Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-15
A SOUTHERN CONNECTION
Said to Be a Feature of the Plans
the B. and O.
To Connect the Washington Branch
Southern Line Near Linden.

A bill of considerable local interest was
introduced yesterday in the house of dele
gates of the Maryland legislature. 1t pro-
Vides for the Incorporation of the National
Park, Silver Spring and Hyattsville Rail-
road Company, and the company is en-
powered to construct and operate tram
way or railroad line from point on Rock
creek, in Montgomery county, at or near
the boundary of the District of Columbia,
through Montgomery and Prince Georges
counties to Hyattsville.
The capital stock is to be not less than
$4,000, which can be increased to Sl00,000,
and authority is given to consolidate with
other railroad lines or to purchase fran
chises and property of other railroad COM
panies. Among the local men who are
mentioned as incorporators are Francis H.
Smith, j. H. Ralston, Lewis III. Finney,
John c. Davidson and II. Bradley David
son.
There was naturally a good deal or Gu
riosity manifested, especially in local rail-
road circles. in regard to the purposes for
which such charter is wanted. The route
laid down in the bill practically makes a
partial circuit of the District from, Hyatts-
vile to Rock Creek, just beyond the Dis
trict line.
A Southern Connection.
At this latter point, however. is Linden,
station en- the Metropolitan branch of
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and, as
will be recalled from this latter point a
road has already been partially construct
ed, known as the southern branch of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, which ex-
tends from Linden through Bethesda and
thence to the Potomac river, where a
bridge is to be built, and then the road will
be continued through Virginia to Manassas.
where a connection can be made with one
of the trunk lines of the south.
Owing perhaps to the fact the proposed
new road connects the Washington branch
of the B. and o. railroad with the road
above described, 1t is believed by many that
it is the purpose in securing this franchise
to make this connection and to give the B.
and o. railroad the southern line which it
is understood that corporation has long
desired.
What is Thought About 1t.
Several years ago the right of way for
what is known as the Southern Branch,
from Linden, Md, was secured. and, as
stated. portion of the road was built, and
freight is now carried over that section of
the line which lies between Linden and
Chevy Chase. While such route may
seem to require quite a long detour around
the city, yet it is claimed that il is not
much greater than that which is now made
by all trains from the south leaving the
city over the Long bridge and running
down to Alexandria, and thus making quite
an angle before reaching what might be
termed the main line.
1t is thought by some of the residents
here that there is hardly demand for
railroad running from Hyattsville to Rock
creek unless it be that some such purpose
is in view by those who wish to procure the
Incorporation of the company. However, 1t
may be the intention, so it is thought, of
the projectors of this enterprise to endeavor
to develop that section of the country.