Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-08
FAVOR RAPID MOTIVE POWER
Commissioners Approve Underground Elec-
trio System for Street Railways.
Decline, However, to Give Indorse,
ment to Anacostfa Company's
Bill, for Special Reasons.

The Commissioners of the District in a
letter today to Senator Mcmillan. chairman
or the Senate District committee. in a re-
port on Senate bill 2644, expressed their
approval of having all the street railways
IN the District equipped with an under
ground electric system
The bill or which the Commissioners re-
ported was one to authorize the Anacostia
ana fotomac River Railway Company to
change its motive power and for other
purposes In explaining that they are I'M
able to recommend favorable action on the
bill they say:
In returning this bill the Commissioners
desire to place themselves on record as be-
ing heartily in favor of eauipping all the
street railroads in the District with an
underground electric system similar to thar
on the Metropolitan line. Under the cir
cumstances. however, they are unable to
recommend favorable action upon this bill
The act approved June IL, 1878. providing
a permanent form of government for the
District of Columbia requires that street
railway companies shall keep In repair at
their own expense, the space between their
rails and tracks and two feet exterior
thereto.
This paving is done by direction Of the
Commissioners under a District contract,
and in case the companies fail to pay for
the work within certain time, certificates
of indebtedness are issued against them
for reimbursement of the expense of doing
the work, as there are no other means pro-
vfded for doing such paving. This COM
pany has given the Commissioners consid-
cradle trouble and caused them no little
embarrassment by its failure to make the
necessary deposits in payment of paving
work done on the space for which ii is re-
sponsible, and to settle the certificates of
Indebtedness issued against it.
Resist Collection.
There is now an application before the
Commissioners from a contractor to obtain
deficiency appropriation from Congress to
pay for work done along the tracks of lh's
company. and for which he holds certih-
Gates of Indebtedness against 1t. the COM
pany resisting by judicial proceedings ef-
forts to collect the bill. The company con-
tends that as 1t was Incorporated prior TO
the passage OF the act of June IL. 1878. that
said act does not apply to ii, and that IT
will not be governed thereby until forced to
do so by judicial process.
Below is given q partial list of certif
Gates of Indebtedness issued against the
company which have not been paid: No.
10. issued to II. l.. Crawford, December 10.
1893. 1871; No. "a. issued to Washington
Asphalt Block and Tile Company, Decem-
Der IA, 1894 s3s5. 50. No. 81, same company,
December 8. 1895, $393l.64 No. 80, same
company, SOIL
Commissioners Hnmpered.
THE company has seriously hampered
the Commissioners in the work Of carrying
out the will Of Congress in paving streets
and keeping existing pavements safe for
travel along the line of its road. due to
the natural unwillingness of the contractor
to receive further certificates of Indebted
ness against 1t.
I'm view OF their very unsatisfactory eX-
rerieI.ce with the company, the Commits
sioners recommend that no further privi-
leges be granted ii until the certificates OF
II debtedness now outstanding against IL
are settled.
I'm addition to this 1t should be noted
that under the terms of the act approved
May %. 1896 the Capital Railway Com
pany was permitted to lay underground
e-ectric system along a portion of the
tracks IF the Anacostia and Potomac
River Railroad Company between the Navy
Yard bridge and NJ street southeast. This
system is now on trial, and it ithe Brown
electric syste NJ and the system In use on
the Metropolitan road cannot be used on
The same line simultaneously"