Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-18
BY ELECTRIC POWER
Preparations Are Being Made to
Operate the Georgetown Branch.
PLANS OF CAPITAL TRACTION CO.
IF Possible Cars VIII Be Run Sum-
day to Peace Monument.
THE PROG RESS MADE

Workmen are now engaged in cleaning
cut the tracks of the Capital Traction Com
pany on what is known as the Georgetown
branch. extending from Georgetown to 18th
street. This work is preparatory to rum
ming Cars by the new underground. system
from Georgetown to the Peace monument,
providing, of course, the necessary arrange
H.ents can be completed. I
1t is probable. If everything goes well,
electric cars will be running over this sec
ton of the road Sunday. 1t is, of course
possible that there may be some hitch in
the preparations, and that the plans of the
company in this respect cannot be carried
out But 1t is the purpose of those in
charge of the work of equipping the road
with the new motive power to operate 1t
with electricity at as early date as prac-
ticable.
The power for running this section of the
read, as is the case with the 14th street
line, will be obtained from the Potomac
Electric Power Company. and the cars from
Georgetown to the Peace monument will be
run In addition to those on the 18th street
line from the northern terminus to the
Baltimore and Ohio depot
1t is looked upon as something remarka-
Bile that there should be an electric plant in
this city capable Of furnishing the amount
OF what might be termed surplus current
which the Potomac company has been able
to supply the Capital Traction railroad In
It's present emergency.
Stops mt Peace Monument.
Il the electricity available would make
1t possible, the Traction company would
gladly run cars all the way to the navy
yard, but it is asserted that even to ex-
pect to get sucn a large supply of cleo
u!city for a temporary use is unreason-
able. ard. therefore, after the cars are
operated by electricity on the Georgetown
branch to the Peace Monument 1t Is not
expected that any other section of the
road Will be run by the new motive power
until the power house Of the company is
completed and the electricity can be OBJ
tanned from that source.
If the present plans of the company are
carried out it is expected the power house
OF the company will be ready for use in
part at least, by the first part of April.
At that time it is believed that there will
be al least two engines available for USE
and 1t is estimated that they will fur
nfsh sufficient power to run the entire sys-
tenn.
A resident of Capitol Hill writes to The
star asking why the 18th street line should
be operated by electricity, while horse
cars are kept on the line passing through
the eastern section of the city.
why the 18th street branch of thu
road continues the writer, Should be,
and has always been, 81 favored is a De-
culiar mystery. The eastern section gives
the company much better patronage and
consequently deserves better treatment
than Is at present accorded 1t. Although
the 14th street electric cars have been run
Eing for more than a month the eastern
section has been shamefully neglected.
while that line, in fact, should have been
first equipped"
Representatives of the company say that
the 18th street line is now being run by a
hired current, and that 1t would be i'm
possible to buy sufficient additional cleo
tricity to operate such a long line as the
enc from Georgetown to the Navy Yard.
To Secure Bonds.
The Capital Traction Company this after
neon filed with the recorder Of deeds a deed
of trust to Thomas Hyde, James NJ. John
ston and Charles A. James to secure one
hundred $4,000 bonds. payable January 1.
1908. with interest at per cent. semi-an-
nuaIly.
The trust involves all the property, rights
and franchises of the company. except lots
IN squares 30, 234, 635, AL and 5O4, and
property In Kalorama. Meridian Hill and
Lanier Heights. in power house and ma
chinery.