Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-15
Hearing Given on Bill to Amend Com
pany's Charter.
CITIZENS REASONS FOR ACTION
The Commissioners Take the Mat
ter Under Amusement.
A p E TION Fill E d

House bill 1;s95 to amend the charter OF
the District of Columbia Suburban Railway
Company, was the subject of hearing
given today by the District Commission
ers- The conpSny desires to afford rail-
road facilities to the northeastern sections
CT the city and District. running out on the
BladensbCrg road. also runriag 12:h
street extended down from Brookland to
Lincoln Park by a bra-N h line the main
line starting from where the District line
crosses the BIadensburg Pike, thence along
the pike to 18th street and Florida avenue,
thence along Maryland avenue to 12tn
street and then 70 a street northeast.
Mr.. Gilbert Meyers explained that the
read was commenced about five or six
years ago. but was stopped by the finan-
ciai crisis which followed. The section of
the District il is proposed to supply with
railway facilities, ne explained, is without
any at all at present, not ono other railroad
corporation in the District desiring to en-
ter the territory There is now, he said,
but one line III the section outside the city,
the Baltimore and Ohio. and that road
gives but two or three trains day to the
people In other words, stated Mr.. Moy-
ers, the people in the section are totally
cut off from Communication with the city
st-ve by the Baltimore ard Ohio road. The
fact that the proposed read has not al
ready been built, ne said. was due to both
Congress and the Commissioners. The
money to build 1t is ready to be put out,
and the company is willing to agree that
work on ii shall be commenced within
three months after the act is approved
and completed within a year. Connections
are expected to be made with the Ecking-
ton. Columbia and Metropolitan lines, SO
that people outside the city and in the
northeastern section of the city will be
able to reach any point of the city or Dis
trict.
Presents q Petition.
Rev Dr. W. E. Parsons also urged favor
able consideration of the bill. stating that
the road would afford facilities for reach
ing the Lutheran Home for the Aged near
Winthrop Heights, where the Lutherans
have purchased a tract of twenty-seven
acres and are building the home, several
buildings being already erected. Mr. Par
sons spoke of the great number of Luthe-
ran people in all parts of the District who
are interested in the home, and who earn
eStly desire some means of reaching the
home. He presented a numerousiy signed
petition. asking for better railroad facili-
ties, and stated that he and Rev. Dr
Domsr and Mr.. John c. Parker had been
appointed committee to urge the matter
upon the Commissioners.
Mr.. George p. Davis spoke of the efforts
of the company to build the road, stating
that some $1,000 had been expended on it
when the financial crisis came But he
said that upon the approval of the bill the
necessary money will be forthcoming. In
reply to suggestion by the Commission
ers as to the narrow condition OF l2th
street and Bladensburg road he said he be-
heved those difficulties could easily be
overcome, and remarked that there will
be little, if any. opposition to the road on
that account by the people along the
route He also hoped that the Commits
siOners would approve the intention OF the
company to make an extension of the road
to Mount Olivet cemetery.
DIR. Gallaudet said he had been informed
that the road will give the people OF Ken
dali Green excellent opportunities for
reaching different parts of the city and
District, and for that reason he approved
the bill
Mr.. L. c.. Loomis also spoke in favor of
the bill saying that the people of the north
eastern section of the District have for
years been barricaded from the city. hav-
irg been defrauded of their rights in the
matter of better railroad facilities. He
criticised Commissioner Powell in the mat
ter, but Commissioners Ross and Black
had done was from honest and conscien-
Uious motives.
Change In Route Suggested.
Ir. F. r. Mccormick said the people of
Brookland are not opposed to the road but
he suggested that 14th street and not 18th
be taken He also suggested that the sub
urban portions of the road should be re-
quired to be first completed The measure
was also approved by Mr.. w. j. FrizzeII,
who explained that similar bill had sew
eral years ago reached the President Just
too late to be signed. He spoke of the lack
OF railroad facilities in the northeastern
sections of the District and city and par
ticularly of the difficulty people have in
reaching Mount Olivet cemetery. He urged
the Commissioners to recommend that the
work De begun in three months and COM
pleted in twelve.
Mr. Jerome F. Burke favored the bill but
urged the Commissioners to see that access.
De mad 10 the southeastern section of the
city, and that a system of transfers which
would enable people to reach all points of
the city and District be provided for
The Commissioners took the matter un-
der Amusement and will probably dispose
of the bill In few days