Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-28
COLUMBIA RAILWAY EXTENSION
Favorable Report by the House Dis
trfct COMMITTEES.

Favorable Report by the House Dis
trfct Committee.
The Hopse District committee has favor
ably reported the bill for the extension of
the Columbia railway eastwardly. The re-
port says:
The object of this bill is to extend the
lines OF the company east along the Ben
ming roadllacrosf the Eastern branch. along
the Anacostia road to the northeast bound
airy OF the District of Columbia, and also
from point at or near Deanewood east
ward to al point on the District line to be
designated by the Commissioners, to con-
meet at the DRstrict line with railroad
row being constructed ythe Chesapeake
Beach Railway Company, Maryland cor
poratlon, from point on Chesapeake bay
near ne FISHING creek. in st: Mary's county,
70 the District line. Work on this Mary
lend road to the bay has been vigorously
pushed since last October and it is repre-
sented to the committee that the road
viii pc completed and in operation to
chesapeake bay during the present sum-
ner.
''fhe proposed extension Of the Columbia
road will afford to tine residents of the
District of Columbia access to this road
Dy winch passengers can be conveyed from
the city of Washington to the salt waters
OF the Chesapeake bay in but little more
than half an hour. The great advantages
that Will result from the construction of
these roads, and the benefits they will con-
fer upon the residents Of Washington and
Maryland are obvious. Independent of any
connection with the road now being built
to the Chesapeake the extensions provided
for by this bill will give street railroad
Facilities and access to all parts of the
CITY to the large population living east of
the Eastern branch. This region is now
greatly in need of direct and rapid transit.
The bill provides for the use of the over
head double trolley east of Fifteenth street
northeast outside the city limits, but pro-
h1bits the use Of steam locomotives inside
the boundaries of the District. The ex-
tended lines are to be constructed outside
or existing highways. and the right of way
Is to be acquired by the company at its
own cost. The bill has been before the
committee for several months, and it's pas
dents In the northeast portion of the city
and of the District and by representatives
of the people residing in the adjoining coun-
ties of Maryland.
THE only opposition to the bill is that
very recently made by persons claiming to
represent the Washington and Potomac
Railroad Company, Maryland corpora
ton. claiming to be the successor to the
rights granted to the Southern Maryland
railroad by an act of Congress approved
June D. 1852 CO Stat. L.. I'D. The act re-
ferred to authorized the Southern Maryland
railroad to extend it's railroad into and
within the District of Columbia from
point near it's northeastern angle across
the Baltimore and Potomac railroad near
Benning station, to point on the Metro
politan branch Of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad near the existing subdivision called
lexington. and provided that unless the
said railroad shall be completed within two
years from the date of the passage, the
act and all rights and privileges thereby
granted shall cease and determine.
This railroad has not been built The
requirements Of the law have not been
compiled with. The only construction made
was to lay rails from the District line to
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, distance
of about two miles or less, only part of
the route described in the act. Over this
track no locomotive or car ever ran. and
during the sixteen years that have elapsed
since the act was passed no attempt at
further construction has been made, nor
has there been any attempt to resume the
work of construction by either the South
ern Maryland railroad. or by it's alleged
successor. sthe Washington and Potomac
Railroad Company"