The times., 1897-07-20
Last Word From aIr. Kane.

To the Editor of The Times:
In his second communication on the sub
ject OF the lexington Railroad, Mr. Thomas
". GiImcr displays II further lack of
Enowlcdge of the facts. He should read
up little on the history OF the Ecking-
ton Company before undertaking to dis
Cuss so intricate subject
! VIII not waste space in your. paper
by discussing SO antiquated and dead an
issue as the trolley, except so far as 20
correct Mr.. Gilmer by stating that the
first act of meddlesume hostility to
compel the removal OF the trolley poles
from New York avenue was committed
by Congress, and not by those whom he
terms the opponents OF the road, who,
on the contrary, were the advocates or
law and order, and sustained the courts
and the press in compelling this company
to obey the law.
The act of July 80, 1890, required the
trolley On New York avenue TO come
down cn July l g, 1893, but the Eckington
Company, desiring TO maintain the trolley
system, with the expectation of extending
it over all their lines in the city, OBJ
tanned an extension of the right to main
tain the trolley On New York avenue to
July l 1898 Between April 80, 1890,
and July 1895, there was ample time
to replace that system by something ap
proved and modern, but they allowed the
time to pass without single step in that
direction. and hence the present depre
citation of Mr. Gilmers stock n that com
pany and his plaintive trolley wall
MI GilIner then switches off from the
nAf linn
and declares without any sense of reason
ing the latter system TO be more dan gerous
than the trolley, because, as he states,
the cars exceed the speed limit.
The question of speed has never before
entered into the comparison of these two
systems. No doubt trolley car can main
tain a higher rate of speed than car OF
the underground conduit system In which
case. according to Mr.. Gilmer's theory, it
would be even more dangerous than its
opponents have claimed it to be, because
of the high rate of speed objection being
added to those of its obstructive poles, its
unSightly overhead wires and its deadly
current.
Mr. Gilner concludes by hoping that
rapid transit may soon be established on
the lexington line, but does not think the
traffic will Justify the heavy expense Of
an underground electric system
Every street car line in the city OF
Washington W hich was compelled to
rnoderniZe its system raised this same plea
for years before they made the change, and
then after having made it, regretted not
having done so years before, because of
the immense Increase in traffic and re-
ceipts and reduction in operating expenses.
Had the lexington Company complied
with the ''meddlesome act'' OF July 30,
1890, and put in the underground elec-
trio system. that road would long since
have been on a paying basis, and Mr..
Gilnler's stock dividend earning invest
mept.
If the managers of the lexington
COMPANY do not think there would be
traffic enough on the lexington line
| to warrant the expense of putting in the
underground conduit system, there are
| men with ample capital at their command
| ready and willing to take the line of
| their hands and put in that system, and
| confident that the same results will
! be experienced as With other lines
T. P. KANE.