Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-14
RECEIVER sctDEPF'S REPLY
Arguments Advanced In Support Of Appli-
cation fora Permit.
Wants o Pipe Lire Aar Compressed
Air and Charging Stations ON
Eckingtoa Doad.

1NSCSiSSi oCHe pI OIS the ECkln&CON anu
Belt railroads has suhanitted to the Com
missioners his reply to the letter Of the
Commissioners concerning the equipment
OF the roads he represents with air mo-
tors. After reciting that as early as March
a. 1897. he had applied to the Commission
ers for permit to lay pipe line for COM
pressed air and introduce manhetss for re-
charging motors at intervals along tine
line of the lexington and Soldiers Home
railway, and quoting his subsequent letters
upon the subject. and claiming legislative
authority for introduction of the system,
Mr.. Schoepf says: .>.-e--.
"Of course, you understand that when
connected up from one reservoir to another
the air will not run as LIQUID, but will only
equalize the pressure, and, therefore, there
can be no other way than that of a pipe
line, as It would prove a most unsatisfac-
tory process" and would run the cost of
operation up very much
also again called attention to the am
pie legislative authority for the construc-
ton, and added that I would accept per-
mt 1or a portion of the distance asked in
order that the operation of the line could
be examined and tested.
Under date of June D. 1897, advised
the commissioners of the adoption of the
Hoadley-knlght system of compressed air
propulsion, and under the same date mod
flied my application of March "a, 1897, and
said This plan will give me a pipe line
to connect the tracks of both the above
named compa mics with the power house of
the lexington and Soldiers Home Railway
Company at 9Th and T streets northeast
and will be part of the permanent installa-
ton of the compressed air system referred
to III my notification of even date"
Emergency Stations.
He alleges successful operation of the
system in New York, quotes letter of his
to the Commissioners dated in September,
in which he calls attention to the necessity
Tor emergency charging stations, intro1uc-
ing comparison between the pipe lines
and the feeder wires used by the under
ground electric roads, and cites as pre-
cedents for the granting of such permits
the excavations made by the Columbia
Runway: rms company, he says, has also
peen allowed to change the surface of the
pavement to conform to it's construction
instead Of making it's construction conform
with the surface of the street. as required
797. 80 = ''' 80 |'@'' p"se
He says the permit recently granted to
the Capital Traction Company to change
Its power, which, the letter says, involves
much eNcavating. Attorney Thomas opin-
ion on the right of the company to Use COM
pressed air as a motive power is quoted
and attention is then invited to section 6
of the act approved June -, 1881 confer
ring upon the lexington road power to op-
crate its lines by horse. cable or electric
power. In that section appear the words,
ito make all needful and convenient
trenches and excavations and sewer con-
necttons in any of said streets or places,
where said corporation may have the right
to construct and operate ITS road, and Mace
in such trenches and excavations all need
full and convenient devices and machinery
for operating said railroad in the manner
and by the means aforesaid.
Quotes Ahc TACT. u~
Mr.. Schoepf says the act of June 10.
1896. requires equipment OF both roads with
compressed afr imotive power, if approved
by the Commissioners, and in default of
such equipment, requires underground cleo
trio equipment, and provides for making
excavations.
He concludes as follows:.
Il submit that the plain and express Ian
guage Of section constitutes a legislative
grant to the roads of the right to make all
necessary excavations and install all neces-
say underground construction, first for the
air power, and, in theralterRative, the cleo
trio. The Commissioners have approved
the air system, and the right to the permit
for its complete installation logically
follows.
1T seems to me that the only question
for the Commissioners now to decide il the
purely legal one as to the meaning of sec
ton of the act of June 10, 1896, and
cannot think that any. serious difficulty up
on that point can arise.
II am very anxious to commence work,
and, in order to present the question for
your decision, / inclose two applications,
one for the Belt Railway Company and
one for the lexington and Soldiers Home
Railway Company. for permits to make
necessary excavations and underground
pipe lines and construction, under such
safeguards as the Commissioners, in the
exercise of the power conferred upon them
by said section 8, shall prescribe. Finally,
l respectfully request early action upon
these applications