Evening star., 1896-03-24
ANACOSTIA RAILWA
Senator Mcmillan Makes Tour Of
That Section.
TBE CAPITAL COMPANY'S CHARTER
No More One-Horse Cars Within
the City Limits.
RAPID TRANSIT PROVIDED

Senator Mcmillan today made favorable
report to the Senate from the District COM
mittee Senate bill SS8, amending The
charter of the Capital Railway Company.
When this bill was before the District COM
mittee last Friday as a practical substitute
! for the bill requiring the Anacostia Railway
Company to equip its lines with rapid trans
1t motive power within two years, which
had been vetoed by the District Commits
sioners 1t was accepted with the under
standing that it should be amended so as to
protect the country roads outside of Ana
costa which it was proposed to occupy
with electric lines In order to ascertain
the necessity in this line, Senator Mcmillan
yesterday, accompanied by Mr.. Moore. the
clerk of the committee, went over the pro-
| posed routes, under the guidance of Mr.. A.
E. Randle, the chief protector of the line.
He found that the roads were in sucn con-
oition that nothing was needed in the way
of direct legislation to prevent their undue
obstruction by the tracks Of the company
and it was aScertained that the District
Commissioners have now ample authority to
protect these highways from overcrowdlng
| and from the dangerous proximity Of the
| tracks to the driveway. In most places the
roads are broad enough to accommodate
| the lines with perfect safety, and in such
places where the roads are narrow the
Commissioners will be able 20 compel the
company to adopt ample measures OF pre-
caution.
General Survey of the Territory.
Incidentally, Senator Mcmillan made
general survey of the territory covered
at present by the Anacostia railway as
| we'll as that which the proposed line will
feed. He was surprised at the amount of
building and settlement in the suburbs
ho
| sity that now exists for more modern
| street railway equipment in that section Of
the District. Mr.. Randle drove the party
| out the Good Hope Hill road, which is
| to be occupied by branch line to be con-
| structed by this company in order to sup
| ply the eastern half of the Anacostia ter
ritory with rapid transit facilities. This
| brought the Senator and clerk of the COM
| mittee to East Washington Heights. sur
mounted by Overlook Inn, which It is pro-
| posed to connect with the city by an elec-
! trict line passing the Eastern branch by
way of the Pennsylvania avenue bridge.
The bill for this purpose was introduced
| In December and has since been pending
| before the District committee. There has
| been an indisposition on the part Of the
! committee to grant to the company the de-
| sired privilege of crossing by this bridge in
| view of the narrowness and lightness Of
| the structure, which was never designed
| and only for horse vehicles. In conversa-
| ton with Colonel A. NJ. Bliss, who heads
the proposed company, Senator Mcmillan
yesterday pointed out this difficulty. and
said that the committee would probably
agree to the passage of the bill provided
the company would cross the river OMIT
own structure alongside the present bridge.
! After some demur this proposition was ac-
cepted, and it is probable that in the near
future this bill, Senate bill $40, will be
favorably reported with the proviso that
| the river be crossed by means Of a trestle,
| built independently cf the bridge, at the
GNDenSP a
| the company to run it's cars across the
river at high speed. which would be i'm
possible If 1t was to occupy the bridge
| itself. and it is not felt that the trestle
will interfere with the navigation of the
| Anacostia river. In the event of an ap-
propria ton being made for the reclama-
structure would probably have to be aban-
dened. but would be replaced in all likeli-
hood by commodious bridge.
Connections and Free Transfers.
Should the bill be reported, 1t will proba-
| lily carry with 1t provisions that will re-
| quire the company to tap the lines of both
| the Capital Traction Company and the
Metropolitan railway, the former at the
corner of Pennsylvania avenue and Sth
street southeast, and the latter at or near
Lincoln Park. 1t will also be required that
| reciprocal transfers will be given free be-
| tween the East Washington Heights rail-
| way and each of these companies, thus e1a-
! bling passenger to ride from any point on
! either Of the city lines to the District line
| on the east for single fare. The road on
| the west side of the river, that is to say,
| within the city limits, will be an under
| ground electric system, while the overhead
| trolley will be used on the other side of
| the river, and possibly on the trestle.
The Anncostia Railway Problem.
| Thus the Anacostia railway problem ap-
pears to be in a fair way of settlement, so
| far as the chairman of the Senate commit
| tee is concerned, and it is to be remarked
| that the committee has practically con-
| stituted him it's subcommittee on this SUBJ
ject. The two proposed lines will, it is
| thought, amply supply the Anacostia terri
| tory with the best methods Of rapid tran
| sit. The future Of the existing line in Ana
! costa Is, of course, matter of concern to
those interested directly in it, but Senator
| Mcmillan feels that it has had its chance,
! and that 1t must now either voluntarily
| improve it's line and modernize its service
| or submit to severe competition with a
| rapid transit line giving free transfers with
! one OF the most extensive Of the city sys-
| tens.
| No One-HOrse Cars in the City.
| President GriswoId Of the Anacostia road
has been at the Capitol several times of late.
| and yesterday morning had long talk with
| Senator Mcmillan, but he received little or
| no encouragement In presenting his plea for
| further consideration. This morning Sem
| ator Mcmillan reported to the Senate. pur-
| suant to the instructions of the committee
OF last Friday, bill amending the act Of
July 20. 1892 prohibiting the use of one
horse cars within the city limits after jam
ary 1, 1883. The bill which he presented
| this morning repeals the provso of this
| act which is to the effect that the act shall
| not apply to any company operating street
railways outside the limits of the CITY Of
| washington, or through unimproved and
sparsely settled sections of the same, until
such time as the Commissioners of the Dis:
| trict of Columbia shall deem necessary for
| the public needs" This bill, which was inn
mediately considered by unanimous con-
sent, and passed without any opposition,
| will, when 1t becomes a law, absolutely ter
| inmate the right of the Anacostia road to
run one-horse cars within the limits of the
| city, under the penalty of fine of $25 day
| for each car run with single horse
| IMPOSING ON THE CITY.