Evening star., 1898-02-19
THE ATH STREET LINE !
It is Believed There Will Be No DELAY Be-
yoad Monday.
The Electric Current In Available and
So Both Com panies Say.

IL seems probable that the patrons OF the
18th street line of the Capital Traction rail-
road are doomed to further disappointment
In the operation of that line by the under
ground system. 1t was stated positively
by the officials of the road a few days ago
that the cars would be running by cleo
tricity by tomorrow morning but now it is
believed that this will not be done until
Monday
According to some statements today 1t
was thought that the running Of the cars
by the new system would be delayed until
the first OF the month. but 1t Is understood
that arrangements have been made by
which as socn as the connection Is COM
pleted between the conduit Of the Capital
Traction line on NJ street and the power
house Of the Potomac Electric Power Com
rpany. the current will be available for the
operation of the cars.
Delayed BY the Rain.
The wire necessary to make the electrical
connection arrived in the city yesterday
morning, and is now at the corner of 33d
and M streets, ready to be put in place.
The men to put in the wire are here and
they would have completed their work, so
IT Is claimed, yesterday If the rain had not
interfered The same cause, It is said,
prevents the work being done today. 1t is
wires in the open air while the rain is fall
ing.
AS there is only about 400 feet Of wire to
draw in the conduits. from 3Sd street to
the power house, II is stated that IL viii
take the men only a few hours to finish the
work when they are able to once begin it.
The Chesapeake Canal Company yester-
day notified the electric power company II
was the purpose to turn OF the water In
the canal so as to clean that waterway,
which is done each year about this time:
AS the electric company gets its supply of
water from the canal and as the water
would not be turned in the canal for the
next ten days it was thought this might
interfere with the production of the addi-
tional power needed to run the 14th street
cars.
Use the River Water.
On the part of the company, however, it
is said they are not deper rient updn the
canal for water. and that they have pumps
in place TO draw the water needed from the
Potomac river. Mr. Sinclair, the snperin-
ter dent of the company. said today that
yesterday. when they were notified by the
canal company of the purpose to tlrn OH
the water he at cree began to use the
pumps which are held ir reserve. and that
the electric plant of the company Is now
being operated by water from the river
1t is further stated in the event the de-
mands upon the power furnished by the
company become too great that arrange
mSntS nave Deen IndOt 10 Stdft lhe l'o"c'
house of the Brightwood railroad and to
operate that road by the current thus
secured, rather than furnishing ii from the
power house of the Potomac Company. as
is now done. 1t is not believed, however,
by Mr.. Sinclair that it will be necessary
to make any change in the present arrange
ments, but this plan of opening up again
the Brightwood railroad power house is
something which can be resorted to in case
of necessity.
The connection between the conduit OF
the Traction road on nj and the power
house at the foot of 3Sd street is made
through the conduits of the power company
containing the wires which furnish the
power to the various street railroaus and
for the electrical lamps throughout the
city. All that remains for the Capital
Traction Company to do is to draw into the
ccnduits about 400 feat Of copper wire,
which. stated above. is now there ready
for use.