The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-02-18
ITS PLANS IN THE SUBURBS
The Metropolitan Will Connect
With the Brightwood Road.
A HEARING In COMMITTEE
Mr. Wilson Does Not. Want TO Use
sherman Avenue Because OF the
Expense in Repairing the Street.
He Prefers Eleventh Street.-The.
whites Question.

The House Committee on the District
of Columbia this morning heard the oifi-
cials OF the Metropolitan Railway Com
pany explain their plans for the extern
sion of the system to Mount Pleasant.
rhe proposed extension is to begin at
the Tenth street terminus and proceed
along Florida and Grant avenues thence
north along Sherman avenue 10 Irving
street; thence along Roanoke street to
Thirteenth street west; thence along Ly-
decker avenue westward on the line OF
LydeciIcr avenue to Holmead avenue:
thence west across Holmead avenue and
across and over the tract of land known
as the Mattingly tract to Fourteenth
street thence by a single track across
Fourteenth street to aud over a loop
TO he formed hy Howard avenue and
Thirteenth street extended. The extern
sion shall be completed within one year
from the date Of the approval of the
act.
Mr.. Nathaniel Wilson, appearing for
the company. objected 10 the use of
Sherman avenue.
Mr. Wilson said that his company
could not afford the expense of putting
the street i'm proper condition.
He said that when the extension was
first proposed ii was Thought that Sher-
man avenue would be available for the
purpose. but subsequent surveys by COM
petent engineers had convinced the COM
pany that the street could not be used
for operating an underground system.
Mr.. Wilson advocated the substitution Of
Thirteenth street for sherman avenue,
because the companY's engineers consid-
cred the latter better for railroad pur-
poses and commended Thirteenth street.
Mr. Wilson said that if his road could
go up Eleventh street instead of Sherman
avenue it would be much better than
any other plan. but Eleventh street eX
tension IS not Yet graded. He denied that
the Metropolitan Company opposed the
Capital Traction Company in its use of
Fourteenth street. but ne did insist up
on the right Of the Metropolitan Com
pany to occupy Howard and other
streets. now wanted by the Capital Trac-
toin Company.
Respecting the western extension from
Ninth street To Columbia road, Mr. Wat
son said he had heard of no objection
TO il. for IL opened a means OF trans
p0-tation for large population to any
part of the city for only one fare and
without il two fares will be necessary.
Mr. A G. Stafford. I'm behalf Of the
BrightwO0d Railway Company, declared
that under the law the Metropolitan
Company was required TO extend its
road from NiRth street 10 Eleventh
street and To make a track arrangement
with the BrighJwood railway. He claim
. ed the Metropolitan Company had never
completed lis road. and demanded that
! il should he compelled to comply with
the requirements Of Congress. He ar
gued that the company il now in con-
tempt. and should not be granted any
further privileges until the road has been
4 connected with the Brightwood tracks.
Mr. Williams of the Brightwood Com
pany. said that il had under the law
offered the Metropolitan Company the
use of its line to Mount Pleasant.
Mr.. Stafford interrupted TO say that
bonds to the amount of 500 Oo0 had been
issued by the Metropolitan Company. for
the purpose of making the connection
with the BrightWood line. and that ma
terials were purchased FOR the purpose,
but never used.
In reply Mr.. Wilson said that when
the Metropolitan Company attempted TO
carry out the provisions of Congress the
Capital Traction Company obtained an
injunction.
That VAS simply trick. interjected
Mr. Stafford.
: Il will show If Ii was replied Mr..
Wilson. who then went on to say that
+ after the injunction proceedings were
disposed of the highway act was passed,
and he explained how this act had pre-
vented the company from taking further
action. In reply TO a question, Mr..
Wilson said that the Injunction is still
pending.
Yes: both parties want the injunc-
! ton" exclaimed Mr.. Stafford.
Mr.. Wilson declared to the committee
that his road had done all possible to
carry out the provisions of the law. The
company had offered the Brightwood line
! a free transfer.
Mr.. White of Illinois asked Mr.. Wilson
! if his company is willing to comply with
the law and make the connection, to
/ which Mr.. Wilson said. certainly" and
Mr. Stafford Immediately declared that
! the proposition was accepted, and the
/ discussion was brought to a close.