Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-05
UNION OF INTERESTS
Proposed Merging Of Several of the
City Street Railroads.
some OF fHE CURRENT GOSSIP
A Consolidation of All Lines a
Probability of the Future.
1T WILL BE PER

Recently 1T was stated in The Star that
IL was proposed to ask Congress for leg
islation which would enable the Ecking-
ton and Soldiers Home Railway COMPANY
10 acquire the Washington and MARYLAND
road' the line of which is along Rhode
Island avenue extended from i,h street
east to the District line, and also that
portion of the Columbia and Maryland
railroad from the District line to Lake.
land, Md. As announced at the time. the
consolidated road is to have a new name
There is no change in this program. as
far as known. but there is a phase of the
matter which is the subject of more or
less talk In local railroad circles lust now.
1t is understood that quite recently a.
proposition was made to Mr.. q. r Crosby
who is member of the syndicate that now
controls the road above mentioned, TO in
clude several other roads in this scheme
of consolidation.
The Railroads Included
The railroads mentioned were the Ana
costa road. the Brightwood road and the
Georgetown and Tenleytown railroad, with
a contemplated cross town road from the
lexington road along l. or NJ street to the
line of the Georgetown and Tcn,eytown
road
1t was proposed that Congress should be
asked to grant authority for the building
oil such croSS-town line at the time per-
mission was asked to consolidate the roads,
1t is stated that the Anacostia ana
BrIghtwood railroads were 10 be taken in,
and a certain proportion of the stock of the
new company 10 he issued in lieu OF the
existing stock. The same arrangement
was to be made IN regard to the George
town and Ienleytown read. which, as is
well known, is controlled by some of the
capitalists owning the lexington and al
lied roads. rne scheme embraced the
building of the Georgetown and Tenley-
town road to Rockville.
Did Not Favor consolidation.
1t is said, however, that this plan of con-
soidation did not meet with the approval
of those interested in the lexington road,
at least not for present action, and that
the original idea of securing from Congress
authority to substitute one corporation in
place of the three existing corpora tions.
with view of handling with more ease
proposed bond issue, will he carried out.
1t is said To De the purpose TO begin the
work of installing the underground sys-
TEN on the lexington road a. soon as the
financial arrangements can be completed,
and, as already stated, ii is designed to
have an issue of bonds covering these rail-
road properties, whether the present plan
of a single corporation is carried out or
not.
In this connection it is stated that the
election of officers of the lexington and
Soldiers Home road by those now controls
ling the road will take place at the annual
meeting which will be held this month. IL
is said to be the purpose OF Mr John Il.
Seares of New York. who is said to be the
principal figure in the syndicate, TO nave
some local men in the organization OF the
lexington road, and that at the coming
election men who are resident in this city
and connected with local interests VIII Dc
given places in the directory.
About Railroad Consultations.
There is more or less gossip in circulation
in regard to the future of street raliroaos
in this city. and on the general theory that
consolidation is the order of the day, as
well as for more specific reasons. the belief
is very generally held in well-informed cir
cles that some time in the future. more or
less near there is to be conSoiidatlon OF
practically all the street railroads IN the
CITY Il is not GAINED that this is necee-
sarily to be accompanied by any one ROAD
buying the others, but probably VIII Dc
rous ht about by controlling interests De-
ing secured in various roads ard mere
ing of such interests Lhder one manage
ment. -. ~,
In is claimed that this is largely the his
tory of street railroads in other cities, anu
that there is no reason why Washington
should much longer continue 10 De an en
ception 1t is asserted that such plan IS
IN line with economy in management anu,
Of course such arguments appeal to those
who are financially interested IN the con-
duct of the roads.
Uniform Motive System.
Another reason for such change is
found by many in the fact that a uniform
motive system is gradually being adopted
by all the street railroads, which VIII, OF
course, facilitate the interchange of traffic
between intersecting roads. and will make
a plan of consolidation more feasible by ap-
ri.,.a1 nh
nent of investors.
Some interesting data is being gathered
together showing the street railroad busi-
ness of this city, both past and present.
and IL is said that very favorable exhlbit
is being made If such a scheme is carried
out and practically all the street railroads
CT the city come under the control OF one
the capitalization represented
will be the largest of any corporation IN
tie District of Columbia.