Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-17
ANOTHER ELECTRIC ROAD
A Change From Gable Contemplated by the.
Columbia Company.
The Proposed Extension Of the Line
Along Bcnning Road-New steam
Road to Marlboro

II Is understood that the Columbia Rail.
road Company has under considera zion the
plan OF changing the cable motive power
now In operation on that road to the un-
foreground electric system. uniform with
that In use on the Capital Traction. the
Metropolitan lines and that which is TO be
put In on the lexington and the Belt The
reason why this matter is under considera-
ton at this time is because the company is
to build an extension to the east which was
authorized by a bill which became a law
during the present week.
The proposed addition is what is poptilar-
iy Known as the Benning road extension,
ana as the operating. power is TO be the
overhead electric and the machinery needed
to generate the electricity must be pro-
vided, ii has been thought that the change
In the equipment of the entire line could be
made more economically at this time.
While the operating expense of an electric
road is less than that OF a road run 10y ca
bic, yet owing to the straightway course OF
the present line of the Columbia road the
difference is not as great, ii is said. as II is
with cable roads having heavy grades and
many curves.
For this and other reasons the company
had not contemplated an immediate change
In the character of the motive power used
on the road, although when the application
wes made to Congress, at the present svs-
sion, to make an extension westward, q
privilege Wflcn Is given 10 the capt lgac-
ton road in the pending bill, 1t was then
said on behalf of the Columbia company
that If the request was granted L would
not only operate the proposed extension by
the underground system, but would change
the equipment of the entire road and have
one uniform system for the line.
Equipment for Entire Line.
Now, however, that they are going into
the electric power business il is thought by
some that the entire line should be cleo
trically equipped No decided action has as
yet been taken in regard to this matter or
as to the other details of making TIL, pro-
posed extension The law gives the COM
pany one year to complete what is tened
the main branch, which extends along Ben
ming road to the Race Track road, which
in turn runs in front of the Jockey Club
property at Benning, about one mile and
half. and then underneath the tracks OF the
Pennsylvania railroad to the bounds of the
District.
From the race track the company is au-
thorized to build branch line along the
Anacostia road to the eastern bounds OF the
District. Two years are given TO complete
this branch line. The company is required
to build a trestle over the Eastern branch,
alongside the Benning bridge, and the Dill
provides that when the flats are reclaimed
a permanent structure must be erected
from plans approved by the Commissioners
of the District
The company is further authorized TO
issue bonds, but not Tor an amount "
exceed the total cost Of the work OF the
extension and IL is further provided that
this amount, or rather the amount OF the
bond issue, is to be determined by the DIS
trict Commissioners. The road is TO be
equipped with the double trolley, and only
one fare is to be charged through 10 the
District line.
Another Company's Operations.
East of the Pennsylvania railroad track
nd tha hOrizpd in the bill
another company, known as the Chesapeake
Beach Company. has during the past spring
and winter been engaged in building a rail-
road which, it is expected, ultimately Will
reach the shores of the Chesapeake bay. The
line within the bounds of the District cor
respond with the route of the old Southern
Maryland, and II is expected that when the
Columbia road has built it's extension TO
point east of the Pennsylvania railroad
the cars will be continued on the tracks
of the Chesapeake Company to the Dis
trict line.
1t is said by those who are interested In
the Chesapeake Beach road that while
they do not expect to complete the road to
the beach in time for travel this summer,
the section as far as Marlboro will be fin.
ished and ready for operation by the first
of the present month. 1t is also expected
to operate the road by steam, and the
statement is made that an arrangement has
been completed with the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad by which the cars from Marl-
boro' can be shifted to the tracks OF the
Alexandria branch Of the Baltimore and
Ohio near Deanewood and on that road run
to Hyattsville. and thence by the main line
to the Baltimore and Ohio station I'm this
city, thus giving to the residents of MARI
boro' and that section of Maryland another
railroad line to this city.