Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-26
STREET RAILROADS
Efforts Being Made to Enforce the
Trackage Laws.
EXACT WORDING OF The ACTS
Policy Of Extending City Facilities
to Suburban Residents.
TIL E PEN ING CA Sc

1t is expected that in the course Of
week or so an answer will be made by the
Metropolitan Railroad Company to the pc
tition of the Brightwood Railroad Com
pany asking the court to arrange the
terms upon which the law of Congress
can be carried out which requires these
two companies to make trackage arrange
ments.
The law under which the proceedings of
the Brightwood Company are Instituted
received the approval of the President
nearly four years ago. At that time the
underground system had not been put
down on the Metropolitan railroad, and
so 1t was not operated by the same mo-
tive power, as was the case with the
Brightwood road. A year later. however.
the 9th street line was finished as far as
Florida avenue and thence by a new spur
to the head of 10th street, leaving IN
touched that section of the line to tie 18th
street road and thence north from Florida
avenue. The portion between 9th and 9TH
streets was operated by a shuttle car The
BriShtwood and the Metropolitan roads
were not then connecting lines and for
this reason the provisions of the law it
was claimed, did not apply. AT any rate.
nothing was done until the last session of
congress, when the Metropolitan Company
proceeded to complete its 9th street lire
" us piopeFNy on the fth street road. BY
the end of last May the physical connec-
ton of the two roads was completed
The Law on the Subject.
The law of August q 1894, on this sub
ject is given in full, as follows:
Section 3. That the Metropolitan Rail-
road Company is hereby authorized and
required Immediately to make reciprocal
transfer arrangements with street railroad
companies whose lines now connect with
its lines and to furnish such facilities there
for as the public convenience NAV reorire.
Upon the completion of the underground
electric system provided for in this act
the said metropolitan Railroad Company
Is hereby further authorized and required
10 enter into reciprocal trackage arrange
mcntS with connecting roads. The sched-
uies and compensation shall be mutual{v
agreed upon between the said Metropoljtan
haiifoad company and the companies with
~HesH hiies 1t connects, and in any case
OF failure to reach such mutual agreement
the matters in dispute shall be determined
ny the Supreme Court of the Distrirt of
ooluinbla upon petition filed by either
pa ~ Irovloed, That every street rail-
way company in the District of CoIuub;.
whose lines connect or whose Inns WAY
hereafter connect with the lines of any
o.ner street railway company is hereby
n!eeteo 10 the same requirements as 10
transfers and trackage arrangements ava
upon similar conditions. as in rhis Snot.nn
ptoNided IN the case of the MetronoIifon
Raliioad company and the lines connect
Ing herewith '@'
Supplemental Law,
law which may be looked upon as s,,,
Elementary to the one above eivan w..
enacted en- the 18th of June. 1896 and &c =.
follows: - as
Provided, That the fifth section Of tho
dc- OF congress, approved August 1894 rs-
iatihs TO reciprocal trackaee ARRANGEMENTS
ny the Metropolitan and other railroad
companies, be, and the same is herebv
an ehdeo by adding the following thereto.
Fre Vided, That any suburban street rail
odu CON pany in the District of Columhja
ihttrSectlng or connecting with anv urhan
stteet railroad may have such easonahIe
NUMBER OF its trail cars drawn nv sI,rb
VI an raiiroad company over the routes Of
scen uFpan railroad for the TRANSPORTATION
OF through Passengers as shall nat In
me judgment of the Supreme Court of the
bistFlct OIL Columbia, be to the undue detr,
meht OF such urban railroad company The
schedule, Kind and number of cars 70 ha
dfaWh, compensation therefor and all Other
matters relating thereto in the event Of
Ich Iailroad companies being unable to
agree between themselves shall from time
TO time, en- petition of either railroad COM
pany, Ibe decided by said Supreme Court.
TFoFlded further, That in no event shall M
raaroao company be entitled under said
law providing for trackage agreements or
uhuer the provisions of this act TO coIIecr
rare except for such passengers as board
cars upon their own line: Provided further
nat this provision shall not be construed
TO aHect rights heretofore acquired either
by contract or under any order of court
made under authority of law"