Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-10
Cracks on the Plaza"


The Capital Traction Company, insistent
on extending its enormous grants of rights
of way over the streets of this city, is
using every effort to push its way along e
street northwest and along the east front
Of the Capitol, under the special plea that
the grades of B street south (Which they
now occupy are much greater than B
street north, while the fact Is there is but
the fraction of an inch difference.
Every property holder and resident on B
street northwest has protested against the
occupation of this street by this company,
on the grounds that it would utterly de-
stroy the peace and quiet of their homes.
destroy all privacy and greatly reduce the
market value of their property without
compensation.
These electric cars weigh about $4,000
pounds each; 300 trains day pounding up
ard down the street would wreck not only
their homes, but the buildings themselves.
1t has concluSively been shown to the hon.
orable Commissioners of the District that
street northwest is but thirty-five feet
wide from curb to curb, and the Commits
sioners very lately cut off the parking in
front of the houses on this street that the
sidewalk could be widened, claiming that
the street was too narrow to take off from
the street for this purpose. and concrete
sidewalks were laid, the property holders
paying their share of this Improvement
under the assessment plan.
1t would seem If the parking had to be
sacrificed to widen the sidewalk, 1t Is ali
official acknowledgment that the street is
too narrow for the use of street railroad
company
At the intersection of New Jersey avenue
and B street northwest are the main water
pipes supplying East Washington These
are a few feet only below the surface. with
eleven valves, seven of which are thirty
inch. The Capital Traction Company can
not run over or under them. To remove or
change the system would cause the water
for all East Washington to be cut off for
from two to three months. AS new cast
il. gs must be had, they cannot be removed
or lowered without new castings. 1t would
seem that the fire insurance companies
should be heard in this matter
The general plan of the Capital Traction
Company is that it wishes to benefit the
people by giving better access to the Balti-
more and Ohio depot and the Capitol.
This object they have attained by their
tracks on Indiana avenue and street
south. They object that their tracks on
Irdiana avenue opposite the depot are
"butt-end tracks," and they want a circuit
round the Capitol front. 1t should be borne
in mind that it is a question of a short
time only when the Baltimore and Ohio
must move is depot and elevate or depress
Its tracks, doing away with grade cross
irgs.
AS to the occupation up the east front of
the Capitol, under the plea that 1t would
allow members and visitors to enter the
and slush and rain. it is now but a step or
so from their cars on street south to the
Capitol building. Unless they propose to
run their tracks through the basement of
the Capitol itself. they could not possibly
deliver their passengers under cover.
This plaza has for years been used as a
recreation ground by residents, and espe-
cially children; in the hot sumner nights it
is literally packed with the common peo-
ple." and who has failed to observe the
great crowds gathered to Eear the music
of the Marine Band? Must the property on
B street north. the comfort and health Of
the residents, the pleasure of the citizens
at large in the enjoyment Of the plaza be
sacrificed to extend the already enormously
valuable franchise of the Capital Traction
Company?
If this corporation wishes to benefit the
dear public, there certainly is room for
| such philanthropic idea Why not build
a branch from 9TH or 9th street and Penn
sylvania avenue northwest east along Indi-
ana avenue. and tap the lines of the Met
rcpolitan, following their tracks to 1st
street northes st, thence south to the main
line of the Capital Traction Company on
Pennsylvania avenue southeast?
The Capital Traction Company would
have far less track to build than they now
propose, and 1T Is thought to be the inten-
ton OF the District Commissioners that
existing street lines should, in extensions
rake use of streets already used and rails
already down.
This proposed plan would give the cir
pany, and give citizens ready access by
their lines to the District building a point
Of great interest semi-annually to taxpay-
els; to the Baltimore and Ohio depot, as
| row located as well probably in the fu-
tpre should the depot be moved further
| est. as contemplated, and also to the Con-
gressional Library. One point of special
| in portance to every man. woman and child
| In the city would be gained If transfer
system between the Capital Traction Com
pany and the Metropolitan was provided
for by law. East Washington would be
particularly benefited: people going to the
| departments could take the metropolitan
trarsfer to the Capital traction or vice
versa This transfer should operate over
| all the lines of both companies; 1t would be
I a great saving of nickels.
1t would seem II valuable franchises are
| to be granted corporations and against the
wishes of people along the proposed route
| there should be most liberal provisions for
| the benefit and advantage of the citizens.
"Al for the corporations. nothing for the
PEOPLE," seems to be against the spirit Of
| the times, as no doubt II viii be found
against the spirit of our legislators. It is
a bad year for corporations to insist on
| having It all their own way.
L. NJ. LONGSHAW.