Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-21
METROPOLITAN OBJECTS
President Weaver and the Directors Except
to Report Of Commissioners.
Correction Of Statement That the
Metropolitan Company Declines
Proposed Route of Extension.

In report made to Congress by the Dis
trict Commissioners last week upon the
subject of street railway facilities for Coz
lumbia Heights and Mount Pleasant they
stated that proposed route for the ex-
tension of the tracks from 18th street and
Columbia road along Lanier avenue ex-
tended into Mount Pleasant. had been Of
fered to and declined by the Metropolitan
Railroad Company, and subsequently offer
ed to and accepted Dy the Capital Traction
Company. The officials Of the Metropolitan
company claim now that the company was
rot correctly understood In the matter, and
today the commissioners received a letter
from President Weaver of the company, in
which he says the statements made by the
Commissioners in their report to Congress
not only did him great injustice, but are
also misleading in respect Of the position
Of his company.
The Commissioners reported as follows in
reference to the matter to Congress: THE
president of the Metropolitan road inform
ed the Commissioners that his company
would not be willing to construct the
slightest extension Of the trolley system,
nor would 1t. unless compelled by Congress,
lay the underground system through any
recently opened streets, and that his COM
pany would accept no other route than the
one through Columbia road and 18th street
extended"
Referring to this statemeot OF the Com
missioners. Mr.. Weaver wrote today that
the interview, which was had with Com
nissoners Wight and Black, was Of an en-
tirely informal character.
President Weaver's Explanation.
II had called" continues Mr.weaver. ION
Capt. Black to make inquiry concerning
permit for work ON Florida avenue that
was being done. The subject of the north
ern extensions of the company's lines was
Introduced by Capt. Black. who was dis
tinctly Informed that the company could
rot express any opinion or take any further
action in respect of the extensions until the
views of the Commissioners were made
known to them, as they had ~ various
ways. orally and in print, set forth their
company did not desire to use the over
head system. but did desire that they should
make their report to the District commit
tee; but l was not authorized, Lor did I
undertake to say. what the company in
tended or would be willing to do in the
matter. 1t was certainly not my intention
to make any statement that could be used
with or with out the knowledge of the Cap
ital Traction Company as q basis for a
declaration that this company had refused
to construct lines which the traction COM
pany was willing to undertake"
Mr.. Weaver, after calling attention to a
resolution adopted by the board of direc-
tors of his company. says:
Il beg you will understand that If your
recommendations were based upon the sup
position that the directors of this company
had determined to reject the suggestions or
recommendations contained in Cap. Beach's
report, that supposition is entirely errone-
Gus, as they have never seen 1t, nor known
its contents until today"
The resolution of the board of directors
of the company referred to by Mr.. Weaver
directed him to inform the Commissioners
that the directors read the report of the
Commissioners with great surprise; that
= - bod
portunity to consider, the recommendations
made by the Commas sioners; that they have
never determined that the road would ac-
cept other routes than those referred
to in the report, and that the directors
have taken Capt. Beach's report under i'm
mediate consideration and will at once in
form the Commissioners Of their views
thereon.