to
18th street west, there to connect with the
double track from H street north, with the
right at any time to extend its line with
a single or with double tracks from the
intersection of F or G street north and
23d street west, along I'D street west to
the Potomac river, with authority to move
and propel it's cars on the line so construct
ed with an underground electric power or
such other mechanical power as the Com
missioners of the District OF Columbia may
approve: Provided, That no new tracks
shall be laid on Fl street north between
18th street west and 18th street west, but
said Columbia Railway Company may use
the tracks CT the Metropolitan Railroad
Company between said 18th street west
and 18th street west, upon such terms and
conditions may be agreed upon between
said companies
Nothing in the bill prohibits the use of
the overhead trolley.
May BE Opposed.
There is said to be a strong likelihood
that the project embraced in the bill intro
duced by MIR. Harmer will meet with oppo-
sition on the part of those interested in the
Capital Traction Company. 1t will be re-
membered that the Washington and George
town railroad, which virtually became the
Traction Company upon its consolidation
with the Rock Creek corporation in Septem-
Der, applied to Congress last year for a
charter to extend its lines on and G
streets northwest from 18th street to the
river and to go out ODD street as far as r
street, with permission to extent it still fur
Their northwesterly when necessary. The
Columbia Railway Company also applied for
congressional permission to run its cars
over the tracks Of the Washington and
Georgetown road as far as 18th street, and
then build It's own tracks IN the section In
dicated above, south of the avenue and be-
tween Rock creek and 18th sire 1t. Neither
one of these measures passed, but great
deal of controversy was aroused by the sim
liar demands, each company claiming that
1t had prior rights to The territory under
consideration. A citizen prominently con-
nected with the Capital Traction Company
said today that it seemed scarcely fair or
Just for the Metropolitan and Columbia
roads to endeavor to come in and occupy a
section which had been virtually built up
by the Washington and Georgetown Com
pany, and which was naturally field for
the extension of the line of the Traction
Company, which had succeeded that corpo-
ration.
While the Metropolitan and Columbia peo-
pie are disinclined to talk claiming that the
scope and purpose of their project is fully
set forth in the bill introduced by Mr.. Har-
mer, and which they believe will be adopted
by Congress, still it is known that the
Metropolitan Company has for some time
been perfecting its plans for an extension
northward as well as along the line de-
scribed In the bill.