The evening times., 1896-02-17

The Commissioners gave audience TODAY
to the advocates and opponents OF street
railway extension over lines projected by
companies existing In the District. and itthe
| SAME time heard over again the arguments
advanced by the rival lines for rights Of way
| through disputed territory
Ihe hearing attracted "a large attendance
| ofieading railway representatives. including
President Phillips OF the MetropOlitan
PRESIDENT Eaker and Attorney Wilson OF
| Columbia. President Dunlop and Vice
! frcsidcntGloverofth the Ca pital Traction and
| Manager Schoepf OF the Iielt. In adiition
the citizens interested were present In large
numbers.
| The hearing had nothing to do with .he
| Introduction OF new lines. These are to he
| considered independently ard have bills
| before Congress In their individual interests
respectively. which are from time to time
brought to the attention OF the board by
| reference from Congress.
| Five companies were interested in to
days discussion. the Capital Traction,
Metropolitan, Columbia the Belt and the
| lexington and Soilicrs' home the last
| two being recognized as under the same
! management. \ statement showing In de-
| tail the extensions. changes and ab1rdon-
| cnlnt OF routes, pro .cCted, wa published
| i'll The Evening Times or Thursday last.
nI RAJ tOhE An
The first Of the five to be heard was the
| Capital Traction, which seeks an extern
| sion to the northwest section, beginning
| at Seventeenth street and Pennsylvania
avenue, theace to G. and by that street TO
the river front: thence to street BY way
| OF Tventy-SiNth, and 20 the place OF be-
| ginning. Another branch asked for viii
begin at Twe;.t ty-srcond street. on the river
front; thence TO Florida avenue. ard on
In stas.ff n trA I
to connect with the line hitherto recognized
as the Rock Creek road.
In respect to this route Attorney Wilson
said hc shodld do no more than call at
tcntion {" tiIe OBJECTIONS heretofore filed to
The occupation OF T and Tvcn,y-second
streets, and President Dunlop volunteered
The statement tEat all the Capital Trac-
ton had to say In its behalf bad been al
ready advanced, and unless additional OBJ
lection should be filed he would content
himself with the present status.
The ECkiugton and soldiers Home was
next in order, and a. r. Severn, a member
oi the North Capitol and lexington Citi-
zens' Association read strong paper as
q protest against any further extension OF
the privileges 10 that company until IL shlil
show itself to be willing Hnd competent
to operate the lines it already has.
Mr.. Severn also discussed the lack Of
accommodation, stating that the travel
COnvcnicnceS aud small courtesy. The
transfer system was thoroughly roasted.
and the delays which expose ladies ana
children 10 the inclclicBt weather aud to
insults from the overpresent tramp.
ARRAIGNED THE ROAD.
WIG. Henderson president of tie assocla-
tiOn, followed with a most severe ar
raignnient OF the Ioed. He detailed 1t
great length tte grievances of the pCope,
md fft-t n s.Nt- 4 iE audit he
Il see representatives OF the company
here, and ! want to say to them that the
people have endured this state or affa!rs
Just rs long as II is possible To endure. and
we have come TO the conclusion that the
only way We can get redress 10 20 CuIIIc here
and vigorously protest
Referring 10 the claim that the corporation
receipts do not justify an increase Of aC-
ComnodatiOn. Mr.. Henderson wanted to
know how any company can expect a. make
money with n service so Inadequate. People
walk all tte way to Seventh street De said.
and take the cable cars rather than risk
the slow transit, and there Is a proposition
now being seriously considered "a establish
q hcrdic line as means of increasing ia
CiIities.
DR.. NJ. l.. Bates also argued against the
extension of the EcEinEtoD franchise. lie /
represented the property owners on Sew /
enteeath street northwest. aud said that. |
while many people desired no railway on !
that street. they were particularly opposed |
TO the lexington extension. and he was /
under obligation TO the gentlemen who pre- |
cetl'd him for the able presentation or !
part of bis argument
Dr. Bates detailed the improvements on |
the street that would be destroyed by rer- /
niitting street railway to occupy IL, I
spoke OF the mechanical difficulties that /
would have to be overcome in the matter /
of removing water mains and sewers, aud I!
said that where the people haJ rights that /
would be so seriously disturbed ny admit /
ting a railway 10 the street their wishes /
should be consulted in opposition to any |
argument that could be advanced in favor |
OF '.soulless corporation"
ADVOCATED THE PLAN.
Mr.. W. J. FriZzcll advocated the PROPOSE |
ton OF the Belt Line to establish lire by /
the way OF Eighth street northeast from the |
Columbia Institute to the Navy Yard gate, |
a cross-town route of benefit 10 residents OF
that section. He said he would advocate
that line in behalf Of any company that Will
guarantee to build il.
President SOmervilic of tho Mount Pleas
ant Citizens Association. argued in favor
of the extension OF the lexington road on
Seventeenth street. He was willing to trust
the promise OF the company to give good
service.
do you want the present service OF
the lexington extended TO your seoiion:"
inquired Mr.. 7. 2. Kane of Il North Cap
itol and lexington Association.
Il am willing TO trust the company.
We want the road, and the company prom
iSeS to give US a good service"
Mr.. C. C. DuDcanson objected 10 the oc-
of Seventeenth street. He said
1t was Objectionable to residents, and so
far as serving Mount Pleasant, he could
not see that The People out there needed
additional facilities.
President Dunlop addressed the board
briefly, and promised that If the Commits
sioners would add TO the Capital Traction
bill the privilege of extension beyond the
boundary from Eighteenth and L streets
a line would be built through Mount Pleas
ant that would he thought. give better ac-
than cou'd be afforded by
any other company.
when VIII you build the line?' was
asked.
Just as soon as Congress grants the
privilege" he responded. when Con-
gress authorizes the extension, operations
will be commenced by the company. and it
will be by the underground SYSTEM
Thefirst applause of the day followed this
1t came from the large
and influential Mount Pleasant contingent.
This manifestation Of approval was evi-
IDENTIFY too much for President Phillips, |
of hn Netrnnolt1D He came his |