Evening star., 1898-02-04
THE s.!oITAL TRACTION co.
Some More Questions Asked as to It's
Failure to Use Electricity.
Replies Made by One Who Knows the
Actual Condition of
Things.
Fred F. schrader writes to The Star as

follows:
Will the officials of the Capital Traction
Company please answer the following ques-
tions, which are being generally asked by
residents of Holmead, Mt. Pleasant, and
Columbia Heights:
1. Is 1t true that the Potomac Electric
Light and Power Company is ready and
able to furnish sufficient power to run cars
on the 14th street line between U and the
junction of New York avenue and 18th
street?
2. Is it true that the Traction Company
has refused to make a contract with the
Potomac Company. because it will not pay
for the power?
B. Is 1t true that the Traction Company
will use horses between the points named
to propell its cars until it's power house is
completed; and
4. Is it true that the new power house
cannot be completed short of two months
or thereabouts?
The questions are submitted for informa-
ton. as they are generally believed to be
true.
The Company Doing It's Best.
Some of the above questions are answer
ed in the following communication of s.:
Permit me a word or two in answer to
o. W. w. in last evenings Star.
The Traction Company recognizes the in
convenience to which it's patrons are put
by the present unsatisfactory service on
Its 14th street line. 1t is, however, giving
the very best that is possible under exist
ing conditions.
o. w. w. makes statements as facts
which are absolutely Inaccurate He SAYS:
several days ago the company knowing
that the public knew the material had all
been provided, also that the power could
De obtained, came forward with another
trivial excuse to further delay the matter.
&C."
The truth is the Traction Company made
hrst an effort to get such power from the
United States Electric Company as would
operate the 14th street line but that COM
pany, row in the midst of It's own extern
sive improvements, had no current to
spare beyond that required for its lighting
contracts.
Next the Potomac Company was ap-
preached, and while they had no inde-
pendent machinery which could be devoted
exclusively to the fractions use, it still
was willing to accommodate to the full
extent of it's ability. and an arrangement
TO that end was duly made.
1t should be borne in mind however
that the Potomac's power plant is located
some distance beyond the fractions new
station in Georgetown. and that not only
nave through cables to be provided from
18th street and Pennsylvania avenue to
Georgetown, but n further special cable
has to be made connecting with the Poto-
macs plant.
All Of this cable has not as yet arrived,
ard the absence Of it renders operation
impossible.
Those who will take the trouble to inves-
tgate will find that this particular work
has not quite been completed to Rock creek
The Roebling Company are making tho
cable. and il o. w. w. knows of any way
in which they can be hurried in its man.
facture and delivery the Traction Com
wi fe61 ha fnI
The changing of a cable to an electric
system is always work of difficulty and
delay under the most favorable circum-
stances, but when Usually undertaken the
material is all prepared and ready for de-
livery before the streets are opened. The
present change being an emergency one
v'ork upon the streets and in the foundries
had to proceed almost at the same time.
venienced public a very long wait for the
electric cars 1t is, in fact, very rapid
piece of work from the railroad standpoint.
Complimentary comment in the great rail-
road journals Of the country sufficiently at
test this fact
There is absolutely nothing in o. w. WIS
statement as to the transfer of the 14th
street horses to the 7th street line. These
horses will be sold when the 14th street
line is opened, it being the intention to
transfer the horses of the avenue to 7th
street when that work begins.
1t is hard to conceive how any one could
conclude that condition which means a
daily loss of five or six hundred dollars is
one which any corporation or individual
would wish to unnecessarily prolong. Ger
tainly the Traction Company does not and
much as the public will gladly hail the ap-
pearance of the through cars on this street.
the company will view it with much greater
satisfaction.
An intimate acquaintance with the Off
GERS and directors of the Traction Company
gives me a knowledge of it's efforts, which
enables me to answer o. W.. W., and any
a tor yrrht htnh hnr ntv,fv do
not he can have verified at the company's
office if he cares to do so.