Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-06
Work in Progress in Constructing a
Line to Chesapeake Bay.
WHAT is said BY THE PROMOTERS
A Proposed Trolley Extension of
the Columbia Road.
NEW PLEASURE RESORT


Bay railroad. Two gangs of men are en-
ployed in grading. There is one at Seat
Pleasant, Nd, where the contractor II. T
Burrows, directs operations There is an
other at Marlboro, where the men are in
the employ of III. II. Green. contractor Mr..
BURROWS said today to a Star reporter that
ne expected the work of grading the road
bed in the section of the road from the Dis
trict line to Marlboro would be completed
by the 1st of next January.
force Of men, it is stated is also at
work at the terminus of the line on Chess
apeake Beach, where a pier is being built.
which, when completed will extend into
the bay 1000 feet. 1t is stated by the pro-
Jectors OF this enterprise that they propose
to have the entire road ready for operation
by the 1st of May next
ir. Charles Pepper, the treasurer of the
chesapeake hay Construction COMPANY
was seen today by a Star reporter at the
once OF the company in the Columbia rail-
road power house, 18th and Ii streets
northeast.
Mr.. Pepper said that in addition to the
work which is above described contracts
nave been made for the ties some of which
mad been delivered on the ground A con-
tract had also been made for the rails
Within the District.
He said that 1t would be necessary for
the company to get from Congress au-
thority to construct their railroad within
the bounds of the District, but in order
that no time should be lest, the work of
building the rest of the line was being
pushed forward rapidly as possible, and
as soon as permission WAS Obtained from
Congress he expected that the portion of
the road lying in the District would be
constructed.
Mr.. Pepper said that the exact route of
he sod nod mill hf he
District had not fully been decided upon
but il is understood that the re which is
looked upon with favor by the promoters
of this enterprise is one that IRA ieally fol-
lows that of the Southern Maryland rail-
road. AS Will be remembered. this latter
road was constructed some twenty years
ago and was fully completed, even the
tracks being laid. The scheme was, how
ever, never carried out, and while the road
bed remains, the ties have rotted, and of
course, the rails are useless.
Columbia Railroad Extension.
1t is further said tnat the terminus OF
the road nearest the city will be in the
neighborhocd of Deanewood or BenninE,
On the Pennsylvania railroad, and at this
latter point it is said to be the plan to
connect with q street railroad which is TO
be constructed by the Columbia railroad
extending from the present eastern ter
minus of lis line, at 10Th and IL streets
eanewood. 1t Will be necessary for the
Columbia railroad to obtain the permission
of Congress to build this extension, hut il
Is said that all the preliminary work is be-
ing done, and that the proposed route has
been fully surveyed. 1t is stated TO be the
intention of the company to operate this
proposed extension of the road by the over
head trolley.
With this railroad connection by which
passengers can reach The heart OF the city,
it is claimed that the entire trip to the
salt water in the Chesapeake bay can be
made over this route from the Treasury
Department, for example, within one hour.
1t is the intention to establish on the shores
CT the Chesapeake a pleasure resort, and
the projectors propose to erect there a
hotel and cafe.
Views of a Promoter.
In talking about this matter, Mr. Popper
said he thought many of the residents of
Washington, especially during the heated
term. would be glad to avail themselves
of the opportunity to reach salt water
within one hour after leaving the city, and
he said provision would lie made so those
Who desired to do so could spend the night
at the beach, returning in time for business
in the city the next day.
He said that the purpose in building
such long pier was to provide a means
for vessels to make a landing, and in
this way he said that oysters and fish
could be landed at the wharf and brought
to the city within an hour after being
taken from the water. He said that the
country through which the road passed
was capable of development in the line
of truck farming and this railroad would
afford a ready means of access to the
w Washington market.
More Direct Line.
The proposed line of the road from
Deanewood to the beach is twenty-five
miles, and will follow more direct line
to Marlboro than the road which was
to be built some five years ago.
A bridge is to be built across the Patuxent
at Leon, Nd, and then the line will be
almost direct to the beach.
1t will be recalled, perhaps, that some
five years ago the Washington and Chesa-
peake Railway Company was organized and
right of way was secured, and considerable
work was done toward constructing The
roadbed At the same time about a thou
sand acres Of land having front of about
three miles on the beach, was purchased.
and it was the intention to establish a viii
lage there and resort in connection with
the railroad.
The financial depression came along and
other causes contributing, the road went
into the hands of receiver. 1t was iin-
ally sold TO one of the largest creditors,
firm in New York. About two months ago
this road was purchased by a syndicate,
W whfch organized the Chesapeake Bay Con-
struction Company, that is now engaged
In building the road.
The Men Interested.
The officers and directors of this company
ire as follows: Otto Mears of Denver, Col,
president; A. c. Dunn of New York, vice
president: John l.. Mcneil of Denver, Col,
secretary; Charts Pepper Of New York,
and David II. Moffat of Denver,
,ol The chief engineer is l.. ii. Hyer. The
personnel of the organization of the Chesa-
,eske Bay Railroad Company is the same
Is that of the Construction Company, and
hese men will manage the railroad and re-
sort when the work of construction is COM
,leted. AS stated above, the Office of the
Company is in the power
house of the Columbia Railroad, at 18th
md H streets northeast.
There will be number of changes in the
cute as fixed upon by the former company,
,erhaps the most notable being just outside
Il Deanewood, where the former proposed
inc makes quite large circuit which the
present promoters of the road propose to
horten.
Skeptfcal Land Owners.
Other changes will be made which require
he granting frcm land owners of rights of
way. Mr.. Pepper said. today, in talking
With Star reporter. that the people all
throughout that region Of Maryland were