The morning times., 1896-02-18

Among the papers filed with the COM
mlssioners yesterday, at the hearing given
the advocates and opponents of bills now
before Congress for the extension of ex-
listing street railways. were three that
entered largely into details OF the reasons
for opposition To projected lines, and but
one brief Endorsement OF singleroute asked
lor. Ex-senator MauuerSon denominatest the
proposed lines as a scheme in the interest OF
real estate speculation.
Congressman Ca,chings wrote the board
4 letter TO say that, propertyholder, he
favors the measure for the extension OF
Seventeenth ami NJ street lines, and cX-
pressed The hope that the Commissioners
would approve the BILL
Mr. Catchings said he was satisfied the
extension would greally benefit the general
public ana really hurt nobody.
Ex-senator Manderson took sides against
the Seventeenth street project. Proposed
new lines he says, "oT extension OF those
already existing, have for their object, not
the convenience of the residents in the heart
OF The city, but the advancement OF real
estate speculation outside
Washington is not a city, he said, by
reason of its commercial character and the
presence of outside manufacturing which
needs to be gridironed by street car lines,
"and surely he adds, franchises of this
character shoIld not be granted to subserve
private interests.
Indeed, the experience OF the best gov
e-ned cities In this and the Old World dem
unstrate the truth of the proposition that
the best results are Obtained when the
municipalities own and control their own
street transportation"
MUNICIPAL CONTROL FAVORED.
The Senator continues: "The more ad-
vancei thought IN municipal control is that
either the municipality should own its lines
To the profit and advancement of all the
people, or else, when the franchise is granted
il should be Iiberally paid for, and be
source OF indirect revenue 10 the munich
pality.
washington should be the modern mu-
nicipal government OF The country, and
hope the time may come when the expert
ment OF government ownership of all that
goes to the supply of public comfort and ad-
vancement will obtain i'll the Capital City
OF the nation.
I'm the case in hand, the franchise that
proposes TO use II or NJ or L street in con-
nectton with Seventeenth as means OF
extending inside lines 10 reach outside
property and Rock Greek should not be
granted.
"Seventeenth street is well improved
with residence property from the bound
airy TO FarraEut Square. Nine-tenths OF
those owning property upon it stand on
way purposes. II is one of the narrow
streets of the city, with limited parking,
narrow pavcments and an excellent growth
OF trees on the curb line. To lay track
upon that street would require the cutting
down OF the trees. the extension OF the
curb TO very near the lot lines and the ex-
tnction OF the parking.
THE injury TO property would be encr-
nous. When the owners built their houses
they had a right to expect that the trees
and the parking would be maintained. 70
now destroy trees and parking would surely
be injurious To their right of easement,
and give them, instead OF a convenience
an unsightly inconvenience"
CALLS IT A SCHEME.
The Senator calls attention to existing
lines on Fourteenth street and Connecticut
avenue, respectively asan argument against
the introduction Of a new road, anu says:
1T is understood that this scheme is
one in which those who are not citizens
! Of the District are largely interested and
| this fact should carry weight Of opposition
to the plan proposed. l am not real
estate owner in the city. and my interest
In this matter is prompted 10y my feeling OF
| friendIinass to my Eeiglbors of few years
ago and my earnest desire as citizen
that washington. the eternal city of the
eternal republic" shall not be delaced for
purposes of private speculation"
| letter from President Ross. dated
March 3, 1894, was quoted by Senator
| Henderson, in which the position was
| taken by the Commissioners that the use
| Of the street for street railway purposes
| was inadvisable, for many reasons then
given and the Senator says every word
! the Commissioner wrote is as true now as
| then and he hopes 1.-THE persistence OF the
| sclf-interested gen;leolcn Will avail them
/ IA, E,, N.fr sffp oil
The protest filed by the Metropolitan
| Railroad Company against the extension
! OF the lexington and Soldiers Home Rail
| way. road on Seventeenth street, from
| Florida avenue south to II street, and thence
over the tracks OF the Metropolitan line
on II street, from Seventeenth 10 Four
| teeDth streets, and thence TO & street, was
| voluminouS document.
| 1t was stated 10 be not necessary to
| put another line in that section, with tht
| existing lines and the public herdics occu
pying the field.
Also, that such n line could be no real
| advantage TO the lexington and Soldiers
| Home system, and ii was regarded TO be
| incomprehensible why that company should
| desire TO extend in n field where it would
be practically paralleled on both sides
| within one square.
WILL NOT PAY EXPENSES.
IT was predicted that if the lexington
| Company secures its franchise and is ccm-
PEELED To put in Il substantial underground
electric system, it VIII never pay its ex-
penses and the interest on the money Dor.
rowed TO build il.
| 1t was also argued that there is no need
Of the l. and n street line, and il was as
serted that for The reason that the drift
| of travel is not east ANA west. the NJ and L
street line will be no more patroniZeo
than the Belt line has been on o and T
streets.
"If the Relt line desires to go to the
ZooIog icaI Park from Eleventh street
by way of some cross street or by Florida
avenue to Seventeenth street" Mr.. Phillips
says, there isno valid reason why the com
pany should not be INDUCED; but there il
no demand for it, and the company vii
suffer the penalty OF its folly as surely as il
builds it."
President Phillips can see no demand
either. for tue line from II street east OF
| Eighth street TO the navy yard.
The truth is" he said. in his SUMMING
! up, There is no need of a single line tha
either the lexington or the Belt road
have laid out, ard the more they build th
worse they viii be Off"
The pro iected road on Seventeenth street
In the language of President Phillips
''Such a railroad on Seventeenth stree
would be a great dctriment to the Metro
politan Company"
He then proceeds TO detail the ma Gnitud
of the present enterprise of the Metropolita
Company, in the building of its under
ground system, and says: "Surely it