Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-23
A BATTLE ROYAL
Two Street Gar Companies Contend.
ing for Additional Territory.
TEE CAPITAL TRACTION AND COLUMBIA
Arguments as to the F and G
Streets E Extensions.
SOME PERTINENT QUESTIONS

battle royal was fought between two
great street railway companies of the city
before the House District committee this
morning for the possession Of a coveted
strip of territory at present unoccupied by
street car lines. The territory in question
is the populous section lying west of the
War Department building and south Of
Pennsylvania avenue and west of Connect
cut avenue and north of Pennsylvania ave-
nue..
The Columbia Railway Company and the
Capital Traction Company are contesting
for the right to extend their lines into this
portion of the city. They fought for it last
Congress, and only succeeded each in keep
ing the other out. the struggle re-
newed at the beginning of this session, and
the House committee has fiEally taken the
matter up for action.
President Philips of the Metropolitan
Railway Company, President Dunlop Ct
the Capital Traction Company and Mcssrs.
Nathaniel Wilson, c. c. Glover, E. j. Stell-
wagon, concerned in the respective roads,
were present. The Columbia Railway Com
panys interests were represented by Judge
Wilson, the counsel of the Metropolitan
The Proposed Route.
Judge Wilson explained the proposed ex-
tension Of the Columbia raiir oa !, the route
being as follows: Beginning at the present
terminus of it's line, at 18th street north
west, thence with double tracks to the mi l.
die of 10Th street west, thence north along
18th street west to II street north, thence
along H street north to 18th street west,
thence along 18th street west to + street
north, thence with a single track along +
street north to New Hampshire avenue,
thence with single or double track along
New Hampshire avenue TO the Potomac
river, and with a single track from the in
tersection of New Hampshire avenue and
street north along New Hampshire ave-
nue. to u street north, and along q street
north to 18th street west, there to connect
with the double track from H street north,
with the right at any time to extend its
said line with a single or with double
tracks from the intersection of F or G
streets north and 23d street west along 2.d
street west to the Potomac river with au-
thority to move and propel its cars on the
line SO constructed with an underground
electric power, or such other mechanical
power as the Commissioners of the District
OF Columbia may approve: Provided, That
no new tracks shall be laid on II street
north between 18th street west and 18th
street West, but said Columbia Railway
Company may use the tracks of the Metro
politan Railroad Company between said
10th street west and 18th street west
upon such terms and conditions may he
agreed upon between said companies.
Judge Wilson then described the present
route of the Columbia road, and spoke of
the efforts heretofore made to extend the
read westward. He said the Columbia
company was the first in the field to apply
for this extension, and at that time the
present Capital Traction Company, then
the Washington and Georgetown railroad
dld not oppose the occupation of the ter
r1tory, but only objected to the plan at
that time proposed Of operating horse cars
on portion of the. Washington and
Georgetown cable tracks, from 18th TO
18th streets.
Underground Electric System.
In answer to a question from Chairman
Babcock. Judge Wilson said it is proposed
to run the cars on the western extension
by underground electric trolley. Mr. Bah
cock asked why it would not be better to
tap the Metropolitan tracks at 14th street
instead of laying a new track up 18th
street.
Judge Wilson said the objection to this
plan is that the patrons of the road prefer
to have 1t land them at 18th street con-
tiguous to the Treasury Department and
nearer that important corner
Judge Wilson said the extension of the
Columbia road in connection with the Me-
tropoiitan Company, under a free transfer
system, would be more advantageous to the
residents of the territory in question than
the extension of the Capital Traction Com
TEny, as it would give them access to the
whole city by means of the combined lines
Inc two systems now include twelve miles
of double track. The bill provides for the
consolidation of the two companies
Then the real trouble is that neither
your road nor the Capital Traction Com
Eany wants to get away itself from the
Treasury DEPARTMENT. suggested Mr..
Richardson.
That's it. exactly" replied Judge Will
son.
well, don't you think the two roads
might agree to abandon the 10Th street
junction together" asked Chairman Bah
Geek.
Il am afraid our constituents would not
agree to 1t, replied Judge Wilson. Il think
1t Is the desire of every American citizen
to get to the treasury by the shortest pos
sible route
In answer to question Judge Wilson re-
piled that the gross earnings Of the Column
bia Railway Company had increased from
% to 30 per cent since the Inauguration of
the rapid transit system, a year ago last
March,
The Traction COmpany's Claim.
President Dunlop of the Capital Traction
Company then presented his side Of the
case. He said his company wanted to
extend its line out G street, thence north
on ODD street to Florida avenue, together
with a system of eastern connections, COW
ering the entire eastern portion of Wash
1ngton He denied the statement of Judge
Wilson that the Columbia Company's ex-
| tension would give better facilities to tie
people. He said the Capital Traction Com
pdny carried more passengers than all Of
the other roads together. The Capt. al
Traction Company has offered free trars-
fers to the Columbia road at 18th and New
York avenue.
In the course of his remarks Mr. Dunlop
said the Chevy Chase road, under the COM
bination with the Capital Traction Com
pany, would carry as many passengers this
year as the city line of the Columbia Com
pany.
Mr. Dunlop said, if the Columbia bill is
to be reported, the Columbia road should
be made to tap the Metropolitan tracks at
l4th and H streets and not go up 18th
street. Upon being questioned, he said
the proffered free transfers to the Columbia
road by the Capital Traction included only
east and west transfers and not transfers
up 18th street.
He said his company does not want the
passengers from other lines, bound for the
Zoo, dumped into the 14th street cars. He
said the proposition for free transfers with
he Columbia Company would tie all of the
big systems together.
President Phillips Explanation,
President Phillips interrupted with the
explanation that President Dunlop's promo
sition meant practically that the Colum-
bia Company would be carrying passengers
all day to and from another road without
getting dollars worth of fare