Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-28
THE BROWN ELECTRIC.
johnson Company Given a Hearing
Today by Commissioners.
TIE SYSTEM EXPLAINED
Capital Railway PropeiIing Power
Declared to Be imperfect.
THE FINAL DECISION

The District Commissioners today gave a
hearing to Mr.. Thomas Dupont of Johns
town. Pa, who is interested IN the john
son Company of that place, the promoters
of the Brown underground electric system.
which system has been in operation here
for several months on the Capital Railway
ConiraEy's line in Southeast Washington.
AS stated in yesterdays Star, the Com
missioners have about concluded that the
system should no longer be continued here,
for the reason that it appears to be imper-
feet. and, through its defects dangerous to
persons and property. The hearing accord
ed Mr. Dupont today vas for the purpose
of enabling him to lay before the Commits
sioners such reasons as he might care to
advance against the proposed discontinue
ance of the Brown system here on the Cap
ital railway line. Mr.. Dupont was the only
representative of the system present at to-
days hearing.
General Manager Explains.
Mr.. Dupont explained that he is the
general manager of the johnson Company.
ard that he had very little time in which
TO examine the operation of the Brown
system here. He also explained that he
is rot by any means an electrical expert,
electricity. He admitted that he found
defects in the system as operated on the
Capital railway road. but only such de-
fects as, in his opinion, came from broken
cups. He said he had been unable to find
that any real injury has been caused either
to persons or property. About nine out
of every ten residents on the line had
stated that they have never seen anything
wong or any one injured, he said, yet he
was satisfied that the system is not per-
feet, because of imperfect boxes and cups.
The boxes, he promised to replace by those
which will work satisfactorily, in the Cpin-
ion of the johnson Company, and he asked,
on behalf of the company. that the Com
missioners grant them sixty days in which
TO replace the defective boxes.
Capt. Black called attention to the prom
lses which were made to the Commission
ers before the Brown system was put in
here, at which time Mr.. Brown himself ad-
mitted. when the system was objected to,
that If the boxes remained alive after the
cars passed over them, the system would
be inadmiSsible in city because of the
damages the District would be liable for
through injuries to persons and property.
From the very first. said Capt. Black, the
system, as operated here, has been very
unsatisfactory, and time has again and
again been given to the promoters of the
system to remedy the imperfections it de-
veloped. So constant have these Imperfect
lions been that a corps of workman has
been at work practically all the time to
keep the road In operation. One of the
claimed beauties of the system, said Capt.
Black, was that broken boxes would be-
come dead ones. Just the contrary is true
so far, he remarked. and yet the Commits
sioners are once more asked to grant fur
Their time in which to perfect 1t. But the
assurances given now, he explained, are no
stronger than those heretofore given by
the promoters of the Brown system
Menace to Persons and Property.
1t is a well-known fact, stated Capt.
a return through rails is dam
gereus, a menace to persons and property,
and yet that seems to be the Brown sys-
TEN. To him 1T appeared plain that. the
Commissioners are now asked to continue
an imperfect system and thereby continue
the liability of the District for damages
which seem sure to follow. Yet the Com
missioners do not intend to say anything
more than that the Brown system as op-
Grated here is an imperfect one. They be-
lleVe that the promises of the promoters OF
the system are made in good faith. but
see no greater reasons advanced in its
behalf than have been advanced in the
past.
Mr. Du Pont explained that he mainly
desired that the Commissioners should not
condemn the system, being content to
have them report that as 1t has been OPP
Grated here 1t rs imperfect In reply to
an inquiry from Commissioner Ross, he
said he would like to have sixty days in
which to replace the defective cups and
DONeS anu WOULD quite WILING TO give
"a bond to cover all damages for which
the District might meantime become liable
He also expressed his willingness to agree
to remove the system if at the end of the
sixty days the Commissioners should be
convinced that the system had not been
made perfect
Mr.. Ross explained that the Commission
ers could not accept bond. but suggested
that the Johnson Company could make
deposit TO cover any liability the District
might suffer through the imperfections of
the system. Mr.. Ross also suggested that
the Capital Railway Company and the pro-
motors of the Brown system should also
agree to remove the system upon the ex-
piration of the sixty days should the Com
ni-ssioners be then of the same opinion as
to its imperfections. He explained, how
ever, that he could not promise that the
Commissioners will grant further time for
experiments.
An Executive Session.
The Commissioners held an executive ses-
sion after hearing Mr.. Du Pont, during
which the attorney for the District was
present, but adjourned a few minutes be-
fore o'clock without having reached a de-
cision. Commissioner Ross explained, how
ever, that he believed the matter will be
disposed of during the afternoon.
Mr. Du Pont. who had awaited the de-
cision of the Commissioners, left to catch
train for New York. Before going. how
ever, he stated that he desired to with
draw his offer on behalf of the Johnson
Company to deposit such a sum as would
cover any liability which might remotely
attach to the District through a further
continuance of the Brown system.
The Decision.
BY majority vote. the Commissioners
decided not to renew the permit for a trial
Of the Brown system by the Capital rail-
way, but gave the promoters thirty days
In which to renew the system. The permit
inder which the company is operating ex-
pires today.