Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-10
THE ANACOSTIA RAILROAD
Stockholders Hear the Presidents Report
and Elect Directors.
Receipts Increased and Expenses
inished-Planning to Put in
the Underground System.

the annual meeting of the stockholders
of the Anacostia and Potomac River Rail-
read Company was held this afternoon.
President H. A. Griswold, in submitting
his report, reviewed the negotiations dur
ing the year for the Introduction of ere of
the surface systems of propulsion as dis
tinguished from the overhead trolley and
the underground conduit systems and ac-
companying inves legations, resulting in the
conclusion that only two electrical sys-
TENS have proved their safety. reliability
ard commercial value-the overhead trolley
and the underground trolley.
Continuing, President Griswold says:
Seven months have been spent expert
n!enting with the Brown system on the
tracks of this company on 18th and NJ
streets by the JohnstOwn Company OF
Johnstown, Pa, under permit issued the
Capital Railway Company. After its first
installation and the running of cars a
few days, it was abandoned, and permis
sion granted TO reinstall with supposed i'm
ploved similar devices.
Dangerous Live Boxes.
After some months experiment, trial
was again made early in December with
some degree of success and two cars were
run. During almost the entire period work
has been going on along the streets men,
convenience and loss.
THE plates projecting at distances of
eight feet along both tracks some inch and
three-quarte-s above the street present OBJ
stacles to the traffic. During the past few
days seven horses of this company have
been thrown to the ground Upon coming in
contact with the boxes"
The report recites that the District Com
mlSsiorerS have been twice restrained tenn
porar1ly from selling the company's prop
erty, and expresses the belief that Con-
gress Will pass the bill authorizing the
motive power to be changed to electricity.
The relations between the company and
Its employees remain harmonious. The re-
ceipts have increased and the operating
expenses slightly decreased, so that the
balance sheet shows small amount of
company profit, after paying actual operat-
ing expenses and cost of maintenance.
During the year 1.166,OSS passengers were
carried.
The Directors Chosen.
The election of directors resulted in the
following being chosen: Daniel A. Christie.
Henry e. McCauley, Henry A. Griswold.
George IL. Harries, Benz. 8. Minor, Thos E.
Smithson and Joseph Z. Williams
Confidence In the Courts.
In conversation with Star reporter this
afternoon President Griswold discussed the
recent action Of the Commissioners on the
piAi hoihOil1lHS al electric
system on the Anacostia road.
Concerning that report" said Mr. Girls
void. the company feels that the judiciary
OF the District of Columbia can be trusted
to determine whether amounts charged to
1t are properly owed, and whatever may
be the result Congress, in comforting rights
upon the Anacostia railroad has been care
fUl to protect the interests of the public
by inserting the following clause in its
charter:
Section Z, act Of August l, 1883, reads:
Provided, That whenever the net receipts
OF said company from it's business upon
said road shall, for any year. exceed 10
per centum of the actual cost of such read,
then the company shall, under the direc-
ton of the said Commissioners, reduce the
rate OF passenger fare 10 an amount as
near as the same can be Appropriated, so
that the net receipts of said company from
Its business upon such road shall not ex-
coed 10 per centum Of the actual cost fer
The construction, equipment and main
tenance thereof "