Evening star., 1896-03-30
PUBLIC AND RAILROADS
Matters Pending Before Congress Concern
ing Local Lines.
No Provision in the Pending Bill for
Rapid Transit In AnacOstia-The
lexington Situation.

Mr.. T. p. Kane has written to Senator
Mcmillan, inclossng two petitions contain
ing 1O4 names Of citizens Of Washington,
urging the passage of Senate bill No. 1856.
requiring the lexington and Soldiers
Home Railway Company to adopt modern
motive power. He said: II also inclcse, as
an Endorsement of this bill, and Of the po-
sition assumed by these petitioners, copy
of an editorial on the subject, which ap-
peared in The Evening Star yesterday
March 20, to which / beg leave to invite
your personal attention In connection with
this bill I do also desire to invite your at
tention to the statement published in the
same edition of The Star, that the attor-
ney for the District has just rendered an
opinion to the Commissioners to the ef-
iect that they have no authority of law
10 permit the lexington and Soldiers
Home Railway Company to substitute for
the horses now used the compressed air
motors, which the president of that COM
pany has indicated his desire to at once
put on. ard that Congress alone can grant
the company authority to equip its line
with surface motors. Such being the case,
the immediate passage Of the bill above
referred to will afford the company the
.ehe1 and authority sought. because under
Its provisions they can use any modern
electric, cable. or other motive power as
Snall be approved by the Commissioners
OF the District of Columbia except over
fore that the committee will promptly re-
port this bill in order that it may be en-
acted into law before the adjournment of
the present session, and relieve this COM
pany OF its present embarrassment
The Anacostfa Railroad.
Some comment has been caused by the
fact that the bill recently presented to
the Senate at the request Of President
Griswold of the Anacostia Railway Com
pany, makes no definite provision for the
substitution Of rapid transit for horses on
the line now existing in Anacostia, and
this has raised the question in the minds
of some residents of that suburb whether
this is the intention Of the company. The
express requirement as to the substitution
of rapid transit methods applies directly
only as to the city line, and the bill par
ticularly notes the commencement of this
improvement at the north abutment of
the Navy Yard bridge. There is, in the
second section. positive requirement to
substitute rapid transit on all "other lines
or branches in the city of Washington"
but this, Of course, does not apply to Ana
costa. The third section grants an extern
sion up 18th street to Florida avenue. and
in addition to this, falling within the des-
ignation of "other branches" there is a spe-
cific requirement that this line shall be
Similarly" constructed. But there is moth
ing in the section which authorizes the ex-
trjct line that requires the use of rapid
transit except on such portion as may lie
within the city limits. The section which
applies directly to the Anacostia division
of the road reads thus: Upon the adop-
tion of any approved modern system Of
transit, the said company shall Immediate
ly proceed to construct, equip and operate
that portion Of its route from the Wash
ington end of Of the Navy Yard bridge
along Nichols avenue, past the Govern
nent Hospital for the Insane, to Congress
Heights. and. to point rear to or opposite
the Giesbcro' public school building; also
from it's tracks on Monroe street. at the
corner If Harrison street. along said Har-
risol street and the Good Hope road to u
point near to or opposite Overlook Inn.'
Doubtless the bill will be amended in
committee. If it should receive favorable
consideration, go to supply these ap-
parent omissions, that may require specific
provisions. Inadvertently The Stars ac-
count of the bill Thursday was erroneous
In stating that five years were in all grant
ed by the measure for the adoption Of
rapid transit.
AS the bill itself stated there will be two
years allowed for trials of various motors
and one year additional for the installa-
tion Of an underground electric plant in
case the experiments with motors should
fall. thus making three years in all