The times., 1897-03-30
RAILROADS AT VARIANCE
The Anacostia Line Objects to the
Brown Electric System.
Question Is Brought Before the
Commissioners on the Capital
Company,s Application.

There was spirited contest before the
Commissioners yesterday afternoon be
tween the Capitlh Railway Company and
the AnaCostia and Potomac River Railway
Company, over the application of the
former corporation for permit to intro
duce new electric method of propulsion,
known as the Brown system, from the
north end OF the Navy Yard Bridge, up
Eleventh street to II street, and thence to
the navy yard gate
This is a short section Of the Capital
Company's projected line from Congress
Heights to an inter section with tie Metro
politan Electric Railway, at East Capitol
and Eleventh streets 1t is objected to
by Mr. GIiawold, of the Anacostia Company,
because the Capital Company's line viii
traverse portion cf the AnacOstia tracks,
now abandoned, and it is MI. GTisWold's
contention that the placing OF new
motive power on his route may interfere
with the introduction Of some other system
which he may want TO employ.
Mr. Grswold was present at the hearing
with hfr. Job Barnard, as counsel, and
Messrs Randle, president; o. G. Staples
aud x I. Wilson, the latter a New York
capitalist OF prominence, appeared for
the Capital Company, with Mr. j J.
Darlington as counsel. Upon hearing Mr.
GriswoId's objections, it was charged b.
the opposition that his protest was captous
and unreasonable.
The proposed Brown system S said to be
in successful operation III JohnStown, Pa,
whittier Capt. Beach went recently to in
spect it. From the knowledge obtained OF
it. the Commissioners seem to be favor
ably impressed, but have not decided as
yet to grant the permit
The company is to put in the system
here on trial, guaranteeing TO remove it
at the end OF four months, without cost, in
case it should he declared TO be uusatis-
factory to the Commissioners.
II is operated on the contact principle
A series OF plates with curved tops are
placed between the rails about eight feet
apart. They project slightly above the
surface. A magnetic shoe placed under
meath the car touches these plates in pass
ing ana completes the connection
After hearing both sides the Commits
sioners granted Mr.. Barnard, the Ana
costa COmpany's counsel, until 3 o'clock
today to make further Investigations as to
t44ctl btlC ~ nAtlIi itidt 41TLFt upon lilc
future operations of that road
a protest was later flied with the Com
missiOners by u number OF residents Of
the southeast section OF the city 1t is
as follows
We, merchants and residents of Eleventh
street southeast, between NJ street and
the bridge, protest against the granting Of
n permit to install the ball, button, or plate
system Of electricity, involving projections
above the pavement on said street This
street has more travel than any OF south
east Washington, and TO permit ex-
perimental system, and one that would
not be allowed on any and every other
important street, would be a discrimina-
tion and an injustice, unwarranted, and
not contemplated in legislation, where
represe entations We're made that the best
system known would be adopted"
The signers Of the protest are Talbert
& McCauley, R r Talbert, l.. C. otter
bach, p b Ryan, Ryan & Earnshaw,
william K TeachBer F. B Otterback, NJ
FaIconer, John II Gates, Elias Raft, John
L Campbell, W. L. Frazier r. E Hooe,
Mrs NJ. K. Davis, Never Rosenberg L.
Rosenberg, James ID. Quigley, Il Hutchin-
son, W H. SpeiSer. Harry c. Talbert, Will
liam Rohde, j T. Campbell & Son, Joshua
Clark, w. W. Nalley, and A. Nalley