Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-11
Completing Arrangements forthe New
Capital Traction Plant.
DECIDED at roDAY'S MEETING
Current Gossip in Regard to Two
Street Railways.

1 ITdClIoH halfway company, neiu To-Day In
| the office Of the company. contract was
| signed by which the General Electric Com
| pany agrees to supply all the electrical
| equipment. This contract was signed by
| Mr.. George T. Dunlop. president of the
| company. and Captain Griffin, representing
! the electrical company. Everything need
1 ed in an electrical line for the proposed
system will be furnished under this con-
| tract, and will include not only the equip
ment for the streets, but for the cars and
the building
AS has been stated in The Star the con-
| tract for the street construction has been
awarded to Mr.. Edmund SaXton, who had
the contract for installing a system on the
metropolitan road Mr.. Saxton is now out
of the city arranging to procure materials
to be used in the construction of the road,
and as soon as a sufficient supply is on
hand the actual work of construction will
he begun. 1t is expected, of course, that
there will be delays and disappointments
on account of the numerous de-ails involv-
ed in carrying out this work and the
requisite cooperation of numerous indi-
viduals. Unless, however, such difficulties
are greater than now appears il is believ-
ed by the building committee that the
work of construction will be begun by the
list of next month
The Work to BE Pushed.
1t is the intention, of course, to push the
known whether operations VIII be begun
first on the avenue line or on the 18th
street line, but that will be determined
later, and then temporary tracks will be
laid so that the usual traffic of the road
can &C on and the present accommodations
TO the public continued. 1t is proposed to
begin the work by digging a trench in the
center OF the two tracks, where will be
laid the terra Gotta conduit for carrying
the supply wires.
Mr.. d. S. CARL. the chief engineer and
general superintendent of the road, said
tBlS morning to a Star reporter that it
had been decided to lay new rails from 18th
street to the Peace monument in place of
those now down.. which found to be
100 much worn to give good servi.e
IL Is not known whether it will be neces-
Sary to relay the rails on the 14th street
line or not, but that question is soon to be
determined. The new rails are to be sixty
feet long and will replace the present rails
winch are only thirty feet in length, and by
this cnange the number of joints will be
reduced to minimum, which, of course,
Will contribute to a smoothness of trans
portation.
1t Is of course, understood that the pres
ent conduit will be used and also the slot
rails, but an angle iron will be riveted on
the siot ralis SO as to carry the drip" for
conveying off the water Mr. CARL said
that 1t WAS the intention to use as power
house the old mill on the rear of the
property of the company in Georgetown,
occupied by the old stables. This mill lies
between the river and the canal and Mr.
CARL said the only change necessary will
be to build stack which is to be con-
structed of steel and put together some
thing like a stove pipe. Then the machin-
cry, of course, will be installed in the build
ing.
What President Dunlop Says.
Mr.. George T. Dunlop the president of
the company, who. in connection with Mr.
Mr.
building committee, was today, like his
colleagues on the committee very busy in
settling the various details in the work of
preparation. He found, however time to
chat with a Star reporter about the pros
poets of the company, preseat and future.
He referred TO the gossip which prevailed
in regard to the appoint ment of Mr. Phil
lips as a member of the building commit
tee, and said he himself lsd written Il let
ter to Mr.. Phillips asking him to call at his
convenience at the office Of the traction
company. Mr.. Phillips called. said Mr..
Dunlop. in response to this request, and as
a result of this conference he was asked TO
become a member Of the committee. Mr..
Phillips, who was standing near, Endorsed
what MIR. Dunlop said, and j laughing ref
erence was made by him The ill-teeling
which was reported to exist between him
self and Mr.. Dunlop. and Sail that their
relations were entirely harmonious.
Mr.. Dunlop went on to say that it was
recognized that Mr.. Phillips had a special
knowledge of the subject which the COM
pany desired to utilize, and he vas
holder of about 500 shares OF the stock of
the company, he was naturally Interested
in the success of this enterprise, and it is
therefore entirely in accordance With good
business requirements that he was selec ed.
Mr.. Dunlop went on to say that as far as
could be ascertained at the present time
the entire cost of installing the under
ground electric system would be about
$500. $50 He said that the company would
lVn fro
on the power house. and that he expected
almost all of the residue of the cost of the
new system would be realized from the sale
of the square Of ground occuDjad nv the
old power house.
He said that the necessary cash to carry
on the work of installing the new equip
ment would be obtained by an issue of
bonds. which would not be put on the mar
ket for sale, but would be used as collater-
al security. He said that he thought that
money could be secured on these bonds al
from 21a to per cent, and that the bonds
would have a period to run not TO exceed
five years, and that it was the intention TO
take them up soon as the power house
property is sold He added that it would
be the policy of the company 20 use all the
available funds for the speedy completion
of the new equipment and that, therefore
the dividend for the January quarter would
probably not be paid: but he did not think
there would be any further interruption of
the dividends. Mr.. Dunlop said that as
soon as the new system was established he
believed that the earning capacity of the
road would be greatly increased.
The Current Gossip.
The gossip continues on the street in re-
gard to the probable consolidation of The
Metropolitan with the Capital Traction
read. Directors of 10th roads deny, how
ever. that any such proposition is being
considered by the respective boards, or that
it is even now in contemplation. In spite
of these denials. however, the current talk
of the street rather persistently adheres to
the belief that consolidation is to be
made 1t is pointed out that while the ad-
vantages to the stockholders Of the Metro
politan road by such a. move are not at
first apparent, still 1t is argued that at
traetive terms could be offered which
might be accepted by the Metropolitan
stockholders. In other words, it is claimed
that the scheme is possible one. and it is
asserted that under certain conditions the
consent of the Metropolitan stockholders
could be obtained However. as has al
ready been stated. this is the mere gossip
Of the street, which also rather freely out
lines plans of reorganization Of both COM
panies, involving changes in the principal
officers.