Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-11
Plans Of the Managers Of the Prin-
cipal Local Lines.
WHAT THEY WILL ASK FROM CONGRESS
Rival Claims of Corporations to
Enter Unoccupied Territory.
AT THE COMING SESSION

As every one knows who is at all familiar
with District legislation before the national
legislature, an important If not large
proportion relates to the local street rail-
roads. There has been even some COM
plant that this phase of local legislation
has at times SO absorbed the time and at
tention of the District committees of the
Serate and House that they have not been
able to give proper consideration to other
matters relating to the District
AS Congress is the sole and only au-
thority from which these corporations Sc
cure their chartered rights and such modi-
fcations and additions as from time to
time may seem necessary, the local street
railroad managers are Of the opinion that
they only occupy their proper share Of the
attention of the national legislature At
the coming session 1t is likely that the
usual number of bills will be introduced
relating to street railroads. Exactly what
the managers of each line intend to ask
Congress at this coming session in the way
OF street extension is a subject which they
are stIongiy opposed to discussing. even in
the columns of The Evening Star.
What the Railroads Fear.
The reasons are the obvious ones of
avoiding hostile attention. There are two
principal sources of opposition which the
promoters of railroad legislation greatly
CORPORATIONS
the other from the residents and property
owners along the streets which 1t Is pro-
posed to occupy with street car tracks
The first named, it is asserted, is the prin
cipal cause of the failure of street legisIa-
tlon In the past. and is likely to continue to
the future 80
There is likely to be a very lively con-
test before the next session of Congress.
growing out of the rivalry between the
OF
lEmbia Company to secure the privilege of
building line along G street west from
18th street. This is old fight, and the
proba bilities are that it is going TO be re-
neWed with greater vigor than ever 1t
has been supposed by some that owing to
the losses which resulted from the de-
struction by fire of the power house of
the Capital Traction Company that cor
poratlon would not be In a position to ask
for any further extensions of it's lines for
the present at least.
Traction Company's Prospects.
On the contrary, however, the managers
of the company say they were never in
better position than they are at present
to extend the lines which they now con-
troll They say that the cable system
which was in use on the Pennsylvania ave-
hue and 18th street lines and which is
now being replaced by the underground
electric. was one of limited power, and is
now being replaced by one of practically
limitless power.
1t is also claimed that they are now in a
better position financially to get money,
as the company has as yet issued no bonds
ana in the event that the authority is
granted the company to build any extern
sions. bonds can be issued as is proposed
to be dore in order to raise money to in
stall the present system, and these bonds
can simply be deposited as collateral for
loan. to be paid off as soon as the earn
ings justify.
There is no doubt that the company in
tends to ask for the right to build a line
along G street and F street from 18th
street west, and it is understood that their
proposed extension by the underground
system, which is now being installed on
the Pennsylvania avenue line. If this is
done, the 18th street extension will oc-
cupy the same relation to the main or
Georgetown line which the 18th street
line bears to the Georgetown line and cars
can run from the Baltimore and Ohio
depot or from the navy yard along the
avenue to 18th street, and along G Street
to the western terminus.
What the Columbia Wants.
AS is well known. the Columbia company
wants to continue it's line from its present
western terminus at New York avenue and
18th street along the thoroughfare in front
of the White House. using the tracks of
18th street along G street to the river The
and, while it is stated the company has no
present intention OF changing it's power
still it is possible, if it should be found
necessary in order to operate this extension
to install the underground system that the
company may find it possible to operate its
entire line by electricity.
As above stated, these two corporations
intend to fight 1t out before Congress for
n hic tad
and 1t seems probable that this section of
the city. which. it is claimed, is in great
need of railroad facilities, stands a chance
of securing them from one of these corpor-
atoms In bill that was introduced in
Congress to give this franchise to the Cap
ital Traction read there was a provision for
the continuation of the line northward I'D
I'D street. While it is not known positively
what the exact wishes of the company in
this respect are, 1t Is believed that at this
time the company does not desire the priv
ilege to exterd the line any further than
along G street west from 18th street.
Another Contested Point.
There is another point where it seems
likely that two corporations will fall afoul
of each other in their efforts to secure the
right to occupy disputed territory. Refer
ence Is made to the fact that the Metro
politan road. by its recent extension from
the head of Connecticut avenue along Co
Iumbla road To 18th street, and the CAPITAL
Traction by it's line, which extends out 18th
street ard thence out Connecticut avenue
extended to Chevy Chase, stand on the
edge of territory which is yet without a
street railroad.
Bills have been introduced In Congress at
previous sessions to authorize both roads
to make extensions out 18TH street. and
thence through Mt Pleasant TO 14th street.
The general impression seems to be tina;
the contest which was begun at a former
session of Congress- between these two
roads will be renewed at the coming ses-
sion. 1t. however, can be stated upon good
authority that the two corporations will
not lock horns over this issue at this ses-
sion of Congress. At least that Is not the
present intention. 1t Is stated positively on
behalf of the Metropolitan railroad that
that corporation wants no more extensions
at present, and that 1t is satisfied to oper-
ate Its existing lines.
Relief for Mount Pleasant.
While the same statement In not made on
behalf of the Capital Traction Company.
yet it is said that the managers Of that
corporation do not want to build an extern
sion at this time along the route as spec
flied In the bills already introduced. II
this is the accurate position Of the two
companies On this subject, Congress will