Evening star., 1898-01-19
RAILWAY EXTENSION
Hearing Given Citizens Interested in
Capital Traction Project.
TEE ARGUMENT OF Mr.. SERVEN
Representing North Capitol and
lexington Association.
co M NJ E Mt BY MR.. ROSS
COM NJ E Mt BY MR.. ROSS

Capitol and lexington Citizens Association
and citizens from thai section on the uues-
ton of the proposed extension of the Cap
ital Traction railway from TIN and l.
streets along Florida avenue to and around
the circle at North Capitol street and re-
turn. MIR. A. r. Serven, chairman of the
railway committee Of the association, ad-
dressed the Commissioners. He was ac-
companied by Secretary w. J. Hughes and
Messrs. Henry johnson, ]. H. Lane, L. r.
Moore, w. w. Porter and others. Commits
sioner Ross Informed the delegation that
the reasons assigned by them in support
Of the extension were very strong ones,
and they will be carefully considered by
the Commissioners.
The Argument Made.
Mr.. Server explained that the authority
for the extersicn was granted to the Rock
Creek Railway Company by the act of 1852
amending its charter but which was only
constructed short distance east of 7th
street, as the company became involved in
an effort to obtain authority for bringing
its line down New Jersey avenue to the
Capitol, instead of proceeding to North
Capitol street, and the present bill! is simply
revival of that authority. The proposed
extension, he said, will complete what is at
the present time, and will undoubtedly con-
tiiiue to be, the most available and econom-
ical plan for a serviceable and satisfactory
cross town lire, for the reason that it will
provide transportation facilities for every
part of the northeast section of the city
which is not served by the Columbia,
the Metropolitan or the Capital Traction
COmpany's present lines, and, with the
intersecting north and south lines, it will
furnish wellnigh perfect facilities for reach
ing every Fart of the city and adjoining
suburbs.
1t will also furnish an opportunity for
reaching with one fare and within Il
sonably short time the different graded
schools. and especially the high school,
which the school children Of the northeast
section, who number several hundred. are
compelled to attend: also for reaching the
Geological Park within a reasonable time
and reasonable fare. which. at present. the
residents of the section lying east of 9TH
street and north of N street have no op-
portunity of reaching without great eX-
penditure of time.
Mr.. Serven said further that it will pro-
vide the same section with reasonable ia
elites for reaching Chevy Chase and Glen
Echo. which cannot now be done withodt a
considerable expenditure of time and effort,
as well as an opportunity for several thou
sands who are now without transportation
facilities, who desire during the summer
season to attend the games at the base ball
park, and who are compelled either 20
walk, use bicycles employ more time in
getting to and returning from the park
than is consumed by the average ball game.
The BENEFITS Sought.
Mr.. Server called attention to the i'll
ability Of residents of this section at pres
ent to reach the wharves or river front
without consuming a considerable amount
of time and the expenditure of two or more
fares, which is a great Inconvenience, in
view of the large travel to the resorts along
the river during the summer months.
Other reasons urged by him were that the
extension would furnish facilities for reach
ing the O street and Center markets to
many people who are now compelled either
to walk all or a considerable part Of the
distance; that It, would furnish convenient
facilities for reaching the Smithsonian In
stitutiOn. National Museum and branches
and the Department of Agriculture; that it
would vastly improve the facilities for
those employees OF the bureau of engraving
and printing, many of whom reside in this
vicinity, who are now suffering from the
poor service obtained from the Belt Line
railway; that it would furnish good ia
c.lities for the residents of this section,
quite number of whom are employed at
the weather bureau, who are now Obliged
to consume more time in reaching their
offices by the street railway than it takes
to travel from Washington to Baltimore;
that it would furnish facilities for lad IS
and young women in the northwest sec
ton to reacn the Washington College, stu
ated near 4th and Il streets northeast,
which is now attended by number of peo-
pie living in the extreme northwest, and
would no doubt be attended by many more
If there We're reasonable facilities for get
ting back and forth; that it would furnish
greatly improved facilities for students at
the Catholic University who reside in diff
fereEt sections of the city to reach that To-
cality; that 1t would furnish greatly i'm
proved opportunity for reaching Brookland
and other suburban places far Hy-
attsv:lle along the line of the Columbia
and Maryland railway; that it would fur
nish greatly improved facilities for
the many thousands each week who
visit Glenwood, Prospect Hill, ST.
Mary's and Harmony cemeteries; that
1t would furnish opportunity with
reasonable effort for the public to attend
the lectures, receptions, musicales, etc.
which given at the Catholic Uniyer-
sity. Washington College for Ladies and 9TH
er institutions in that vicinity; that it would
furnish greatly improved facilities for
other persons desiring to visit the section
of the city and country lying east of 7th
street and north of NJ street northwest and
northeast. and that it would afford facili
ties to several thousand people residing in
the section referred to who are now en-
tirely destitute Of railway facilities in their
immediate vicinity, and are required to
traverse a number of blocks before being
able to secure any sort of transportation
at all.
In addition to the above, said Mr.. Ser
ven. from the small cost involved other
benefits of very substantial character
will be secured 1t is estimated the ex-
pense Of completing the extension will not
exceed $4,000, and while furnishing an
opportunity 1Or the company TO 90 away
with it's butt end line and necessary switch
men, as well as the loss of time, at 7th
and u streets it will add to the revenue
of the company, and will pay from the
first a return of not less than 10 per cent
on the amount invested.
Citizens File Petition.
A little over two years ago, he said, about
thousand of the residents of the imme-
date territory to be traversed forwarded a
petition to the Cspital Traction Company
for this extension. which was done at the
suggestion of the officers of that COM
pany, and their representatives were in
/ formed that If the authority could be OBJ
tained the extension would be built at the
time the U street section of their line
was rebuilt.
This extension. thought Mr.. Serven, will
relieve the very great congestion Of cars
at the lead Of 7th street. which is at pres
ent the terminus of the 7th street line, the
U street line. the branch of the Metro
poiitan line and the Brightwood line. 1t
would appear that any relief that could be
furnished at this point must be of great
value, in view OF the crowds that con-