Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-21
Mr.. Crosby's Statements Before the
House District Committee.
PROMISES An ELECTRIC SYSTEM
Will Commence Work Within q
Week After Passage of Bill.
ESTIONS ASKED HIM

Mr.. crosby appeared before the House
District committee this morning and urged
speedy action on the bill to amend the
charter Of the lexington and Soldiers
Home Railway Company of the District Of
Columbia. the Maryland and Washington
Railway Company. and the Belt Railway
Company, and for other purposes
He urged particularly the Curtis bill, but
said that the company were not dispos I'd to
dispute over the form of the bill. The bill
drawn up by the Senate committee meet
ing the objections raised by the District
Commissioners to the Curtis bill would be
acceptable, with the time within which the
work should be completed extended to nine
months, instead of six. They would expect
to complete the work in six months, but
they would not like to be compelled to a
forfeiture IL bad weather in March ana
February interfered to delay the work.
What the new company wanted, he said,
was the authority, SO that they could go
to work at once and proceed with all pos
sible speed to the installation of the rapid
transit underground electric system.
The Indemnity Bond.
In answer to the suggestions of the Com
missioners as to the indemnity bond. he
said that naturally the company had not
suggested the indemnity clauses of the
bill but that they were not sticking over
the form of the forfeiture clauses. They
were prepared to go ahead with the work
and to complete it rapidly skill and
steady work could enable them to. He
said that the company were not asking
for any extension Of the lines, but for u
consolidation, which would enable them
to establish a continuous rapid transit
system
Mr.. Odell asked Mr.. Crosby, ironically,
If he did not think there would be obiec-
n II
to consolidate with the Capital Traction
Company.
Mr.. Crosby said he could not speak as
to that. What they wanted was authority
to consolidate the roads named in the
bill, which were practically owned by the
new company, ard to issue stocks and
bonds for the equipment Of the road in the
best modern way.
Proposed Change of Route.
AS to the objections of the Commissioners
that some of the streets over which the
road now runs were too narrow, he said
that the only objection of the company to
a. change of route as suggested was that
it would consume time. and the important
thing in the opinion Of the company, was
to get the new system in as soon as poss-
BILE. The road was now running along this
route and he saw no special reason for
changing it, but the company would be
willing for an India rubber" clause to be
put in the bill giving the Commissioners a
certain amount of discretion as to changes
of route. He said that the road was now
costing the company a hundred dollars a
day out of their pockets. When equipped
with the electric system, he calculated that
1t would pay "a dividend.
He said they would begin work within a
week after the bill became a law. He was
asked If he would be willing to provide a
forfeiture against further delay than that,
and replied that he would.
q a hnr mill inn ND
a half dollars to do the work, and that
they had the money now raised.
The People Suspicious.
Mr.. Richardson said that the people had
SO often been disappointed that they were
suspicious ard would fear that there might
be a purpose to secure delay. Mr.. Crosby
referred to the bad name Of the road, and
said that the new company wanted to
shake off that reputation. He thought they
could complete the work in four or five
months after getting the material, but that
the bad weather liable in March and Feb
ruary should be taken into consideration in
fixing the time for the forfeiture clauses to
become operative. He said that the new
Senate bill met the objections of the Com
missioners to the form of consolidation with
line outside Of the District, and added
that the most carefully worded provision
to prevent confusion in control Of the road
by the District on this account would not
be objected to.
The committee held brief executive ses-
sion after hearing Mr.. Crosby, and consid-
cred the BILL without coming to a conclu-
sion. They are to meet again tomorrow
morning when they will probably agree on
a favorable report.