Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-17
Hearing on the Request to Extend
Its Charter.
ARGUMENTS IN ITS FAVOR
Necessities That Are Said to Gov
ern the Case.
STATISTICS OF THE COMPANY

The subcommittee Of the House District
committee gave hearing this morning to
representatives of the Suburban Railroad
Company. Mr.. George p. Davis made an
argument in behalf of House bill 1852 to
amend tho act Incorporating the Suburban
Railway Company's charter, by extending
the charter.
Mr.. Davis explained what the company
had already done and the reasons for delay
in work in 1892 when this charter was first
granted. He said that the bill proposed to
be adopted at this time is exactly what
passed the last Congress, but got to the
President on the day Of adjournment-too
late for his approval. The only amendment
they proposed was to correct an mad
vertent omission in the bill as passed by
the last Congress, by which gap OF two
squares was left in their line at the inter-
section with the Columbia road. They pro-
posed to correct this by providing for the
route along 18th street from Florida avenue
to H street He said that the company
surrendered their route within the city and
desired no more than this connecting INK
Conditions Have Changed.
Since the granting of their original char
ter conditions had changed, he said, so
that there was not now the same necessity
for the city portion of this route.
Mr. Gilbert Mayors president of the road.
next spoke in support of the bill. he SAID
that he thought the company had just
claim for an eXteLsion of their charter.
The construction CT the road had been de-
layed by unavoidable difficulties. Inc gen
eral business depression of the country ma q
delayed all sorts Of enterprises. He SAID
they had never had an extension OF time
Such enterprises usually had to get extern
sons of tme not once only, but often TWO
or three times. This company. he said,
had acted in good faith and expended over
the District He said that the District
Commissioners had twice approved TINS
bill. and he did not know why they hao
changed their minds and advised the eA-
tension of the Columbia road the eSteh-
sion Of the Columbia road approved ne
said. did not give the facilities necessary
while this road accommodated all demand.
Rersons for the Request.
He read to the CT mmittee the explanation
made in a letter to the District Commits
sioners of the reasons for their request for
An extension of time.
In this letter the company said 1t would
show that pursuant to charter provisions,
the company was duly organized August
10, 1892, by the election of board of di-
rectors and the proper officers; that the
company proceeded. with the utmost eHpe-
dition to cause survey of route plans and
specifications for grading, track laying.
ETC., to be made, invited proposals Tor grad
Ing, track laying, rails. ties. special WORK,
power plant, trolley construction, rolling
stock, and secured right or way.
The Work Already Done.
In accordance with the proposals re-
ceiped and accepted, the work of c"nstruc-
ton was commenced December %. >o32, by
grading two blocks on 18th street in Brook
ha
continued until some time in January. 1S33.
when the sew. rity of the winter compelled
| a temporary suspension. Contracts for the
construction and equipment OF the road.
comprising. as per survey, 1891 rect SoVer
| eight r1iles) inside the District had been
made but the financial difficulties of May.
1893, rendered further work at That time
/ impracticGble. 1907,
| Pending the delay on September II. 1893.
| by bill H. r. 1872, the company declares 1t
asked for such amendment to the charter
| as the survey and time for reflection indi-
| Gated to be advantageous. both to the com
pany and the public, and has from that
| time constantly urged consideration of the
| amended route. Endorsed and sustained by
hundreds of bona fde property owners,
| whose petitions are on file, wherein every
| man gives his residence, comprising more
! than four-fifths of the property owners
| and residents whose interests are involved.
| The amount expended, for which vouch-
| ers are on file in the office of the company
4
! scriptions as per annual report and liza
bllities is S11,34615.
Extensions Have Been the Rule.
| The company invites attention to the fact
| that extension of time for construction"
has been the rule as TO street railroads in
| the District, even under ordinary financial
| conditions and under prevailing condt-
| tions it only asks such additional time
| as has been accorded to all other companies
| without regard to the amount expended on
| the work performed. Under the amended
| bill now presented the road is purely
| suburban, with the exception of two blocks
| on 18th street from Florida avenue to X
| street, to connect with the Columbia cable
| lire.
| it may be proper to say that the incor-
| porators of the road. in conjunction with
| citizens of the state of Maryland, have
| obtained from that state charter for the
| extension of the Bladensburg line about
| four miles in the state of Maryland Tor
| the accommodation of those towns lying
| to the south of the Baltimore and Ohio
| railroad, but which are without railway
| facilities.
Say Another Road is Unnecessary.
1--WE respectfully submit that the extern
| sion of another road over our Bladens-
| burg line is not only unnecessary, but
would destroy the autonomy of our entire
|
| Maryland towns of railway facilities and
| practically result in the confiscation of the
| money already paid by the stockholders of
| our road.
1--WE therefore protest against the extern
| sion Of the Lexington and Soldiers Home
railway on Bladensburg road from Florida
| avenue to the District line.
| I'VE respectfully ask that our amended
| bill, with the following amendments as
| to route and location of track, may
| receive your early and favorable con-
sideration: Amendment. and from Mt
Oliyet street along 18th street east to II
| street north. Provided: That the location
| of the tracks on the Bladensburg road be
| subject to the approval Of the Commission
| ers Of the District of Columbia"
Citizens Said to BE Anxious.
| Dr. LOOMS said that the people in the
| section Of the country traversed by this
road were very anxious for its construc-
| ton The proposed extension Of the Colum
| bia road would not give the relief needed,
| as it would rot reach the places reached by
| the Suburban road.
| Judge Wilson, representing the Columbia
| read, explained the proposition to extend
| nd to lat 70