Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-14
COMMUNICATION WITH VIRGINIA.

COMMUNICATION WITH VIRGINIA.
How Washington and Its Trans-Poto-
mac Suburbs May Be Connected.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
In the estimates of appropriations re-
quired for the service of the District OF
Columbia, which. in accordance with laws
have been transmitted to Congress, is an
item of $4,000 for Constructing single
street railway track upon the Aqueduct
bridge and it's approaches, outside OF the
present roadway, and to the union
station near NJ and Seth streets west, and
making necessary alteration therefor In
| the superstructure Of the bridge" AS part
Of the legislation the following provision
is recommended:
Columbia are authorized and directed to
permit the use Of said railway track by
street railway companies chartered under
the laws of Virginia, and operating a road
or roads terminating al Rosslyn, Va, under
regulations adopted by said Commissioners,
and upon the payment OF toll to be
fixed by them, which shall not be less than
one cent per passenger carried in cars
ever the bridge: Provided. That no cars
operated by steam power shall pass over
this bridge and that all moneys received as
tells shall be deposited with the collector
of taxes of the District of Columbia, and
shall be available for the expense of the
ordinary care and repair Of the bridge and
railway track.
This proposition comes before Congress
| with the sanction of the approval of the
Secretary Of the Treasury and of the Com
missioners OF the District of Columbia.
These latter officials have for Years been
giving careful consideration to the problem
of affording improved means of commune
ton with the Virginia suburbs, and have
heard many citizens and considered many
plans. The recommendation to Congress
embodies the result of their mature deliber-
alton, after thorough investigation, and
has met with general approval The board
of trade considered the proposed legisla-
ton after 1t had been formulated, and gave
it unqualified approval.
1t is doubtful if any question relating to
the District of Columbia now pending in
Congress excites more general interest.
Alexandria county, lying opposite Washing
ton, already contains numerous settlements.
| affords many beautiful building sites and
its growth and improvement are necessary
to the symmetrical development Of the cap
ital of the nation. Nothing stands in the
way of its growth except the impossibility
Of getting into Washington cheaply and
quickly. The present steam railroads and
the projected electric roads may afford
facilities for reaching Jackson City and the
race track, but the country best suited for
homes can be reached only over bad roads,
In spite of this draw back there is large
population in the upper part of Alexandria
county whose relations with Washington
are most intimate. Many come daily to
this city to work, others find here mar
ket for their produce-all draw supplies
from Washington or Georgetown. These
people are unanimous in their cry for bet
ter transportation facilities.
Arlington, the last camping ground Of the
Grand Army Of the Republic, is yearly
visited by half a million Of citizens, at a
cost of as many dollars. With a railroad
ten times as many visitors could go there
at the same cost. The veterans of the war
are aged and infirm; on each Decoration
day smaller column takes the arduous
I'll, sr, H4xr
graves Of those who fell will be decorated
by other than their comrades; but every
year will witness an increase in the num-
Der Of visitors to this great national ceme-
terry. Shall only those go Who can pay %
for carriage?
There seems to be such an agreement OF
opinion as to the deSirability of transpor-
tation by street railway across the river
that it may be necessary only to inquire
whether the pending proposition provides
the best means of accomplishing that re-
suit.
In the first place. how will 1t affect the
Aqueduct bridge? Not one inch of the ex-
listing footway or roadway will be lessened
because of the change Can it be accom-
plished in any other way? No street rail-
way company can stand the enormous ex-
pense of building bridge across the river
for it's own use.
There is insurmountable objection to the
use of the present roadway for a street
railway track, although the Anacostia
bridge is occupied by a street railway
track. The better way is to have bridge
which will provide ample facilities for
wagons. street railways and foot passen-
gers. Such is the Brooklyn bridge. and
such will be Aqueduct bridge If the pro-
posed legislation is adopted.
The cost of the proposed change is very
small when compared with the advan-
ges that will result and the government
will in very short time be reimbursed.
One feature of the provision calls for spe-
cial commentator. 1t is that which allows
the cars Of any street railway company
terminating at Rosslyn to use the track
the bridge. This prevents a monopoly
such as has been proposed by various bills
introduced into Congress, and is negative
to the proposition submitted to the Com
missionerS by one company to make the
change at its own cost if in return it was
granted exclusive permission to use the
track.
Does not the legislation recommended
by the Commissioners offer a practical
solution Of a veXed problem by accom-
plishing a much needed Improvement with
out injury Tor ultimate cost to the pub
lie? L.