Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-02
CITIZENS FLEA PROTEST
Objections Made to Manner III Operating
Branch of Bight~sod Railway.
Declaration Calls on the Commi..sou.
ers-Claim Of Damage to Prop
erty on Kenyon Street.

A delegation Of citizens from Columbia
Heights made call today upon the Dis
trict Commissioners to object to the condi-
ton of the plant and the manner of opera
ticn of the branch line of the Brghtwood
Railway Company on Kenyon and Marshall
streets:
Mr.. Leo Simmons read resolution adopt
ed by the Columbia Heights Citizens AS
sociation on the subject, and said he OBJ
jected to poles on both sides Of the street
as unsightly and as sources of danger, and
to the cars and tracks because out Of re-
pair. He said the president of the road,
Horace S. Cummings, claims the receipts
from the operation of the branch do not
pay the expense of employing the motor
men.
Mr.. Abram D. Hazen said he thought the
railroad and cars in their present condition
nuisance, ard that the line should be
equipped with an underground system on
modern basis, or the removal Of the present
plant required.
Mr. Samuel A. Rogers said he bought the
property which he has resided for two
years on said street before the branch line
was put there; that his family has not used
the cars on the line, and that it is regarded
that they leave their horses on 18th street
and bring the goods thence to The house
by hand. He wanted the branch and cars
radically improved or removed.
Mr.. Samuel Baxter reiterated the COM
plants Of those who preceded him.
Mr. Simmons also left letter of the
same general tenor written by Charles A.
Hamilton.
Bill to Regulate.
Mr.. Chas. F. Calhoun read an argument
in support of bill regulating this branch
line to the effect that:
LIST. The branch line Of the Brightwood
Railway Company on Kenyon and Mar
shall streets is of no earthly benefit either
to the company direct, or the property
owners and residents on said streets. Not
over twenty-five passengers per day are
carried on the single car operated by said
company between 18th aud 18th streets.
The revenue derived is not nearly suffi-
cent TO pay the salary of the motorman,
rot taking into account at all the cost of
electric current, wear and tear on car,
tracks, etc.
Second. The rails of this branch line are
set on ties, and said rails are several inch
es above the roadway, making travel on
Kenyon and Marshall streets not only diff
cult but dangerous
The UnsighHy Poles.
Third. Unsightly wooden poles of the
cheapest kind have been erected by said
company (unGer authority of the Commits
Kenyon and Marshall streets. Many Of
these poles have fallen lat different times,
and an examination at thee time showed
that they had entirely rotted away at the
base. al "
feel certain that most of the poles now
standing are in the same condition. and
liable to fall at any moment On account of
tie great weight of the overhead trolley
wire. 1 firmly believe that in case these
dangerous poles are not removed very
shortly and the overhead wire placed under
ground, as provided forlin the Senate and
House bills, fatal accident will yet occur.
Citizens Agree.
Fourth. All citizens of Columbia Heights
I feel certain, would be pleased to see
this company compelled to operate this
branch line in a systematic manner, as
proposed in pending legislation or said
branch line abandoned.
Fifth. reside on Kenyon street, having
purchased a twenty -five-foot lot there pre-
vious to the location of this branch line
on that street.
believe my property has been damaged
by reason of these unsightly and dangerous
poles and this ''one-horse' road at from
$500 to 5000, and, In my opinion, all
other property owners on Kenyon and Mar
shall streets have been damaged accord
ingly. Why, then. should your honorable
body have any hesitancy in recommending
the passage of the bills now under con-
sideration?
The Commissioners promised to give the
matter their careful attention.