Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-16
The End of the War.


With the removal of the trolley poles
and wires from New York avenue comes
the apparent end of long-continued strife
between public sentiment and 4 big COM
bination devoted to the overhead trolley.
To the readers of The Star there is moth
ing new to be unfol'ied in the history Of
one of the most persistent series Of as
saults ever made by a corporation upon
the public rights: every stage Of the con-
flict has been clearly portrayed and every
movement Of the enemy accurately chron-
icled. Without indulging in language that
might 20 some appear eXtravagant, 1t
would be difficult for The Star to give OK
preston to the qualification 1t feels at this
seeming termination Of struggle that for
a long time appeared to be almost hope
less. Sincerely committed, long ago. to a
crusade against overhead wires of all de-
scripticns, The Star was first and fore
most in assailing the tricksters who by
cunning forestallng of the law succeeded in
materially damaging the appearance of
New York avenue by setting up In the
middle of that previously unincumbered
thoroughfare a row of obstructive poles
which supported unsightly and dangerous
wires. Encouraged by the success of the
lexington company, other advocates Of the
ovcrhead-trolley system of street-car pro-
,ulsion besieged Congress for privileges
Similar to these which the lexington Sc
cured by sharp practice. and how closely
some of those petitioners came to succeed
ing the general public may never know.
Backed by several of the strongest politi-
clans in the country, the trolley schemers
attacked Congress in force and throughout
. long-drawn campaign lost no opportun-
Ny to advance their cause. Defeated. they
were not discouraged. but returned again
and again, seemingly assured that in some
way or other their desires would he graft
fled and their purely selfish efforts crowned
with legislative and financial success. 1t
was guerilla warfare throughout, with one
or two exceptions. for the trolley people
realized that in open fight they could not
possibly win; therefore they adopted the
tactics of the bushwhacker and were prob
ably much surprised when it was made evil
dent that even those members of Congress
whom they had deemed their friends were
unwilling to afford them needed aid or
comfort. Suddenly the trolley attorneys
found themselves placed upon the defens-
I've, for suggestion by The Star was taken
up in the Senate and the result was statu-
tory provision which limited the legal ex-
istence of the poles and wires on New York
avenue. The limit was broader than The
Star expected it would have been, but as
efforts to amend promised to result in tenn
porary disaster The Star accepted the
three-year regulation. Later, Congress
granted the company another year of
grace, although strenuous effort was made
to prevent any such prolongation of the
improper occupancy of New York avenue.
Today the trolley does not operate on New
York avenue. and it is likely that before
the close of the week there will be no evil
dence of material sort to indicate that
there ever was a trolley there. This con-
dition Is the effect of a cause for which
The Star MY fairly and not immodestly
claim the credit: the claim has already
been admitted by those who have ac-
Quainted themselves with the history of
the trolley's endeavor to capture Washing
ton. But this downfall of the poles and
wires on New York avenue means more
than the mere surrender of a single
street-railroad company; it means that
the powerful syndicate which owns the
lexington and Belt roads (and which
was strong enough to work it's will in all
the other cities upon which it has laid Its
hands, is not likely again to attempt to
install the overhead trolley within this
city's limits. The downfall is not that OF
only lew poles and wires; II Is the over
throw of great conspiracy against the
public welfare; it is the crushing of hopes
that once had many good and sufficient
reasons for active existence The removal
of the distractions from New York avenue
should not, how ever, result in any relaAa-
tion Of watchfulEess on the part of the
public, for the trolley agent is still abroad
in the land and he makes appearance just
when he is least expected. Until the Eek
ington and Belt roads are equipped with
underground or storage battery or other
wholly unobjectionable varieties of motive
power it will pay the community to be
yigilant.