The evening times., 1896-04-23
BOTH ROADS DESIRE IT
House District Committee Hear
Ing Of Street Car Magaates.
EXTENSION TO THE WEST
Tho Capital Traction Company op-
NOSES the Pun OF the Columbia
Line-Mr. Dunlop and Mr.. Myers
AntagOnized Each Other-SOme
Questions of Verncity.

,nrpaven n hen ring on the proposed westward
extension of the c Columbia and Capital Trac-
street RAILWAY companies, both seeking To
use practically the same route.
In all respects this was the most I'M
portaut hearing of the kind during this ses-
sion and n number of prominent people
were present, among them being George 1.
Dunlop. president, and Charles c. Glover,
| vice president of the Capital Traction Com
pany; President Phillips and Attorney
| Nathaniel Wilson of the Metropolitan
| President Girls void of the Anacostia iine'
f. ]. Stellwagen. Thomas W. Smith, L.
| Percy Myers, President T Tucke of the North
east Citizens Association and others.
The bill under consideration allows the
| Columbia line to extend its double tracks
| from the present terminus at Flfteehth
| street and New York avenue north ON Flf-
teenth to II. along II to Seventeenth street,
| south on Seventeenth to F street north,
| thence with a single track along street
north to New Hampshire avenue, thence
| with a single Or double track along New
Hampshire avenue to the Potomac River,
and with a single track from the in
tcrsection OF New Hampshire avenue
and street along New Hampshire
| avenue to q street north, and along G street
| north to Seventeenth street west, there To
| connect with the double track from IL
| street north, with the right at any tine
| to extend its said line with single or
| with double tracks from the intersection OF
F or G streets north and dTwenty-ihird street
west, along Twenty-third street west to
| the Potomac river, with authority to move
, and propel its cars on the line so constructed
with an underground electric power, or such
other mechanical power as the Commits
| sioners of the District OF Columbia may ap-
prove.
The National Capital Traction Company
desires to use their own tracks to Seven
teenth street and extend them over the
same rOutes
AN OLD REQUEST.
Mr.. Wilson spoke in favor OF tie Colum'
bias proposed extension, and said ii was
what the company had been asking for
the past four or five years. The company
was always given 10 understand that the
Washington and Georgetown road made no
objection except on the ground that the
running of horse cars over portion OF their
lines would seriously interfere with their
business. Tie territory then seemed to be
a matter Of no consequence.
! As the result o" such understa nding, the
Columbia people borrowed S5oO,0O0 and
put in cable system so us to obviate this
objection. Now the route had been changed
so as TO not enter upon the tracks OF the
National Capitol Traction Company, bu
they still persisted in objecting.
| Mr. Wilson called attention to the cx-
haustive hearings previously given on the
subject, and which finally resulted in ia
vorable report being made last year, after
prolonged contest, authorizing the CO.
!umbia to make the extension. He called
attention to the old suggestion that the
Traction Company runs its cars directly
down Fourteenth street to Pennsylvania
| avenue.
Several hundred people living along the
line of the proposed extension had petit
toned for its construction, on the ground
that the road would be mere advantag geous
10 them than the Traction line, which did
not extend at all into the eastern portion
portion Of the city.
He referred 10 the transfer system in
force Beiween the Columbia and Metro
politan lines, and said passengers could
thereby be distributed over a wide exten,
of territory. The bill provides that but one
fare shall be charged for passage on beth
systems. The proposed extension covers
but about one mile. The aggregate length
of the two lines within the city limits is
considerably greater than that of the
Traction Company Provision is also made
. | cor the consolidation of the two roads.
USE THE TRACKS.
Mr.. Wilson said it has been found per
sectly practicable to run the same car on a
| cable or underground electric line and hence
there would be no difficulty in using the
Metropolitan tracks bet ween Fifteenth and
Seventeenth streets.
Mr.. Babcock asked why the circuit coult
not be made around Fourteenth instead o
Fifteenth street. Mr.. Wilson replied thai
In addition to Fourteenth street being yer,
, | narrow and already Overcrowded. it wa.
s especially desirable that they should rea Ct
the Treasury Department and vicinity.
, ut is the greatest desire of every Ameri
can citizen said Mr.. Wilson, ito get t.
, the United States Treasury by the short
est route. and would not be diverted there
from
Some 1900 heads OF families signed
petition for the Columbia extension. Will
but 200 indorsed the Capital Traction ex
tension.
Mr.. Dunlop then explained the proposed
route of the Capital Traction Company
changes having been made on account o
the acquisition of the Chevy Chase line
Since last year there has been n grea
change in the situation and the Tractio
company would now be willing to Civ
the Columbia line free transfers at Fiji
teenth street and thus render their west
ern extension unnecessary. He was or
posed to any proposed change of the lin
from Fifteenth to Fourteenth street 70
the reason that his line was as anxiou
to reach the Treasury building as was Mr
Wilson. The public also concurred iu tha
desire.
FREE TRANSFERS.
President Dunlop further protested agains
the Columbia Road extending their terri
tory. He said free transfers both way
would answer every requirement of III
travelling public. He did not object +
the proviso being inserted in the bill ma 1
ing free transfers compulsory east and ives,
The Metropolitan. he said, parallels tn
Traction through the entire city, and it
manifestly unfair that transfers should b
given at Fourteenth street. He was ais
willing to give the lexington line transfer
at Fifteenth and G streets.
The Columbia line had at one time re
r quested a reciprocal transfer arrangemen
). with the Avenue line, which was refused
n Since then conditions have changed an
there is now no objection to such an al
+ rangemcnt.
L. Percy Meyers appeared on behalf o
the property owners and objected to tn
n extension of the Capital Traction line GU
Twent y-second street. He and Mr.. Dunlo
did not take kindly to each others nteI
ruption, and there seemed to be som
question of veracity in regard to the frs
statement of Mr.. Dunlop as to whether b
= desired F and G streets without Twent,
:, | second street