Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-01

drill, and Sec
ond prize In the maiden class In all amount
ing TO $2,250 In cash, and at the same time
earned national reputation. The National
rencioies, who twice I'm succession won the
championship OF the United States stood
sixth at Memphis. owing to an unfortunate
error.
The companies were accorded an elaborate
reception on their return
The brigade went in to camn at Fort ura.,,
ington Tor ten days. beginning June IA n
peinS the first outing under canvas as a
brigade since 1880. A number of new fea-
lures were introduced and the encamnr,ent
proved very valu BILE and was daiiy v1sitaS
by large throngs from the city on the day
OF the return a brigade dress parade ana
revleW was held on the White Lot. Capt.
constantine Chase and Lieut.. Gordon n
He'ner or the fourth United States artularv
were detailed 10 attend the encampment as
instructors, IN st and in hts report 10 the Secre-
eaIy OF war. Capt. Chase spoke in the nigh
est terms of the efficiency of fine brigaSa
and did not make one unfayorable CRITICISM
ABOUT the time of the encampment troon A
tendad NJ NJ patsery A both INDUCED In ex-
oenaeo practice marches
After persisting for eight wears in vo.,n,
" rem SIN an Independent military com
pany' the National Rifles through the ef-
noiicv " reltain OF the members, changed it's
poicy, ana IN June was formally mustered
lnto the National Guard and assigned as
comnany b, second battalion The CON-
5 5any sent team to the st. Louis Interstate
orlli IN July, and won third prize in tha in
terstate class and second prize in the maiden
class, with 1,35O in cash ' '''e ''ie'ueh
A detachment of rif1emen departed Aueust
b ?, Iof the matches at Sea Girt. n. j. The
brigade team again won the Hilton tronb,,
breaking the worlds record in doing So
Inc engineer team carried off the repi
inentai. match, and a goodly share OF the
Thn hu; prizes also came to the District.
its return "eieoieu on
"A stir-up of some magnitude occurred in
tsUIeihoer; when company b. fourth bat
A
dlsbanded, and companies B and G. third
battalion, were consolidated with companies
A AND ID. third battalion. The practical dis
oal,uiIeht OF company c, first battalion,
early In December was a general surnIise
ine Inauguration of a series Of rifle names
between company, battalion and reeimantal
teams, made compulsory by general orders.
was an interesting feature that marked The
Close of the year.
Street Railways.
In the street railway world the year 1895
was 1raught VITA events Of momentous i'm
portance to the various systems operated
within the District Of Columbia and the
public who patronized them. The month Of
September saw the last act in a struggle
that had been waged for years against the
continuance n the national capital OF the
outrageous nuisance known as the overhead
trolley. The Evening Star had been the
most vigorous champion engaged on the
side OF law and intelligence in this pro-
tracted night and its incessant attacks
eventually won the victory that so many
had despaired Of ever being reached. This
achievement may be properly set down as
the most Important event Of the year, be-
cause 1t effectually put an END to the hopes
and Intentions of those who had fondly an
ticipated covering the city with the system
and destroying the beauty of its streets,
while endangering the life and property Of
Its citizens. A law had been passed at the
last session of the Fifty-third Congress
directing that the poles and overhead wires
erected and used by the lexington and Sol.
diers' Home Railroad Company should be
taken down on or before June 30. 1895 The
company, however, failed to comply with
this direct mandate, and gave various ex-
cuses Tor Its refusal to do so, but the courts
feated corporation began the work of re-
moving the obstructions, and a few DAVIS
later saw the last trolley pole within the
city limits removed for good.
In February arrangements were made by
several of the street and suburban railways
for system of transfers, which resulted
In great improvement to the comfort and
convenience of their patrons, and this agree
ment was in force until recently, when the
Metropolitan road retired from its under
standing with the Belt and lexington lines
where those roads intersect In March the
Belt line changed the running of its cars az
a belt system, and great complaint resulted.
During the summer the old order of things
was restored, but in November the return
disconnected N.
ming the cars, and this is still in operation
March was also significant for two irnpor-
tant changes. The Herdic Company reduc-
ed the fares on its coaches to 3 cents and
Immediately began to receive a substantial
increase in patronage. The Metropolitan
Company aiso began to place an electric un-
foreground system on its 9th street branch
being an improvement on the famous Buda-
Pesth system, which had been SO successful
In Europe. due to inventions of Engineer
Connect OF the Metropolitan Company. The
work was rapidly pushed, and in August the
line was fully completed and equipped. It
has been successful from the start and the
same system is now being placed on TIE
main branch Of the Metropolitan road from
West Washington to the far eastern portion
Of the city. Owing to the danger arising
from rapidly moving cars through the cIty
streets to pedestrians crossing in front OF
them the District Commissioners in Apr.!l
took up the subject of car tenders. and
shortly afterward an order was issued conn
pelling all cable and electric cars to be sup
piled with safety tenders and wheel guards.
In the course of few months this order was
generally compiled with. In April also the
long-expected trouble which had been
brewing between the employees and the off,
Gals Of the Anacostia railroad eliminated
in strike, which was continued for some
days, and resulted In the complete tie-up Of
the road. temporary truce was secured
but in July the strike was repeated and
again on October 30 the difficulty was re-
newed. This trouble is not yet settled. The
company Is operating its cars, but the strik-
ing employees are running line of buses,
which are generally patronized by the resi-
dents OF Anacostia, who sympathize with
the former employees.
In July the Washington and Georgetown
Railroad Company issued $500. 200 in bonds
to pay extraordinary expenses incurred In
changing its lines from a horse to & cable
system, and about the same time rumors
began to be spread regarding the consolida-
ton Of that road with the Rock Creek and
Chevy Chase Company. On September q
this consolidation was accomplished, and
the Washington and Georgetown ard the
Chevy Chase properties became the Capital
Traction Company, with a capital of sl2-
100000. divided into shares. which were ex-
changed for the stock and bonds of the
Washington and Georgetown and for the
stock Of the Rock Creek and Chevy Chase
Company.
In October the Metropolitan Company be-
gan to put in the Connect electric under
ground system on its main lines, traversine
the city from east to west, and this work Is
now in progress. In November the Ecking-
ton Company announced that 1t proposed to
experiment with compassionate motors on
its lines, and the project is still under con-
sideraticn. During the year the Washing
ton and Georgetown railroad began the
erection of union depot in West Washing
ton, and the foundation is now completed.
The lexington and Belt lines changed
hands during the year, the formers owners,
Messrs. Widener, Dolan and Elkins of Phila-