Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-22
Measures Discussed by Mt. Plsss1nt
Citizens Association.
CAPITAL TRACTION BILL ENDORSED
Resolution Approving Metropolitan
Plan Referred to Committee.
SUGGESTIONS BY MEMBERS

| At a special meeting last evening of the
Mt. Pleasant Citizens Association, called
| to consider the report of the committee
| on railroads, the association, by vote
| of IS to Q, adopted the committees report
| thereby expressing the opinion that the
| contemplated extension of the Capital
| Traction Company's line over the route
described in House bill 4OT2 will afford
| greater and more immediate accommoda-
| ton to the people of Mt. Pleasant than
any other contemplated extension of the
| existing street railroads of the District.
| The meeting of the association was one
| of the largest in its history, and President
| NJ. A. Ballinger and several other men,
bers of the Columbia Heights Citizens.
Association were present upon invitation.
| Mr.. Ballinger addressed the association at
some length. saying that in his opinion.
| the people of both sections should do all
| they to secure the extension into the
| territories represented of both the Metro
politan and Capital Traction roads.
| Mr.. Brown Explains.
| As chairman Of the committee on rail-
roads, Mr.. Chaplin Brown explained, in
| submitting the report, that the committee
| had fully examined and considered the
various measures introduced in Congress
| for the extension of street railroads into
| the SecClOn, arIU naQ concluded that two
| bills are of especial interest to the resi-
| dents and property owners of Mt. Pleasant
| These are House bill No. 4072, introduced
| by Mr.. Richardson on the 9Th instant, and
the one introduced in the House by Mr..
| Harmer three days later. That part of
| House bill 1912 affecting the interest of the
| village of Mt. Pleasant provides for the
| extension of the tracks Of this company
| from their present terminus at 18th and
Park streets northwest, northerly along
| 18th street extended by single track to
| Howard avenue, thence westerly on How
| ard avenue to 18th street extended, thence
| on 18th street extended to Park street.
thence easterly on Park street to 18th
| street, the place of beginning
| The other bill affecting Mt. Pleasant in
| terests, the committee reported, is for the
| extension of the Metropolitan railroad.
| This last mentioned bill provides for the
| extension of the Metropolitan railroad
| tracks from Its present terminus on 10th
| street west, north along the line of 10th
| streets west to the intersection of Florida
| and Grant avenues, thence east along
| Grant avenue to Sherman avenue, thence
| north along Sherman avenue to Irving
| street, thence west along Irving street to
| Roanoke street, thence west along Roa-
| noke street to-l3th- street west, thence
| along 18th street west to Lydecker ave-
nue.. The bill provides that this extern
| sion shall be completed within one year
| from the Approval of the act. But this
| bill goes further and provides for a fur
| ther extension along Lydecker avenue to
| Holmead avenue, thence westward through
| the Mdttingiy tract to Howard avenue
| and thence along Howard avenue to the
! Piney Branch road. THE bill also provides
| that this extension shall be completed in
| six months from the. opening and grading
| OF the street through the Mattingly tract.
| Objectionable Features.
| Speaking for the cbmmittee Mr.. Brown
| Said: 1t will be ffOted that that part of the
| proposed extension OF the line that would
I,ff .4.x..s ~
| Mount Pleasant Is rot required to be COM
pleted until six months aftei. the street Is
| opened through the Mattingly tract 1t
| will also be noted that the bill necessarily
implies, If 1t does not explicitly provide and
| require, a double track along Howard ave-
| nLe The committee, therefore, is of the
! opinion that these two features of this bill
| render it Objectionable. The time is very
| Indefinite when the streets through the
| Mattingly tract will be opened and graded
| and 1t is not desirable that double track
| should be laid along Howard avenue. The
| principal obstacle in the past to the eX-
| tension of tie Metropolitan tracks into the
| village Of Mount Pleasant has been that
| that company, in seeking extension has
| adopted routes over which the streets have
| not been established, and your committee
| does not think 1t wise that Congress should
| grant charter to any company over land
not yet dedicated or condemned for streets
| without a provision that the railroad COM
pany should condemn the land for their
| render 1t advisable that such charter
| should be repealed or such action of Con-
| gress in granting present right of way to
| be exercised in the future might prevent
| other companies from acquiring rights in
the future that would be beneficial to the
community.
Meets the Requirements.
House bill 1912 further reported Mr..
Brown, providing for the extension Of the
| Capital Traction tracks, is over streets al
| ready existing. and the contemplated I'M
mediate extension of its line over this ter
| ritory would afford street railroad accom-
| nlodations to that part of the village of
| Mount Pleasant Of which the people have
| so long been In need. This bill provides
| only for a single track along Howard ave-
| nue. and 18th and Park streets, and 1t is the
| Intention of the Commissioners of the Dis
| trict Of Columbia and the desire OF all par
| ties interested that Howard avenue and
| Park street be widened to ninety feet, and
| there is but little doubt that this contem-
plated improvement will be made.
| The committee therefore recommended
| that a resolution be passed by this associa-
! ton indorsing that part or House bill 4012
| providing for the extension OF the Capital
! Traction Company's tracks over the route
| hereinbefore described. The committee
| suggested however that the bill should
| contain a limitation as to the time In which
| sucn extension is to be made, 1t being un-
| derstood that it is the intention OF the COM
|
| sible after the right is granted to it. The
! committee also recommended that the reso-
! luton indorsing this bill with the amend
| ment to the limit of the time suggested
| be presented to the committees of the
| Senate and the House on the District Of CO.
| lumbia, and that the members of the asso-
| citation be requested to sign any petition
| presented for the Endorsement of House bill
| No. 1912. -
Recommends Cooperation.
The committee REFERRED to a recent meet
ing of the Meridian Hill and Lanier
Heights Citizens Association. at which
resolution was adopted favoring the extern
sion OF the Metropolitan railroad from its
present terminussat 18th street and Column
bia road; thence along Columbia road to
| Ontario avenue;, thence north on Ontario
avenue to Poplar avenue; thence on Poplar
avenue to its intersection with 18th street;
nue.. The committee, said Mr.: Brown, be,
lieves that the above proposed route would
afford accommodations to territory great
ly in need of such railroad accommodation,
| and recommend that the association coop
| crate with tina MeJfflian Hill and Ianier