Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-16
Removal Of the lexington Trolley
Poles in Progress.
TEE LAST OF TIE DOOMED SYSTEM
The Work Of Dismant|ing CON-
menced at an Early Hour.
CONSIDERING THE FUTURE

In pursuance of the agreement entered
into several days ago by Mr.. John Ridout
representing the lexington and Soldiers
Home railway, and the District Commits
s!oners, by which the railway company
promised to remove it's trolley poles and
wires from New York avenue between 1th
street and the Boundary within zen days.
the work of removal began shortly after
o'clock this morning, and will be pushed
to completion as rapidly as possible. The
company, through Superintendent Todd
who acted under President Newbolds in
structions, finished the preliminary ar
rangements for the work Saturday, when
Contractor Maurice F. Tally was engaged
to Gismant!e the electric system on New
York avenue and remove the poles after
tie company had taken down the wires
Accordingly as soon as the last car had
been returned to the power house after
the schedule of Sunday was completed the
work was begun. The wire was cut near
the intersection of New York and Florida
avenues and then the removal of it was
commenced from the 7th street enI of the
line and continued without delay. Chief
Lineman White of the company instructed
the laborers in their work
The Work Being Pushed.
The wfre9 we're all down as far as 1st
and two hours later Contractor Talty's
men began the work of taking down the
poles. There was a large gang employed,
and by noon today the digging at the
bases of the poles was in progress at New
Jersey avenue, while most of the poles be-
tween 5th ard Ith streets were already
down. 1t is expected that the poles will
be removed inside of two days.
Early comers to the city from Brookland,
Catholic University, Metropolis View and
lexington were much surprised when they
reached Boundary this morning to find
II emselves transferred to the horse cars,
which had been placed on the New York
avenue section of the road. There was
general glaEcing at watches to ascertain
the difference in time between the old and
new systems. and it was found the horse
cars were only about five minutes slower
in making the run from Boundary to 5th
street than the trolley cars had heen.
There were ter cars running from IGckiny-
ton to the Center market by way of New
York avenue, 9th street, Louisiana avenue,
9Th and 3 streets. to Ith street. That part
of the road between 9TH and 7th streets on
New York avenue Will be abandoned tenn
pcralfly. Persons desiring to go to East
Washington or up to 18th street will be
transferred at 5th and streets as for
merly, but the transfer at New York ave-
nue. and 9Th street will, of course, DO
longer exist. ~
PropOsitions Being Considered.
use until the company decides what it will
do about installing a more modern one 1t
will be remembered that President New
bold, in an interview published in The Star
last week, stated that it was not fully de-
cided what course the company would pur-
sue in introducing rapid transit on its
properties in Washington. There were two
propositions under consideration, one of
which embraced the immediate equipment
of the lexington line from the Boundary to
Center market with an underground cleo
trio system similar to that in use on the
9th street branch of tine metropolitan, with
an enlargement of the present power house
at lexington to meet the necessities. The
other suggestion, according to President
Newbold, contemplated awaiting the build
ing of the large power house of the Mary
land and Washington electric road at Hy-
attSville, which would then he used to give
power to both the Belt and lexington lines
in this city, as well as to the line between
this city and Baltimore. A meeting of the
board of directors will be held shortly to
determine which plan will be adopted.
Engineers Making Estimates.
Meantime Mr. s. w. Huff, the electrical
engineer of the Baltimore and Catcnsviile
Construction Company, which comprises
the gentlemen owning the Belt ard Eek
ington roads. the projected Maryland and
Washington and other transportation prop
critics, has been examining the lexington
here well as the Belt with view of,
placing an underground electric system
over both roads and all their branches. He
will conclude his work in lew days and
will then make his report to the board of
directors. Mr.. HUH has made plats of the
various places where other roads cross the
lexington and Belt lines, as we'll as Of the
various curves, and has considered what
changes would be necessary in the Eek
ington power house, and will present to the
directors and president a detailed state
ment, including an estimate of the proba-
bic cost of the cont ntemplated improvement.
Mr.. Edward Saxton, the contractor who
constructed all the street railroad cable and
electric conduitS in this city and Baltimore,
has already submitted an estimate of what
an underground electric conduit would cost
On the Lexington and Belt lines if built by
himself.
Dividends Declared.
rrto ooptroIor of tho H., a.