Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-07
A CROSS-TOWN LINE.
Why lexington Citizens Want tn,
Street Line Extended Eastward

Street Line Extended Eastward
A committee of the North Capitol and
lexington Citizens Association has placed
the following statement, favoring the ex-
tension of the street underground cleo
trio line eastward to North Capitol street
before the Senate and House committees
on the District of Columbia:
Authority TO build this extension was
granted by the act approved April 80, 1892
in an amendment to the charter Of the
Rock Creek Railroad Company, which was
the Immediate predecessor of the Capitol
Traction Company. 1t is proposed that this
authority should be revived in the Capital
Traction Company at this time for the rea-
sons that:
Il. Congress, by the act above referred
to, has apportioned this territory to the
Capital Traction Company, to the exclusion
of other companies.
SO. During the winter Of 1886 about
1000 persons, residents and property own
ers Of the immediate territory proposed to
be traversed by this extension, petitione,l
the Capital Traction Company to build the
extension, and the president Of that COM
pany some time later stated to the repre-
sentatives of the petitioners that, on pre-
senting the matter to the Commissioners
OF the District of Columbia, he was inform
ed that if a permit were requested to build
the extension as granted by the act of 1892
it would have to be refused, on the ground
that, although a portion of the extension:
that is, that part between 9th and 7th
streets, had been constructed, the Commits
siCners held that the right to finish the ex-
tension had lapsed, and the permit could
not, therefore, be granted. The president
and other representatives of the Capital
traction Company stated at that time that
they would have completed the extension
n IN 1,.,
permit.
%. The proposed extension is but a few
blocks in length. being considerably less
than a mile, and the maximum COST it has
been estimated, would not exceed $50, OOo
1t could be constructed most economically
when the present U street line is being re-
modelled, which the company announces it
intends soon to do.
81. This extension would complete what
1T as present the most feasible and ayaila-
BILE cross-town line, inasmuch as it would
be accessible to the eastern residents now
not served by the Columbia railway. and
would afford a reasonably convenient
means of transportation to the intersectin.
lines of the same road at It'll and Nth
streets,and also afford convenient facilities
for reaching all sections, both city and SUBJ
urban, now covered by the Capital Traction
Company and it's connecting lines.
3. A careful estimate justifies the state
Eent that this extension would meet the
pl esent needs of from 5000 to 1000 per
sons living in the near vicinity of the pro
posed extension. In addition, a large num-
Der of persons who visit the several ceme-
teries in this vicinity, the Soldiers Home.
the Catholic University and other institu-
tons, would be accommodated
6. Special attention is called to the fact
that much OF the section to be served by
this proposed extension IS thickly popu-
lated, and at present is absolutely without
street car facilities.
81. At the time this company Is asking
Tor favors at the hands of Congress to
serve undeveloped sections of the District.
and also portions of the community which
are resisting the granting of such privii-
eyes, it may not be improper to suggest
that II Congress in its wisdom sees fit to
grant the additional extensions asked for.
it should couple them with the requirement
that the company shall build this extension
previously authorized, which the company
mas expressed Its Willingness to build, and
which the people are earnestly demanding
shall be built"