Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-01
The District Suburban Railway Bill
Fav, + bly, Reported.
ACTION OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE
The Report Given at Length and
the New Provisions.
THE TRANSFER COMPROMISE


present. including Senators Harris, Mc4Iil-
Ian, Faulkner, Proctor, Hunton and Gal
linger. But one bill was taken up for con-
sderation, relating to the District of Co.
luulbia suburban railway, and it was stated
by those friendly to the measure that the
directors of the road are now willing to ac-
cept the compromise recently offered which
would give the suburban road access to and
privilege of transfer to and from the Eek
ington, Metropolitan and Columbia roads.
This would give the suburban road a line
on 18th street east.
This settled the controversy that has
waxed so hot during the past fortnight.
The papers in the case were all gathered
together, and a favorable report was ordered
on the bill, amended according to the
agreement. The report, which was, pre-
sented later by Mr.. Mcmillan. follows:
The Report ON the Bill.
1.-THE bill to incorporate the Cd. c. sub
urban railway first came before Congress
during the first session of the Fifty-second
Congress In the reports submitted by the
committee or the District of Columbia on
House bill 49, ito incorporate the District
of Columbia Suburban Railway Company
the committee expressed some of the ditfi-
,culties which the bill presented-notably
that the road could not possibly pay as a
not been made success, and that there
was no underground electrical system in
successful operation at that time, Whiie
the day of the horse-car for Washington
had passed. For these reasons the COM
mittee reported the bill SO as to make the
Columbia suburban road connect In East
Washington with the Columbia railway,
the extended lexington road, and the Met
ropolitan, giving the Columbia suburban
no right to come into the center of the
city. The bill, as finally passed. however.
and approved July 3, 1892, did bring the
road to 7th street northeast, by wide cir
cult of single track and largely over the
tracks Of other companies. 1t was also
provided that the routes exterior to the
city should first be built.
I'm concluding the report on the Dill the
committee expressed its doubt as to the
practicability of the road, by saying:
Should the rpad be built it will afford
: deDces. In case the incorporators should
rot see their way clear to construct the
read the charter expires by limitation
The C"mpnny's Application.
1.-The road was not built, and the COM
pany came to Congress for a renewal of
it's charter; or, rather, for a new route
within the city and the removal Of certain
restrictions imposed in the original charter.
The bill was referred to the Commission
ers of the District of Columbia, who for
two months pondered the problems pre-
SenteQ, ana tnen reported III .IaNOF OF Il
route different from that asked by the
incorporators. Between the Gate Of the
Commissioners report Ouly 13, 1S9D and
the reassembling of Congress in December
change of the Columbia road from horse
to cable power. 1t was no longer prac-
ticable to use the Columbia roads tracks
for the new line.
Home road, acting under orders from Con-
gress, had extended its line across East
Washington, thus making a road between
the Columbia and lexington unnecessary
to the public.
''The Commissioners, however, had these
matters under consideration when the
proposition was made that the Columbia
road extend its lines out the Bladensburg
and the Benning roads, and for a single
fare carry a passenger over the lines
operated by the Columbia and Met-opoli-
tan railways. So far as the public are
concerned this plan offers a simple and
effective manner of providing for opening
up territory that in the course of a
few years will doubtless afford a traffic
sufficient to make such extensions possible.
The Commissioners therefore, have
amended the bill to provide for the Ben
ming road extension.
The Transfer Agreement.
1.-The District of Columbia suburban biII
however, promises a network of lines in
the territory between Brookland and Flor
ida avenue; and the proposed incorporators
have agreed to eliminate from their route
all those portions lying within the bound
aries of the city of Washington on condf-
ton that satisfactory transfer arrange
ments be made with the urban roads to
transport passengers to and from the Gen.
ter Market for 3 cents in addition to the
regular fare. This arrangement has been
agreed to on the part of the urban COM
panies as will appear by memorandum
attached.
"Other amendments provide for the COM
pletion of the road within two years, under
a penalty of the forfeiture of the charter
for the protection of the country roads, and
for certain restrictions the issue of
bonds. The attention which this project
has received during the past four years is
indicated by the annexed documents"
History of the Company.
These documents form a thick bundle,
and include, first. long letter from Gil
bert Meyer, president, and Geo. p. Davis,
vice president Of the Suburban company,
to Senator Harris, giving a history of the
company and it's efforts to establish the
road This letter is dated January %, 1895,
and shows that the incorporators had paid
out S11 1,346.15 to date. Next comes a re-
port Of the stock holdings, as follows:
Jere Johnson, $500; Gilbert Meyers, $500;
Geo. P. Davis, 81. 745; w. B. Peuncr, $50;
L. C. Loomis, S1,O45; D. w. Classic, $500:
P. W. Chew, $50; T: W; Matthews, $50;
Dewey, $40; H. Barton, s21O; S. e. Mudd,
$50: C. A. Baker, s10O; l. ]. Baker, 500;
]. w. Childress. $500; T. C. Daniel, $3.50;
Wright Rives. $50; H. L. Wright, SIS; Jas
Mckenna, $40; d. G. Cleveland, SIS; N T.
Mudd. $40; NJ. L. Smith, $50; NJ. T. Tally.
so; j. T. and H. E. Ward, $50; John Lee.
s3n4; J. L. Sherwood, $15; w. F. Staley,
$50: ]. A. Blundon. $50; T. w. Smith, SIS:
a total of. SS0S0.
Accompanying this statement is one con-
corning the present financial condition of
the company, showing an expenditure of
$3,O30.0 for survey and construction, $442
for furniture, Sl,345 for right of way, ST.
136.0S for expenses, and other items aggre-
eating $S,065.37, leaving 4 balance on hand
of s1I.63.
There is also a long and numerously
signed petition from residents and owners
on the line of the proposed road, asking for
the legislation. The report of the Commits
sioners on the original BILL dated July IL,
1894 is also appended, and then comes
letter to the District committee of the Sen
ate, signed by Senators Hill and Daniel
urging action on the bill, dated February
II last The Senators, after reviewing the
case briefly, said:
Plea OF Senator'S Hill and Daniel.
1.-The company being unable to complete