The morning times., 1897-02-09
A NEW FRANCHISE GRANTED
The Bill Incorporating the WASH
ington and Gettysburg Railway
Company FayorabIy Acted Upon.
The Acquisition OF the Water
Power of Great Falls.

| issuance OF transcripts from the records of
the health Office; authorizing the trustees
OF Graceland Cemetery To negotiate a
loan on the property at IA rate OF interest
not exceeding per cent; Senate resolution
las, for the RELIEF of farmers and truck
men, regulating the sale OF provisions in
the District, and the bill relating to the
adulteratfon OF food and drugs.
! The resolutions regarding the farmers
and truckmen's right to occupy the side
walks around the Center Market occasioned
very spirited debate. Mr. Blue and
| Mr. Dockery opposed tie resolution, the
former because it revived an ancient GUS
| tom. This brought several gentlemen
| with farming constituents behind them
TO their feet. Mr.. Shaffroth, Mr. McCor-
mick, and Mr.. Morse all appealed to the
| House To pass the resolution.
The bill TO compel street railway
companies in the District To remove
| abandoned tracks WIS taken up, de-
bated and passed. The bill pro
| yides that whenever the track or
tracks shall not have been used for rail-
way purposes for a period OF three months
the Commissioners may thereupon notify
such company to remove the tracks and
! to place the street in good condition
| Failing to do so within sixty days after
| notice is served the president of the com
! pany shall be deemed guilty OF a misde-
! neanor, and shall be liable to a fine
| or $40 for each and every day during
which the tracks are permitted to remain
upon the street or streets.
The bill to incorporate the Washington
| and Gettysburg Railway Company was the
next order of business. After stating the
| object Of this bill, Chairman Babcock called
| for a vote. There was an overwhelming
! aye vote againSt a faint nay, but Mr. Will
:ams OF Mississippi, called for a division
| There Were only Il few negative vote this
time, but Mr. Williams raised the question
| that quorum was not present and voting
| The Speaker counted only 100 members
present, and a call of the House was or
dered This brought the desired quorum,
and the bill was passed.
The route of the road is as follows: Be
| ginning at a point on the northeastern
boundary line of the District OF Columbia
| at or near the intersection OF said boundary
line ard Twelfth street east extended, as
| laid down in the proposed highway exten-
| sion plans thence south on Twelfth street
| to Frankfort street extended, as proposed
| in the highway extension plans: thence west
| On Frankfort street to Tenth street east ex-
| tended, of the proposed highway extension
| plans; thence south on Tenth street to Rhode
Island avenuc extended, connecting with
| the Maryland and Washington Railway Com
pany. The Washington and Gettysburg
| Railway Company shall issue transfer tick.
cts four for % cents, which shall be good
| for one continuous passage over their line
| within the District Of Columbia and over
| tie lines of the Maryland and Washington
| Railway Company and tie lexington and
| Soldiers Home Railway Company,in either
| direction, settlement for same being made
| on the basis of onc-half TO the Washington
and Gettysburg Railway Company and one
| half to the lexington and soldiers Home
| Railway Company and the Maryland and
Washington Railway Company If the
Maryland and Washington Railway Com
pany and the lexington and Soldiers Home
! Railway Company, over all its lines, shall
not have installed rapid-tTansit service
! by July l, 1898, then the Washington and
Gettysburg Railway Company shall have the
| right to extend its railway south on said
| Tenth street to Delaware avenue ex-
| tended. of the proposed highway extension
! plans; thence south on Delaware avenue to
| Fourth street east extended: thence south
| on Fourth sttSet east extended as pro-
| posed in the highway extension plans
and as laid out within the city limits, to
| ii street north, connecting with the line
| OF the Columbia Railway Company; and
the said Washington and Gettysburg Rail
| way Company shall issue transfer tickets,
| four for 20 cents, which shall be good
! for one continuous ride over their lines
within the District of Columbia and the
line of the Columbia Railway Company, in
| either direction, settlement for the same
being made ON the basis of one-half to
| each company. Where the route of the
said Washington and Gettysburg Railway
Company lies along a highway of the pro-
posed highway extension plans the com
pany shall acquire right of way not
less than thirty feet wide in the center OF
| the same; and all rights of way acquired
10y said company within the line of high
ways proposed by the highway extension
plans shall be dedicated to the District
of Columbia for the use of the public be-
fore a permit is issued for the construction
of the railway therein; said company is
also authorized to construct and operate
a telegraph line along its railway, subject
TO the approval of the District Commits
sioGers: Provided, That said line shall be
strung on the trolley poles of the com
paay, if such poles are used.
A committee amendment was added to
the bill as follows: The right of the
company TO use an overhead Single trolley
IN any street or part of street shall cease
six months after the approval of an act
Of Congress appropriating oGey or other
wise authorizing the paving of the road
way OF such street or part of street, except
in connection with continuous track rails:
and the right of saiG company to use
overhead single trolley in any public space
in the District of Columbia, except in
connection with continuous track rails,
shall, in any event, cease on July l. 1903''
Nj Williams said his reason for opposing
| the passage OF the bill was based on the
fact that no franchise should be given
TO any railroad for nothing. He believed
that franchises TO operate railroads in
the District should be sold to the highest
bidder, as is done in some other cities.
The bill TO amend the act to increase
the water supply of the city of Washing
ton so as to enable the Attorney General
and the Secretary OF War to obtain title
for the United States, by right of eminent
domain, TO all the water rights not now
owned 10y the government at and in the
vicinity of Great Falls was next considered
MI Babcock said this bin had been uran
imously approved 10y the Senate and House
District Committees, the District Commits
sioners and all others who had passed
upon it. He said that this was the first
step toward the acquisition of the water