Evening star., 1896-03-31
DISTRICT AFFAIRS
Commissioners Omnibus Bill for
Street Railroad Extensions.
MORE ROADS TO The zoo
To Attack tho Smoke Nuisance
in the City.
HER LOCAL NOTES

Perhaps the most important bill that has
been recommended by the Commissioners
was sent to Congress today, with the urgent
recommendation of the Commissioners that
the same be passed. 1t is a bill embodying
the important features Of three pending
bills and If passed, insures to the citizens
of Washington ample railroad facilities to
the Geological Park.
Three railroads have been seeking,
through special legislation. to obtain char
ters permitting them to run out to the
Zoo, and several hearings have been given
the advocates of them by the Commission
ers. The fight for this section has been a
hot one. and the Commissioners were con-
fronted by. q puzzling proposition.
Today Major Powell wrote the report,
which was unanimously approved. 1t gives
each of the contending roads chance to
siohers upon the bill states that map of
the District has been prepared embodying
the adopted and proposed highway ex-
tensions and showing, by distinctive colors.
routes OF street railroads already built
ard those chartered but not built.
The general idea," says the report, "is
to extend the present railways instead of
chartering new companies; to make present
except where there are stronger reasons
to the contrary. to keep each system Of
railroads in its own field or territory.
For accommodation Of visitors to the
Geological Park extensions are recommend
ed OF the Capital Traction Company's line
on 18th street extended, the Metropolitan
company's line on Connecticut avenue, the
Belt line representing the lexington sys-
temp on 11th street, and the Brightwood
railroad on route south of Kenyon street
the latter named extension being also to
furnish transportation between the park
and the Soldiers Home. These extensions
would give ample street car facilities to the
villages west of 18th street extended The
extensions for the Geological Park traffic
are iaid IN loop at their northern ends,
on which all cars would move in one di-
rection, north on the new street to bound
the park on the east, generally called Park
Highway. thereby passing the park gates
tended to points Of divergence This ar
rangement would be convenient for the
public. prevent the blocking of park en-
frances and streets leading to them, and
bcrhood and one main approach to the
park free from car tracks. 1t would also
operate to divide the expense Of construc.
tion and rights Of way where Eeeded he
tween four companies.
For East Washington. where present
street car facilities are not sufficient. ex-
tensions are recommended for the Capital
Traction Company, on Florida avenue from,
7th west to 8th street east: on that street
to pennsylvania avenue, and thence on
pennsylvania avenue east to the approa ch
OF the pennsylvania avenue bridge; and
ior tne Ecklngton company. on L street,
from l1th street west to Florida avenue
Extensions Of the Belt line through lie
Droit Park subdivision from 4th street and
for the Capital Traction Company, from the
harbor front at 9th street, and thence on
+, G and I'D streets and Florida avenue to
Connecticut avenue, are also recommended
"A few additional changes. including
abandonment of some of the Belt line and
ether tracks comprised in the present rec
nd
OF extensions of the Columbia and CAPITAL
railways are shown upon the street railway
map.
cit is believed that additional limitations
to those now Secured by law should be
placed upon the use of the overhead trolley
for preventing or diminishing injury to
subsurface pipes; and where the extended
routes are laid upon new streets over which
public rights of way have not yet been OBJ
tanned. and where the extensions are
through or near suburbs. that the street car
companies should secure the rights of way
for at least 30 feet in width for double
and dedicate them to the District
The Smoke Nuisance. :"
An effort will shortly be made by the
Commissioners to effect some regulations
that will do away with the smoke nuis-
ance.
For some time past the attention of the
Commissioners has been directed toward
this matter, end 1t has been found that
the nuisance is increasing every year.
From the District building they have
scanned the city from all sections and
noted the law clouds Of smoke curl up
ward. From the power houses of the rail-
roads using rapid transit come the largest
and densest volumes, while several hotels
send up big black clouds.
The matter Of framing regulations for
the abatement of this nuisance was in
trusted to committee some days ago.
Capt. Burr, assistant to the Engineer Com
missioner, is chairman of the committee.
Today Capt. Burr received several reports
upon the subject from other cities. These
reports will be carefully read. and the best
features OF each incorporated in the regu-
lations which will govern the matter for
posed to pass a regulation forbidding the
use of soft coal as Is done in New York.
with the hope that this would settle the
question. But 1t Is considered that such
regulation would be a hardship, and the
best Washington may expect is a regula-
ing devices be employed, which will remedy
the difficulty. The committee will not
recommend any particular device. but will
select several from which selection may
be made.
The object OF the new regula tions will be
smoke is produced. there are no appliances
that can be relied upon that Will consume
It. The committee will make its report
within a short time.
Ordered to Close.
The excise board was besieged today by
the applicants and their friends. whose