Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-25

The time cannot be far on when the
large cities of the country Will begin
seriously and earnestly to consider the
problem, of how best to take possession OF
the street railway franchises. The great
strike in Brooklyn, added to the scandal
of the trolley combine in Philadelphia, must
have notable effect in advancing this
date, for the troubles that come OF cor
poration monopoly will grow faster and
faster as the large centers of population
increase in size. These franchises are too
valuable to be given away. and yet they
must be turned over to somebody or some
combination OF persons, for the general
convenience of the public. The matter
seems to lie between the sale of the fran
chise to the highest bidder and absolute
ownership by the community. On this
point the lie test number of Engineering
News has to say:
"The best available remedy within great
cities seems to be municipal ownership or
the whole street railway system, and us
lease TO operating corporations on terms
lust to both parties, but leaving the abso-
lutte control in the hands of the city au-
thorities- This Is the plan now on trial IN
Toronto and in Detroit; and 1T mas been
long enough on trial in the first named
city to prove the wisdom OF those VINO
carried the plan through against powerful
and Interested opposition.
This, from the leading exponent OF rail-
road interests, shows a great DRIFT or
opinion from that formerly held by most
authorities. The situation In this city Is
not yet serious enough to warrant any de-
cided advocacy of one or the other plan,
but there are signs that In the near future
the District Committees of Congress. act
ing as the sole source of legislation for the
local community, will undertake some COM
prehensIve system of granting and regulat-
ing street railway franchises quite differ
ent from the present state OF things. Ihere
Is a growing disposition on the part of GER
tain of the legislators to require the pay
ment of an annual percentage Of the earn
ipgs of these corporations. as part pay
ment for the right to occupy the streets.
When new companies are to be organized, 1t
Is suggested. the franchises should be put up
at auction, and sold to the highest bidder
with the preference given, however, all
other things being equal, to the existing
lines IL they choose to extend their plants,
as being best able to build and maintain
the new systems. AS an aid to such
scheme the District Commissioners might
secure the best available expression of
opinion from the citizens of the District, as
to the need the lack of need of new
lines In the various sections of the city.
They would then be able to present to Con-
gress a definite outline Of a plan for the
extension of the lines, to be followed in the
immediate future, or at a time when the
population has increased to a certain point.
The policy is now definitely laid down In
the Senate Committee. at least. that there
Is little or no need for new lines In the
heart of the city. and that such lines ought
to be located in the suburbs, and laid and
maintained as feeders to the existing lines.
There will probably be a steady effort to
force the trunk lines to better their equip
ments, IL they have not already done So
and it Is not unlikely that the next step
In the line of general street railway legis-
lation, in case the provision in the Metro
politan reviving act shall be nullified and
rendered Ineffective. will be the passage of
a law requiring the reciprocal transfer ar
rangements that are so badly needed But
the question of municipal ownership is not
to be lost sight OF during this period of
evolution from the former haphazard sys-
tenn that prevailed to modern and COM
prehensive plan of tramways. Washington
Is essentially and will always be a city
of surface roads, The elevated structure
will probably never find lodgment here.
The trolley should never be admitted.
Cable or other mechanical powers will be
used and bettered and still further I'M
proved until Washington has the best
street-raIlway system in the world. and it
will then be a pity IL the city does not
make more out of these franchises than
1t Is making today. One of two ends
would be gained by municipal ownership:
Either dividends for the community or
lower rates of fare for the passengers.