Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-28
Commissioners Give a Hearing on
Pending Legislation.
BRIGHfW0oD COMPANY PROTESTS
Citizens Associations Represent
Need of Better ABILITIES.
THE SEW ERAL ROUTES

pany in the northern suburbs. The Metro
politan Company was represented by Its
attorney. Mr.. Nathaniel Wilson; the Capt.
tai Traction. by President Dunlop, while
the various citizens associations in the
section were represented by their presi-
dents and committees.
Bill $40 was first considered and Secre-
tary Williams of the Brightwood Railway
Company explained that 1t was introduced
SO as to require the Metropolitan Railroad
Company to complete it's line out Florida
avenue to Ith street under the act of 1894
providing for reciprocal transfers, ETC.
The Brightwood road. said Mr.. Williams
has repeatedly informed the Metropolitan
Company that 1t could have trackage facil-
tiles over the formers line to Mount Pleas
ant. and yet nothing has ever been done
He thought 1t most unfair to the Bright
wood line to allow any bill to pass which
would enable the Metropolitan road TO par
aliei the BrightwOod line. The Metropoli-
tan road already has the right to go over
the Brightwood tracks, and Mr. Williams
asked the Commissioners to recommend 10
Congress that II be required to do so.
Bill SGo4 was taken up. and 1t provides
for the extension OF the Metropolitan line
out Sherman avenue to New Hampshire
av. nue.; thence to Whitney avenue: also
out 10Th street, when opened, to Park
street. Mt. Pleasant. Mr.. f. B. Townsend
on behalf of the citizens of Meridian Hill
and Lanier Heights. said he was directed
70 say that they favored the extension out
10th street, and that 1t is badly needed by
the people there, as well as by the people
of Mt. Pleasant.
Appeals Against Expense.
Replying to Commissioner Black, Mr..
Townsend said the people of the section
would leave to the Commissioners the mat
ter of the widening of the streets, but
asked them not TO compel the taxpayers to
bear any unnecessary expense IN the nat
ter. He believed the people will DO all that
Is fair and reasonable. He also said that
either 18th or 18th street would be accent
able, should the Commissioners decide the
prblic desiring first of all better railroad
facilities.
MIR. Williams and DIR. c. s. Stone op-
ECsed any extension of the Metropolitan
line out Sherman avenue as unfair TO tn.
BrishtWood company, while Mr. l.. p
Shoemaker and Mr.. Donald Mcpherson in
dorsed what had been said by Mr.. Towns
END.
Mr.. ]. W. semerville, president of tn,
Mt. Pleasant Citizens Association said he
understood from Mr.. Wilson that land on
10th street to kenesaw avenue Will be
donated, and then he went on to say that
1t was a mistake to imagine that mis- asso-
citation and the people OF Mt Pleasant on
rCse the Metropolitan company. On the
contrary, he said, they oppose neither that
nor the Capital Traction Company. simply
being heartily in favor of the company
uhich will give them what they so badly
need. better rapid railroad facilities He
thought. however, that any extension IA
Nored should be required to be made in six
or twelve months from the passage Of the
law authorizing 1t.
Mr.. Everett HAYDEN added several words
in Endorsement of the proposed extension
out 10th street. and Mr.. William McCIay-
ton, representing the BrightNood ParkiCit.-
Zens Association, Endorsed all Mr.. Will
Jams had said. explaining that his people
would be perfectly satisfied with bill S42u.
President Dunlop Heard.
President Dunlop of the Capital Traction
Company said he desired to oppose any. ex-
tension of the Metropolitan line out Column
bia read and 10th street. He accused the
Metropolitan company of always endeavo?-
ing to enter the territory of his company,
and charged that as it's only purpose in
seeking to get out to Ait. Pleasant For
three years, he explained. his company had
bill before Congress authorizing it to go
cut 18th street, but stated that the bill was
withdrawn at this session because Of the
great expense incurred by his company IN
rebuilding its lines on 14th street and the
avenue by reason OF ne power house fire
last September. But, Mr.. Dunlop said, he
desired to publicly announce that it is the
intention of the Capital Traction Company
to rebuild the Z street line and go out 18th
street Just as soon as they complete the
present work of the company and the 9TH
street line. He again complained that the
Metropolitan company has never built
territory Of the Capital Traction Company
That remarked Mr.. Wilson, is be-
cause your company claims the whole Dis
trict as its exclusive tefsItDrJ."
MIR. Dunlop indigr antly denied the asser-
ton. and renewed his assertion against the
Metropolitan Company. His company has
EeNer molested the other company, and has
never sought to extend Its line into it's ter
hut lnv,er h.
politan Company seeks to invade the do
nam Of his company 1t will be opposed in
no uncertain manner. He charged that the
Metropolitan Company is never willing to
Rave time limit in a bill covering ITS ex-
tensions. a charge that was denied by Mr.
Wilson. Mr.. Dunlop said his company has
a charter right to go out Brightwood ave-
nue.. but as that street is covered by rail-
road company. the Capitol Traction Com
pany has no desire to invade anOther's ter
ritory.
Welded to No Road.
Mr.. Townsend said his people are welded
to no road. but he called attention to Mr.
Dunlops statement that for three years the
Capital Traction Company has done moth
ing in the meter of extending its line out
18th street. Mr.. J. F. johnson and Mr..
Stanley spoke Of the Inconvenience the
people OF Rrightwood and that vicinity are
subjected to now In the matter of getting
down town, and spoke in favor of bill $40
Bill 1854 was the last one taken up. and
Mr.. M. A. Ballinger, president of the Co.
iumbia Heights Citizens Association, said
1t Is an outrage for the Brightwood Com
pany on the one hand and the Capital
Traction Company on the other to try to
crush his people out of existence 1t is
nothing more nor less than railroad self
ishness, he remarked. The people of the
District, he said, will not be satisfied with
railroad loops, although he pointed out
that the Commissioners have recommend
ed that both roads use loop in Mt Pleas
ant. He said the people do not care
whether the Metropolitan Company goes
out Sherman avenue or 18th street. so
they get the road extended so as to give
the people the desired railroad facilities
He did not oppose the wishes OF the
Brightwood company, believing that 1t
should be enabled to get down town, but
he desired 1t understood that the people
are not welded to any one road.
Mr.. Somerville said that had 1t not been
for the Capital Traction Company Column
bia Heights would not today be One-tenth
as closely built up. The people of Mt
Pleasant are not opposing either road,
simply desiring to take anything under
the sun which will give them better rail.
road facilities.
Explanation by Mr. Wilson.
Mr.. Wilson explained that thu effort of
the Metropolitan company to extend Its