Evening star., 1898-01-13
METROPOLITAN EXTENSION.
suggestion of Points of Advantage in
Two Routes Proposed.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:

Suggestion of Points of Advantage i'm
Two Routes Proposed.
To the Editor OF The Evening Star;
The subject OF the extension of the Met
ropolitan and Belt line roads through CO.
lumbia Heights and Mount Pleasant and
the most favorable routes to be chosen.
having reference both to the accommoda-
tion of the public and to the production of
revenue. have on different occasions dur
ing the past eighteen months engaged the
attention of the Columbia Heights Citi-
zens' Association. There has never at any
time appeared to be any difference of opin-
ION as to the desirability of securing the
extension of either or both roads through
TINS territory. provided only that they
should be equipped and operated with un-
foreground electric or equally acceptable
motive power; but there has always been
manifested the most decided and unyield-
ing opposition to the occupation of certain
streets by any railway line. While this
opposition has been generally put upon
the ground of the extreme narrowness of
some oil our streets. particularly those
running east and west like Kenesaw street
Park street and Howard avenue, a very
considerable number of the most substan-
tlal citizens have insisted that they es-
tablished their homes where they did in
great part with a view to securing inn
munity from the noise of car travel par
ucularly in the night time and that il
would be an invasion of their domestic
peace and comfort to introduce a railroad
of any sort along their streets
IL VIII be remembered that last year the
belt Line Company went before Congress
ana asked Tor an extension of its road up
sherman avenue and across to the Zoolo.i-
cal Park through kenesaw street Th.
Senate passed the bill, and while it was
pending In the District committee of the
House, with a strong and reso!ute lobby
q fnr tr,,r Ill
OF Columbia Heights rallied and by a We'll
directed effort accomplished its defeat
true TINS company was understood to
contemplate operating its extension by
morse power or overhead trolley, but the
light against it was made upon grounds
that would apply to any railroad by what
ever means operated. that was proposed to
be laid upon such narrow residential
streets.
During the excitement of this struepla
and on two different occasions since has the
association taken the sense of its members
upon different proposed routes through this
territory, and each time the vote has been
practically unanimous in favor of the routa
up sherman avenue far north as Ly-
decker street or still further north to
Spring road, thence by such route as should
be determined by those Immediately inter-
eSted through or around Mount Pleasant IN
the Geological Park
Thus the matter stood when the Metro
poiltan company, in answer to a communi-
cation from the association, EXPRESSED a
Willingness to meet a committee from the
association to confer upon the subject of
the immediate extension of its line AT
that conference il was MAGE manifest that
the officers of the Metropolitan Companv
We're willing to acSede to the wishes of orr
people for the extension of their line to the
terminal points named, but they expressed
great doubt to the practicability of on
Grating their road along the whole length
of Sherman avenue in consequence of en-
gineering difficulties which were then un-
der consideration by their engineers sub
sequent conferences, while they seemed TO
confirm the serious nature of the engineer
ing difficulties. also confirmed the unani-
nifty of the committee in favor of the Sher-
man avenue route provided these difficult
ties could be overcome.
Other conferences followed at which the
company. meeting no expert opposition TO
their contention, had it all their own way
and the committee wishing to secure the
extension of the road by the route of Sher-
man avenue, if possible. but if not by the
next best practicable route. agreed, with
only one dissenting vote. to report in favor
OF the alternative route proposed by the
company, which is east on Grant avenue to
Sherman avenue. out Sherman avenue one
square to Irving street thence west
by way of Irving and Roanoke
streets to 18th, thence north along
18th to Lydecker avenue. Such report
was made to the association at the meet
ing held the first Tuesday in December. the
same being introduced by full statement
HUN tHe CIidlIfidl Oh the committee of the
"engineering difficulties found by the
Metropolitan Company on Sherman avenue
Immediately north of the lowest point on
that avenue This report was adopted
without discussion, no one dissenting
1t now appears. after more thorough |
study of the subject, that. in the opinion Of |
the Commissioners OF the District Sherman
avenue is not impracticable for an under |
ground electric road. and consequently that
route is open to fair comparison of lis adj
vantages with those of the proposed routes. |
take the liberty to suggest the following
points OF advantage in the two routes pro- |
posed:
First. AS a means of exit from the CITY |
ncrthWard, Sherman avenue is incompara- /
bly, superior to any other street, the grade \
being so easy and uniform as to be hardly /
Second. This avenue is to be widened to /
100 feet and the southern entrance opened |
to Florida avenue. when it will become ore
of the finest streets, comparing favorably /
with Columbia road in breadth.
Third The grade Of this avenue is al /
ready established and the roadbed is ready /
for the trenches. There need be no delay /
in beginning the work whenever the exten-
sion is authorized. leaving the street wild |
ening, curbing. etc, to follow, as was done
With the extension along Columbia road
Fourth. By continuing north on Sherman |
avenue the vexatious question Of the wild
eEing of 18th street need not be raised
Fifth. Inasmuch as the Metropolitan is /
not competing for the Takoma travel, and /
therefore cannot be said to be in any sense
a rival of the Brightwood road. the selec-
ton by 1t of the Sherman avenue route.
while 1t would avoid traversing territory /
tributary to the Capital Traction /
road. could not be objected to by the /
Brightwcod company.
Sixth. The extension along the line of /
Sherman avenue to Lydecker would have /
the effect to bring into market for imme-
date building purposes hundreds Of lots
now in the hands of original proprietors.
which would be sold at 80 cents per foot. |
thus enabling many citizens in moderate |
to secure neat and comforta-