The morning times., 1895-12-27
iEd1HER TRACTION DEAL
Columbia and Metropolitan Lines
May Effecta a Combine.
APPEALED TO CONGRESS
Bib Presented In the House Giving
the Columbia Road dditional
Routes and Granting Permission
for the ConsolidatiOn-MayI Increase
Capital Stock and Issue Bonds.

There are unmistakabie surface indica
tions to the effect that preparations
are being made for the consolidation OF the
Columbia and Metropolitan street railways.
the reorganized company to be known as
the Metropolitan Electric Traction Com
pany.
This proposed street railway deal is equal
in Importance to the transverse arrange
ment by which the Chevy Chase line
swallowed the Washington and George
town..
The homogeneous of the Columbia and
Metropolitan have heretofore apparently
beens on the most friendly terms, as liD-
eral transfer system has been in force and
no unpleasant clashes have developed, al
though the former line is twice crossed by
the latter.
During the last session of Congress both
roads sought to obtain extension privileges
which would enable one or the other to
build q belt line to the river. Owing to
the difficulty in deciding which road was
entitled to the privilege neither obtained 1t.
REACHED AN AGREEMENT.
During the interim between the sessions
of Congress it is self-evident that the of
ficials OF the two roads succeeded in reach
ing an agreement by which they would be
consolidated and jointly construct the de-
sired extension.
When, or upon what basis this arrange
ment was effected has not been made
pubic, but the fact that all the details OF
"a consolidation We're perfected, even To the
selection of name for the reorganized
company, Is shown beyond preadvrnture'
in a bill yesterday introduced in the House
by Mr.. Harmer, of Pennsylvania. This bill
authorizes the Columbia Railway Company
to extend its lines as follows:
Running with double tracks from the
present terminus at the corner of Fifteenth
street and New York avenue to the middle
of Fifteenth street west, thence along that
street west to II street north, to Seventeenth
street west, along Seventeenth street
west to F street north, thence, with
single track, along street north TO New
Hampshire avenue, thence, with single
or double track, along New Hampshire
avenue TO the Potomac River, and with
single track from the intersection of New
Hampshire avenue and street north along
New Hampshire avenue to g street Eorth
and along q street 10 Seventeenth street
west, there TO connect with thea double
track from II street north, with the right
at any time to extend its said line with
n siuyie- or with double tracks from tile
intersection of F or streets north and
Twenty-third street west along Twenty
third street west to the Potomac River,
with authority to -fnuve and propel its cars
on the. line SD constructed with IN UNDER
ground electric power or such other me-
chnnical power as the Commissioners nf the
District may approve.
NO H STREET TRACKS. -
The stipulation is made that no new
tracks shall be laid on Fl street north, be-
tween Fifteenth street west and Seven
teenth street west, but permission is given
to use the tracks of the Metropolitan
Railroad Company between those streets
upon such terms and conditions as may
be agreed upon between them.
The Columbia Company is given author
ity to acquire necessary ground anu
buildings, to increase its capital stock and
iSsue.b .bonns o arr amount sufficient to- cover
the cost of construction.
The extension must be completed within
eighteen months from the approval of the
act or suffer notification of the privilege.
I The Columbia and Metropolitan Compa-
MES are given authority to consolidate
the two companies upon such terms as
shall be mutually determined upon by the
respective stockholders and may lease or
sell their real OF persona property one to
the other.
PROVIDES FOR CONSOLIDATION.
In the event OF such consolidation the
capital stock shah not exceed the aggre-
gate of the capital stock of the two cenipa-
nies, and the reorganiZed company is an-
thorized to issue its bonds for making and
equipping all lawful extensions subject
to the approval OF the District supreme
court. i-- so ss--..-
The. two companies shalt charge but one
fare for each passenger carried over the
united lines or any part thereof.
In uIe' event OF consolidation the con-
solidated company shall be known as the
Metropolitan Electric Traction Company.
The Introduction Of this bill is the first
intmation that has been given to the ef-
feet that a plan of consolidation had al
ready been perfected and only awaited the
sanction of Congress to become operative.