Evening star., 1898-12-19
RAILWAY EXTENSION BILLS
Hearing Given by the Commissioners on
Pending Legislation.
metropolitan and BrightwOod Rail-
tiOn of TrackaEe Arrangements.

cldlS OF the metropolitan ana Br1SntWOou
railroad companies today discussed the
several bills recently introduced for the ex-
tension of the Metropolitan road. The first
bill discussed was House bill 1000, provid
ing for an extension of the Metropolitan
road from its present terminus on Bright
wood avenue out that street to Rock Creek
Church road, the double tracks of the Met
ropolitan road to be independent of those
of the Brightwood road, but one fare to be
charged, and free reciprocal transfers to is
sue to passengers at points intersecting
with other suburban roads.
Mr.. Nathaniel Wilson, the attorney of the
Metropolitan company, explained to the
Commissioners why his company desired
the passage of the bill, stating. in reply to
Commissioner Beach, that the company
preferred not to have common tracks for
the two roads because of the great differ
ence between their respective mechanical
appliances, which would he said. prevent
joint use by them of the same rails. Com
missioner Beach said it appeared very de
Strable to him to have but two tracks on
the street to be used by two roads, but Mr.
Wilson claimed that if the Metropolitan
company extended its system and laid the
same rails 1T now uses, the Indebtedness of
the Brightwood road might cause serious
inconvenience, should the creditors of the
other road seek to enforce their claims. 1t
was, therefore, rather a legal, than phys
ical, objection, which his road urged
against being compelled to use tracks in
common with the Brightwood road.
Reciprocal Transfers.
Replying to an inquiry of Commissioner
Wight, Mr.. Wilson said the Metropolitan
road would expect, of course, in the event
of the bills passage, to receive transfers
issued by other intersecting lines, and would
in turn issue transfers, free of charge to
2 thn
Mr.. Wilson said there is nothing in the bill
providing for connecting the cars with the
proposed extension of the Metropolitan
line out 11th street extended.
MIR. A. q. Stafford and Mr.. G. 2. Williams
representing the Brightwood road, claimed
that the proposed extension, without recip-
rocai trackage arrangement with the Met
ropoltan line, would seriously endanger the
success of their road. They insisted that
the object of the bill was merely an at
tempt of the Metropolitan company to de-
1eat the reciprocal trackage ARRANGEMENT
with the Brlghtwood company and pointed
out that the latter company was compelled
TO seek the aid of the courts to enforce that
provision Of Congress for such an arrange
ment between the two roads There is room
FOR but one line in the suburban section de
sired TO be entered by the METROPOLITAN
company, they stated, and they asked that
the bill be not approved by the Commission
eTS.
Another Bill Considered.
The Commissioners promised to take the
matter under consideration. and after rho
representatives of the Brightwood road had
withdrawn. the Commissioners heard Mr.
w lLson and President Weaver and General
Manager Coleman of the Metropolitan COM
pany, on House bill 1856 providing for
the extension of the METROPOLITAN road
Iioin It's present terminus on 10th street
near fiorlda avenue northwest to 11th
street extended, or as proposed to be ex-
tended, to iydecker avenue through the
Mattingfy tract, to 18th street opposite
Howard avenue. The representatives of
the road stated that the company desires
10 make the extension, and will promptly
do so whenever authority is obtained of
congress. Bu; Mr.. Wilson called attention
to the fact that Mr.. VIM. F. Mattingly has
Withdrawn the offer made several months
ago to grant right of way through the
Mdttlngly tract. and remarked that it ap--
peared from Lydecker avenue the line
could be extended on a street laid out in
the new map of section one of the highway
extension.
Extension From Lincoln Park.
The next bill discussed was House bill
1859, providing for an extension of the
metropolitan road from Lincoln Park down
11th street southeast to E street thence
down 11th street by a single track to a.
point five feet north of the tracks of the
AnacOStia railroad. thence along G street
TO 18th, to f street, thence west on +.
street to 11th street, there to connect with
the double tracks. Commissioner Beach
suggested that it would be better to extend
the road to 18th street east, to Virginia ave
nue., to street, to 1lth street, but no
agreement was reached in the matter and
the Commissioners will submit their rec
concentrations on the three bills to Com
gress.
CITY POST OFFICE INVESTIG ALTON.