Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-09
RAILROAD HEARING
Rival Roads Want to Run Out 22d
Street.
ARGUMENTS BEFORE COMMISSIONERS
Some Feeling Shown Between the
Presidents.
THE COLUMBIA ROAD BILL

l. he ZULU MblA hOAD BILL
House bill 276S which has for it's object
an amendment of the charter of the Co.
lumbia railway and for other PURPOSES was
the subject of interesting and spirited
hearing before the District Commissioners
this morning. The bill seeks to extend the
line of the Columbia road from its present
terminus at 18th street. up 18th street to
II street north, along to nth, to +,
thence along to New Hampshire avenue,
and along New Hampshire avenue to the
Potomac river, and with a single track
from the intersection of New Hampshire
avenue. and F street, along New Hamp
shire avenue to G, along G to 18th, there
to connect with the double track from II
street. with the right at any time to ex-
tend its line with single double tracks
from the intersection of F or G and ODD
streets west along 23d street to the Poto-
mac river.
ton of the Columbia and Metropolitan
railways.
The hearing was set for II o'clock. and
the projectors of the bill as we'll the
opponents were promptly on hand when
Commissioner Ross called the hearing to
order. Mr.. Nathaniel Wilson. attorney for
the Columbia road. was the first speaker.
He explained the bill in detail, and referred
to it's similarity. with a bill favorably re-
ported last session. The objection Of the
Capital Traction Company to the use of
its road before the Presidents house had
been overcome by the present bill. If the
bill was passed the Columbia road would
equip it's cars with suitable apparatus to
enable it to use the underground trolley
from the corner of 18th and New York
avenue to H street. where it would use the
tracks and power of the Metropolitan road
as far west as 18th street. The Columbia
road. he argued, was entitled to a favora-
ole report upon the bill. 1t was the first
to ask for the extension, and was most
DESTROYS of accommodating it's patrons, IS
we'll as obtaining better terminus facili-
ties. He read the report of the subcom-
and rested his case, because he said the
report was quite to the point and Illus
trated better than he could the rights of
the company in the matter
Some Objections.
He was followed by Mr.. Perry Meyers
who stated he represented the residents
and property owners on 22d street, that is
9S per cent of them all, with the exception
of two or three druggists ana several bar
rooms. His clients, he said, saw no neces-
sty for railroad on -hat street There
were railroads all around them. There was
no demand for railroad north and south
He said In conclusion that if either road
was entitled to benefits it was the Metro
politan road, which had served the people
well.
President Dunlop Of the Capital Traction
Company was next heard. He did not speak
long, but what he said was to the point
and he succeeded in stirring the ire of the
president OF the Metropolitan road There
was an assault of words, cunning inuen-
does, and then the ruffied waters of debate
We're stilled and the president of the North
east Washington Citizens Association bad
say.
Mr.. DunlOp's Ideas.
President Dunlop, in commencing his talk
said the bill before the Commissioners was
not for an extension of the Columbia road
1t was in reality an extension of the Metro
politan railroad He referred to a COMPARE
son made by the attorney of the Columbia
road Of the relative lengths of the Capital
traction system and the combined lengths
Of the Columbia and Metropolitan roads
He said from total length of twenty-one
miles last year, the Capital Traction Com
pany had increased it's mileage to thirtv-
six miles, while the combined length of the
other two roads was twenty-six miles His
company was acting in good faith. 1t was
desirOus of getting the extensions asked
because it believed there was a necessity
for it,
II such an extension were granted, the
capital Traction Company could take pas
senSers from the proposed Memorial bridge
to North Capitol street on the east he
sides transferring at it's intermediate north
and south intersections. 1t would be a
grand east and west trunk line. But this
matter he thought could be settled to the
satisfaction of all concerned The Capi1al
traction Company was ready and willing
to transfer free with the Columbia road at
18th street. Several years ago, he said, an
of1er was made to transfer upon the same
basis as with the lexington, namely, for
cents, but the Columbia road refused
Now the Capital Traction Company was
willing to enter into free transfer ar
rangement.
Attorney Wilson here interrupted the
speaker, and said the Columbia road had
agreed to transfer free when the old w.
and G: r. r: Company first made the offer
President Dunlop replied that was cor
rect, but the proposition was refused on
the ground that 1t would be unfair to the
other companies that were paying for the
privilege.
Continuing, President Dunlop said there
was great need for a north and south line
at 22d street. He had made a personal in
vestigation of the situation himself and had
found that more people were put off the
cars of the Capitol Traction Company at
22d street than at any other cross street
on the entire line with the exception of It'll
street. His company wanted an extension
over the same territory as that proposed by
the Columbia. He thought, in view of the
fact that the road was adjacent to the
territory, the privilege of that section be-
longed to the company. Then the road was
anxious 10 get u connection from the west
with the Chevy Chase line, in order that
its patrons out there would be able to get
into the western part Of the city direct.
Presidents Clash.
resident Phillips of the Metropolitan
railroad was the next speaker, and he
thanked President Dunlop for the gratui-
tous Information he had furnished regard
ing the Metropolitsn road. 1t was not
scheme of extension for that road, he said,
and he characterized Mr.. Dunlop's refer
cree thereto as a piece of impertinence.
Then he took another method of hitting
beck, and by way of explanation declared
that he had not intended to submit the
amer dment he held in mis- hand but since
President Dunlop had been so liberal in
his offer to trar sfer with the Columbia
read. PERHAPS he would not object to trans
ferring free with the Metropolitan road at
the corner Ct 14th and H streets In this
connection he desired to submit an amend
ment to be added to the pending bill of
the Capital Traction Company. known as
Senate bill 100. He read the proposed
amendment, which provided for the free
trarsfer CT passengers of both lines at the
corner of 14th and II streets, with a pen
atty clause of Sfo0 day for each violation