Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-13
Street Railroad Liquidation.

asked for at the session of Congress just
closed was not secured, still laws Of con-
siderable Importance. were enacted. Ex-
tensions of line of comparatively slight con-
sequence were granted to the lexington
and Belt roads, but the most important
clause in the bill, at least to the public, was
the one which requires that these COM
panies within six months after the passage
of the bill shall cease to use horse power
On their lines. If this law can be enforced
the citizens will enjoy within the period
named rapid transit on both these roads.
With the solitary exception of the Ana
costa road. which is still allowed to run
its One-horSe bObAtall cars up into the heart
of the city, all the street railroads of the
city will be equipped with modern rapid
transit systems by the close of the present
year. Next month it is expected that the
F street line of the Metropolitan road will
he operated by the electric underground
system, and when that is accomplished
what may be termed the two trunk lines
of the city's railroad system will be oper-
ated by modern systems.
The comparatively rapid progress made
in this direction is a matter of genuine in
terest to the citizens whose daily business
Is greatly facilitated by the retirement of
the horse car. and, in addition. the values
of property are appreciated and localities
are brought into the market as desirab BILE
Places for residence or for business which
under other conditions might be still unim-
proved.
Increased Facilities.
Another measure of Importance was the
charter of the Capital Railway Company,
which is authorized to build road from
Anacostia so as to make direct connection
with the Capital Traction Company and
the Metropolitan. That section of the sub
urbs across the Eastern branch is one of
the most attractive, and its development is
naturally largely dependent upon adequate
street railroad communication with the
city. 1t is believed that this will be Sc
cured by the line which this company is
authorized to build.
Another feature of the railroad legisla-
ton of the last session was the clause
| relating to trackage arrangements between
the Metropolitan road and intcrsecting
roads. The new law, as 1t Is generally
| understood, provides that trailer cars may
be run over the Metropolitan, for exam
pie, from the Brigh.wcod and Tenley-
town road, the fares being collected by
each roaC through its own territory. I'm
der the provisions Of the law of '94 the
Metropolitan Railroad Company was re-
quled to enter into reciprocal trackage
arrangements with connecting roads, and
this is understood to mean that the en-
tire trains CT the connecting roads could
be run over the Metropolitan lines, so that
suburban passengers could come directly
from their homes in the country to the
heart of the city without a change Of cars.
The law Of 94 was amended at the last
session, and, as construed, its provisions
limit the tfackdge arrangements TO the
passage of the trailer cars and not of the
motor cars. Whether this new legfs1a-
ticn will lead to better facilities for subur-
ban residence remains to be seen. At
present persons living in the country can
come In over the roads mentioned by the
| use of tickets which they purchase at the
rate of four for % cents.
As ar Investment.
Recently several real estate brokers have
been visited by a representative of an
extensive building association in the city