The evening times., 1899-01-21
A DEMAND FOR
RAPID TRANSIT
People of Anacostia Hold a
Mass Meeting.
Haynes Hall Crowded With Inter-
ested Citizens.
Inside History Given Publicity by
President CrOsby-Indignation
Turns Into Favor.

Anacostia arose in its might last night
and tackled the rapid transit problem.
This was no new effo,t on the part o; the
residents of that pace, for they have been
battling for quicker and better street
railway communication with Washington
for more than decade. But it was a
stronger and more vehement endeavo' on
the part Of the long suffering Anacostlans
TO rid themselves CT the Inconvenience
and difficulties which have hampered them
in the past. The meeting was biought
about mere particularly by the action OF
the recent purchasers of the Capital Raj
way Company in discontinuing the cars on
that line until it is equipped with an m
proved system CT electricity. A mass meet
ing was called by Mrs. Eaton, and last
night Haynes Hall, in Anacostia, was
crowded tC the doors with an E.rnest
gathering of the most prominent citizens
OF the place. Before the citizens assem-
bled it was spoken OF as an Indignation
meeting. They expressed themselves as
being prepared to make n last effort to
throw off the yoke CT miserable street car
traffic.
When the meeting closed, il resembled
something of a love feast, with bitter op-
pcnents shaking hands and congratulating
each other. The transit problem seemed
10 have been solved. The tone of the
meeting was changed by the presence of
Messrs. Oscar T. Crosby and f. c. Stevens,
the two men who have created such a SEN
satiCn recently by their success in secur-
ing control of minor railway systems with
the evident intention Of consolidating them
and furnishing through transit between
urban and suburban points. They were
among the first TO reach the meeting and
the leaders were glad to see them arrive
as they felt that some interest was taken
in their demands. They were aware that
the railroad men had recently secured the
Anaccstia and the Capital Railway Com
panies and that the cars of the latter were
no longer operated, thus causing great in
convenience in reaching the city 1t was
this very stopping OF the cars that led to
the meeting Of last night. The people of
AnacCstia were ready TO voice their .ndi-
nation publicly and strongly. Both sir.
Crosby and his associate spoke at the
meeting and when they concluded a unan-
imCus vote of thanks was extended to
them for their lucid explanation of the
street railway situation.
The meeting further pledged itself In
support them in their efforts to reconstruct
the Capital and Anacostia Railways with
the underground electric system similar
10 that in operation on the Metropolitan
and Capital Traction railways in this city.
This change OF opinion from indignation
TO favor was one of the most remarkable
things ever seen in public meeting in
this locality.
DR.. George ". Fisher presided at the
meeting, and Henry Johnson acted as sec
retary. Among the first speakers was r.
b. Buckley, who presented q set OF resou-
tions reading as follows:
We The citizens OF Anacostia assembled in mass
meeting. desire to enter protest against the
action ~ the Capital Railway and the American
and Potomac River Railway, changing the service
81 said railways by issuing transfers from the
Congress Heights section 10 the Anacosria and
Potomac RlYcr section At Monroe and johnson
Streets. Anacostia. and iuasInjIch as the change
Of base for issuing such transfers i not in ac-
cordancc with the charter given by Congress to
the Capital Railway. which provides for the
mutual exchange OF transfers al the navy end
gate, the termn OF the Capital Railway and
Capital Traction RAILWAYS
Be Is resolved That, inasiHuch rs the present
arrangement Is III direct violation of the law
We respectfully ask said company 10 resume the
Navy Yard transfer arrangement until such time
As the management of the combined companies
are ready 10 install their proposed underground
system 10 The centre OF the city.
Resolved, further. That the citizens Of Anacostia
VIII q" all IN their power to assist the said com
p1ny by every means To further their effort, to
give them rapid transit and a continuous trip
without change Of cars.
Resolved, That the citizens OF Anacostia sIont
these resolutions and present them To the Dis
tricJ commissioners on Saturday morning. Jan
nary p. with the request that they take some
action 70 further the end sought hy us
Following the reading of the resolutions.
Mr.. Stevens, who was known to few in the
hall. asked the privilege of saying few
words. He was received with a welcome.
81 do not blame you for this meeting. y
he began. You have suffered much here.
and no road. perhaps, has ever been oper-
ated more disadvantageously than the
Anacostia road. 1t is only a few weeks
since il has passed into our control The
same may be said of the Capital Railway.
We found the latter in a deplora BILE finan-
clai coJ2diticn. We have been able to re-
| move that condition. We are now in a
situation TO equip the road with rapid
transit. This will be done Immediately.
The Capital Railway Company made con-
tract with the owners of the Brown sys-
TEN. The system might be discarded when
suitable. independent OF the District Com
mss;oners.
We find ourselves confronted by this
condition: Some people want Us TO operate
a piece of road which is absolutely unsafe.
we VIII not shoulder that responsibility.
That is why we stopped running the
electric cars. We will use horses.
At this point numerous questions were
asked Dr.. Fisher requested that the
speaker be not interrupted He explained
that the cross-q questioning was due to the
earnestness of the people. He said: I'VE
are inquisitive because we are earnest.
We are going 10 raise the devil until we
DO get rapid transit"
"All that we can say" retorted Mr..
Stevens, 'is that We will join you
! IF necessary We will boycott your or
ganization to do it, added the chairman.
lie then asked Mr.. Stevens to tell him
why the Anacostia road had become such
a wreck. Before Mr. Stevens cou'd an
swer DR.. Fisher said: 1T is because of its
damnable service?" He was app,auded
Nj. Stevens replied that he did not b anne
The people of Anacoztia for the feelings
against the former road.
Mr.. Crosby said: Il have no wonder
| that you are indignant. We have been
looking at the Anacostia road for three
years, but probably no one outside of Mr.
Griswold was aware of the fact Three