Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-09
SOME RAILROAD MATTERS
The Falls Church and Mount Vernon
Electric Companies
Trouble in Getting an Entrance Into
the City Over the Pennsyl-
yania Tracks.


Company to secure hearing before Con-
grsss on bill introduced year ago last
autumn by Mr.. Hunton granting this COM
pany a right of way into the District OF
Columbia. The bill was allowed to slumber
at the last session because of the willing
hess Of the Washington and Mount Vernon
Company to allow the Falls Church road
to enter the city on it's tracks At hear
ing before the Senate District committee
representatives of the Washington and
Mount Vernon road said that the company
was perfectly agreeable to such an ar
rangement, and a provision was according
ly inserted in the bill granting right or
way to the Mount Vernon road. stipulating
that the Falls Church road should have
this privilege. Under the circumstances,
therefore, the Falls Church Company was
willing to allow it's bill to remain on the
calendar of the Senate. But it Is under
stcod information is reaching them 10 IN
duce them to believe that action will have
to be had on their measure to give them
Independent rights If they are to have
terminal facilities in Washington.
The Mount Vernon Road.
The bill granting the right of way into
the city to the Mount Vernon road pro-
vided for a ferry around the flats, with a
landing at point near the Washington
end of the Long bridge. The right to ac-
quire 400 feet of ground at this point Is
also granted. 1t was definitely stated, how
ever. at the time of this hearing men
toned that the company did not expect
to be obliged to use this ferry, as negOtfa-
sylvana Railroad Company to allow the
Mount Vernon road the use OF the Long
bridge.
Tie understanding was that the steam
road people were anxious to get rid of tho
local traffic between here and Alexandria
which was considered more of Il nuisance
than source CT profit. 1t is anticipated
that the electric road, running cars at
nearly as great a speed as the steam road,
under much quicker Roadway, would alb
sorb most of this annoying traffic" The
elec trio road was, of course, quite willing
to accommodate this sort of traffic and was
only too eager for the arrangement.
Why Work is Not Commenced.
The road has net yet begun operations on
this side of the bridge fer the construction
of the underground electric system which
is contemplated would be the motive power
of the road 1t has been stated from time
to time that the delay was caused by
desire on the part of the company to profit
by the example of the metropolitan road
in a choice of an underground system.
This explanation has hardly been salts
factory 10 the District committees or to the
Falls Church people, who are ready at any
moment to begin construction on the Vir-
IL
1t is now broadly suggested, and not yet
denied. that the real reason of the delay In
the construction has been the failure of the
negotiations between the Mount Vernon
road and the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany. Since the agreement was understood
to have been entered into between these
corporations last winter new conditions
have arisen to make the arrangement less
alluring to the Pennsylvania folks than
formerly. The failure of the racing fra
ternity to secure tracks on this side of the
Potomac drove them, 1T is we'll known to
establish themselves at two points upon
the Virginia shore, st. Asaph'S Junction
and Alexander Island.
The racing at these tracks. while 1t has
not been perhaps of the highest order of
sport. has nevertheless drawn daily great
crowds from this city, and the passing and
rtpaSSiug of these people even at a low
rate of fare, has contributed largely to the
revenue OF the railroad. The Pennsylvania
road, 1T is now stated, Is reluctant to sur
render this lucrative traffic to a competi-
tor. which, with quicker service, would
unquestionably soon secure a monopoly.
The Falls Church People Anxious.
This may not be the reason why the Mt.
Vernon road extension into Washington
and from Alexar dria to Arlington has not
yet been begun. but it is a rather interest
ing commentary on the situation neverthe-
less. The fact remains that the first steps
of this construction have yet to be taken.
The officers of the company have acted
very mysteriously in giving out informal
ticn, and there is possibly ground for the
fear of the Falls Church company that an
Independent loop into Washington may be
eventually required. Hence their renewed
activity in advocating Senate bill $50, to
authorize the Falls Church and Potomac
Railroad Company of Virginia to extend
it's line into the District.
This bill grants a right of way through
the Arlington estate. outside of the ceme-
terry. by route to be approved by the Sec
rotary of War. to point on Little river;
thence across the marshes to or near the
south end of Analostan Island to the shore
line of the proposed new west bank of the
Potomac; thence by suitable steam ferry
across the river to the foot of G street eX-
tended to the river; thence along the center
line of G. street to the center line of New
York avenue, continuing that line across
the reservation formerly occupied by the
naval observatory. to 10th street: thence
along street north. on both the north
and south sides of Rawlins Square.
to 18th street west at the In
tersection of New York avenue;
thence along New York avenue to 18th
street; thence north on 18th to H street, as
its terminal point. This bill. which was in
troduced on August 23. 1893, has received
the approval of the District Commissioners
and is now in the hands of the srbcom-
mittee OF the Senate District committee. OF
which Senator Faulkner is chairman.