The evening times., 1896-08-29
THEIR EYES ON WASHINGTON
City Threatened by Overhead
Trolley Syndicate.
FIGHTING FOR A FOOTHOLD
Capital Railway Company Believed to
BE Receiving Financial Aid From
the Philadelphia yndicate-Poto-
mae Electric Company Said to BE
vitally Interested.

The Capital Railway. Company, Which
secured charter from Congress at the last
session to build line from Shepherds
Ferry landing. opposite Alexandria, across
Congress Heights, through Anacostia, and
over the Navy Yard Bridge TO connect with
the Capital Traction Company, is actively
engaged in the construction or its road.
The beginning was made some time ago at
Shepherds Ferry and is coming this way.
A E Rapdle says that he has the money
to complete the line, and the question is
asked ON many sides, where does it come
from? A shrewd guess has been made that
tits being supplied b. tie trolley syndicate
OF Philadelphia, with which are associated
the names of Messrs. EIkins, Dolan and
Widener.
1t is also said that the company has
vital connection with tile Potomac Electric
Company, which, for nearly year, has
been making q fight for fcothold in this
city. The Potomac Company processes, as
docs Mr. Randie, to have ample capital.
1t is reaching out on every side to get
possession of franchises and rights of way.
thas hold On lexington, from which
its man plant is cut off by two or three
miles OF territory. 1t stretches one arm
out to Ballston and beyond toward Falls
Church and another beyond Tenleyto .-n,
and reaches away to Glen Echo. With
the trolley interests to back it, tie cosl-
pany may buy the Brightwood road and
form a connection with the Capital Trac-
ton Company's overhead trolley line to
Chevy Chase. 1t would then have trolley
lines on all sides of the city, except the
southeast. If it owns the charter secured
by Mr.. Randle it would not, lack a hold
III that quarter.
LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE.
When Mr.. Randle was seeking his charter
last winter and spring he had the support
of Representative A. c. Harmer of Ger
mantown, Pa. Mr. Harmer said he was
interested in the matter on account of his
constituents, the Cramps, the great ship
builders. In addition to this, Mr., Randle's
brother, Dr. Randle, of Philadelphia, is
a son-in-law OF Gen. Harmer, while Mr..
Randle himself married a daughter-in-law
of Gen. Harmer.
Mrs. Randle has considerable means in
her own name, but it | S not believed that
she would investit in this railway project.
With street car line already in operation
over the best part OF the right of way
to be occupied, and that company conf.S=-
edly not able to do profitable business,
it / S not easy to see how the Capital COM
pany hopes to make money by extending
its line q few miles farther into the country.
1t is argued from this that some concern
that cares little for Immediate profits, but
has plans far in the future. has hold of the
enterprise. That concern is believed to be
the same that is raising its troile y poles and
extending its lines OF dangerous wires
every way out of Washington.
While Congress was in session President
Crosby, of the Potomac Company. said his
company had arranged to effect a con.
nection with the Anacostia Street Rail
way line nnerated by Mr.. Griswold. The
plan was for his company to join with the
Metropolitan line nd run its cars through
from Tenleytown to Center Market, where
aloop would be formed and connection es-
tablished with the Anacosta line. In
this way the T otonac Company could supply
power to take the place of Mr.. Griswold's
horses and mules.
The Metropolitan Company, however,
stepped in and spoiled all this by obtaining
some privileges for itself. This company
was never favorable to The plan proposed
by Mr.. Crosby and no terms for a running
arrangement satisfactory to its owners was
ever offered them.
President Crosby, at the same time Sc
was negotiating with Mr.. Griswold, was not
unfrendly to Mfr. Randle and his projected
line AS soon as the connection with the
Anacostia line was lost it was natural that
he should take more interest in the Capt.
tai ,Company's line and attempt to secure
the same advantages through it which he
had sought through the other company
POTOMAC COMPANY's FIGHT.
The Potomac Company is now making
desperate fight for the privilege Of lay
ing electric light and power lines all through