The morning times., 1896-04-28


Dear Sir: L wish TO thank you per
s0nally for the great help you have
rendered us In our fight for rapid
transit; your editorials have touched
the spot every time.
Yours, respectfully,
r. B. BUCKLEY,
Treasurer Anacostia Citizens Asso-
citation.
The days III which one-horse street cars
will ply between Washington and AnacCstia
are numbered.
The fight OF The Times, Eegun more
than year ago, and since continued with
reasonable persistency, has borne fruit,
and rapid transit for Anaeostia will only
be deferred by the length of time necessary
for construction and equipment purposes
While the other street car companies
operating lines in the District have i'm
proved their motive power TO keep pace
with suburban development and increase
of population, the Anacostia road has
made no progress, still adtering to the
most primitive methods or street railway
mana cement, and in consequence the out
lying districts have been reta rded i'm gro with
and the residents have been forced to be
satisfied with the inadequate transporter
ton facilities afforded.
The Times from the outset insisted that
the Commissioners possessed the authority,
under general legislation, to compel the
AnacoStia line TO improve its equipment.
but no steps were taken in that direction.
PASSED BY THE HOUSE.
The House yesterday. after brief debate.
and with practically no opposition. passed
. 10 -
Capital Railway Company, authorizing that
corporation 10 cross the AnaCOstia bridge.
use certain portions OF the Andcostia Street
Railway Company's tracks. institute a
moiefn underground electric system. fOrIIi-
ing connections both with the Metropolitan
ana Capital Traction lines and comrtiiing
reciprocal transfers to be issued by these
three companies. thus giving 10 the citizens
Of AnacOstia. fOr The first tiIne N tlIe bIs tory
Of that, suburb. prospective, efficient and
suitable transportation facilities.
The bill has already PASSED the Senate
and the amendments added in the House
only shorten the Period in which the line
must he completed. IL is almost certain
that the Senate will acuuieSce in these
notifications and hence IL is close TO a
certainty that the bill Will within ten
days be presented to the President FOR his
approval. This approval will surely be
given. as Mr.. CIevela nd on the 2d of
March. 1895, signed practically SINH
lar meas
FRIENDS IN THE GALLERIES.
During the discussion of the bill in the
House the galleries conta in ed several
delegations OF repres enta tive citizens
from AnaCostia. who did not hesitate to
express their qualification at its passage.
They were unanimous in according to The
Times large share of the glory for lead
ing the fight which has resulted in giving
rapid transit to Anacostia-
without its assistance and agitation
they declare, action might have been
deferred for years and the bobtaiI cars
have remained as a constant clog 10 the
growth and Improvement OF that suburb
and In ever present souvenir OF antiquated
street railroading.
Over in Anacostia yesterday afternoon
rapid transit was the one topic OF con-
versation. The subject was discussed, on
the streets, in the business places. in the
homes and at the TLeetiug Of the Ana
costa Citizens Association.
Wherever it was dscu ssed ever yOne
spoke in the most complimentary terms
OF the fight which The Times has made
for rapid transit for the people of Aua-
costa. Especially was the editorial in
yesterdays Morning Times favorably com
mented upon and was regarded by all as
a most forCible and timely comment In
fact. the general opinion is that The
Times has done more to hasten rapid
transit than all other forces combined
AT THE CITIZENS ASSOCIATION.
At the meeting OF the Citizens AsSo-
cation it was the one subject of dis
cussion. While President G. c. Havener
tried his best TO conduct the meeting ac-
cording to parliamentary rules. he found
it impossible, for no matter what was being
done when a member came in ali business
was suspended and congratulations ex-
tended Even this went ON regularly
until Mrs. Eaton. chairman OF the Railroad
committee, which en- gIneered the bills
througS Congress, made her appearance.
She spoke first and said: Gentlemen
this is the day we all Celebrate Then
there was another round of congratulations,
after which the association got Gown 10
business.
President Havener called over the order of
business in vain until he came to street
railways
AschairGnan of that committee Mrs. Eaton
said there was very little for her 10 saw
except officially state that the bills
giving AnacOstia rapid transit had been
passed by Congress She said some very
nice things about The Times and appre-
ciated fully its valuable assistance in the
matter.
While it was not official Mrs. Eaton said
she had some other pleasant news for the
people or AnaCostia. She said she had it
from good authority that before Congress
adjourned $4,000 would lie appropriated
TO fill i'll the flats on the Eastern Branch
On motion of Mrs. Eaton the association
will send Senator Mcmillan and Congress-
man Babcock, respectively chairmen Of
the Senate and House District Committees.
handsome bouquets Of roses as a token of
their appreciation of the valuable services
ill behalf OF the people OF Anacostia.
APPRECIATED THE TIMES.
A resolution was introduced by Mr..
Henry johnson, prominent member of the
association. which, after extending thanks
to Congress for its timely action, recog-
nized the assistance given by The Times
in bringing about the desired end.
A resolution regarding the unhealthy
and unsafe condition OF the HiIlsdale
colored school building was introduced by
Mr.. Johnson.
President Havcner, in spea king of the
editorial in yesterdays Morning Times,
perfume; it was exactly the right idea at
the right time, and hit the nail on the
head"
To The Times several of the prominent
business men and residents OF Anacostia
expressed themselves quite freely on the
subject, and nearly every one took the
opportunity to express their appreciation
of the part The Times had taken in the
matter.