The times., 1897-07-17
TRIAL TRIP SUCCESSFUL
Electric Cars Are Now Running
TO Congress Heights.
WILSON PARK is OPENED
The New Road of the Capital Rail-
way Company Was Opened Yes
terday, TO the Great JOY of Thog-
sands who Went To Wilson Park
for Recreation.

The opening up of the Capital Rail-
way in Anacostia yesterday afternoon was
most auspicious-it was the giving TO
that progressive suburb of Washington
rapid transit in reality, and Will long
be remembered by the residents as the
greatest step forward in the development
of that city and the surrounding country.
The history OF the road; the organiza-
tion Of the company and the progress
OF construction has already been told in
detail in The Times, aud needs no repeai-
ten. The whole chain of road has not
vet been completed, but it is SO GER
tain to be done, and that in the very
near future, that it is already looked
upon as an established fact. Only one
SECTION Of the road, that extending from
Congress Heights, about two miles south
orA Dacosta, to the south end Of the
bridge, was opened yesterday and the
patronage given by tie residents OF
Ansuosua and Washington was latter
ing in the extreme.
Tho first car was run over this section
a little after O'Clock yesterday after
noon and carried fair load Of passengers.
Al went well aud there was no accident
or delay The people gained confidence
ana each succeeding trip until midnight
when the ears stopped running, We're
crowded to sta nding room.
The southern t. eTninus OF the road atCoa-
gress Heights is Wilson Park, which the
ma na@ernent Of the road has fitted UP
for an amusement resort. Last evening
E.ore than 5000 people visited tue park
and spent an hour or more strolling about
the grounds or dancing at the pavilion.
During the latter part of the evening
trailer had to be attached to the motor
car for the accommodation Of the Gro wds
going 10 and from Congress Heights.
Until the break In the line, caused by
the objection TO run overhead wireSacross
the Anacosta Bride, is completed, the con-
Dection between the lines at the south aud
north ends of the bridge will be made by
herdics.
Ia speaking Of this last evening to a
reporter for The Times, MI E. A Ran lie
president and general manager OF the
read, said he believed that matters viii
be so arranged as TO permit OF perfecting
the connection over the bridge in the very
near future.
He said that there was some delay
in procuring the a nacostia Bridge for an
overhead trolley, but as soon as the mat
ter was looked into by the Commissioners
permission would, no doubt, be granted
The frame work over the bridge on which
the trolley would rest is made OF heavy
lumber only fourteen feet apart, while
in Philadelphia, Pa and other cities, the
frame work on similar bridges over which
trolleys are run, are 40 feet apart This
to say the least, Mr. Randle says, shows
that the Anacostia Bridge is ten time.
safer than bridges in other large cities
ever which overhead wires are strung
1.-The charter Of the company, Mr. RAJ andle
says, "gives the Commissioners authority TO
determine BY what means the current shall
be carried over the bridge, and they have
decided IL shah go overhead, and wires
are now up, carrying the power In the
shape Of feeders which run to Congress
Heig,s,s and to the underground wires laid
in Washington. They have not, however
given consent to run overhead trolieys
to haul cars across the bridge. They have,
however, given the Mount Vernon, Wash.
ington ard Alexandria road the authority
to Use overhead wires to cross the Long
bridge, and have recently recommended
overhead wires for the Aqueduct briage
and as we believe the Commissioners 10 lie
fair ana honorable gentlemen, we nave
every faith in their extending the same
privileges TO u.s.
The first car which was run over the
road yesterday was in charge Of CondT Tctor
c. W. Harleston, with Mr.. j. E. Mongret
all expert from the Steel Motor Company
of Jolnstown, Pa, as motorTnan. Presi
dent Randle aRd Vice President Brotheri
were also aboard. The trip from the bridge
to the heiehs was made in excellent time
Without accident Everybody aboard wa
interested 10 know how the car would ma ke
the steep hill north Of st. Elizabett's Asy-
lum, and. 70 the great delight OF the Off
GERS of the read and passengers, the ascent
WIS made with apparent ease aud as
steadily as il running on level ground.
On the $50 trip, going south, a lady
who attempted to get off the car while in
nsotion &C the Asylum fell, but for
tunate.y was not injured.
a concert, under the management Of tho
road. win be given at Wilson Park Sunday
afternoon, beginning at z o'clock.