The evening times., 1899-05-05
lexington RAILWAY
READY TO OPERATE
New Underground Electric
System Now Installed.
Officials Plan to Run the First Cars
Tomorrow.
Handsome New Rolling Stock Pro-
vided-ProEress of improvements
ON the Syndicate's Lines.

Preparations are now being made by the
officials of the lexington and Soldiers
Home Railway Company to begin operat-
ing cars with the new underground cleo
trictsystem tomorrow or sometime during
the early part of next week.
The work OF installing the underground
system has been practically completed, but
there. are few finishing touches to be
made which may prevent the running of
cars tomorrow. The new rolling stock has
been received in the city, and is now in the
lexington car sheds ready to be run out
on the road.
The rolling stock is Of the latest pattern,
being fitted with wicker-back seats. which
are arranged across the car. The new
cars are similar to those now being run
on the Washington, Mount Vernon and
Alexandria road. They are fitted with
four-wheel trucks, and are heavier than
the ordinary electric motor car.
The cars which will operate within the
city limits are of an orange color, while
those running cut into the country ere
painted green. The suburban cars will
run from the terminus in the country at
Brookland to the corner OF Fifteenth and
G Streets. the city terminal Of the road.
The officials of the combined roads own
ed by the Stevens-Crosby syndicate are
very busily engaged at present making ar
rangements for the improvement OF the
various lines under their control. Inc
contracts for rebuilding the lines which
are in bad condition have been let but the
suneryision of the combined work is fail-
ing heavily on the railroad officials and all
have about as much as they can attend TO.
The officials Of the combined roads hope
TO have the lines under their supervision
in active operation by January l, 1900, but
this is somewhat doubtful in view OF the
immense amount of work TO be done IL
is expected that the operations now in
progress of installing the underground
system on the Columbia line will be COM
pleted by the 18th Of the present month
The motor cars have been ordered and
number of them are already In the city
The contract for the reconstruction OF
the Belt Line has been let to E. S. Saxton.
who installed the underground system on
The lexington line. The work will proba-
bly commence next week and will not be
finished for several months, but it is
thought that cars will be running by the
1st OF August.
Arrangements for the reconstruction OF
the Brightwood line running from Sew
enth Street and Florida Avenue north
west. to Takoma Park and Forest Glen.
have been completed and the officials of
the syndicate hope to be able to commence
active operations on June l, or soon after.
The roadbed at present is in very bad con-
diticn and it will be necessary TO repair
the tracks from one end of the line to the
other. putting in new ties in many places
and more rock ballast. Many of the cars
of the road are getting old and very much
worn. These will be repaired or replaced
by new ones. When the reconstruction is
completed the cars will be run into the
heart of the city.
The Georgetown and Tenleytown road
which is also in very bad condition, will
be improved by the installation of new
and heavier rails and new cars will be
placed on the line. The work will proba-
by commence about June /. The section
of the Rockville and Washington Electric
Railway extending from Bethesda to the
Rockville terminal is now under course o!
construction. A large gang of men is al
work grading preparatory to the laying
OF the rails.
The Washington and Great Falls Road
and the Glen Echo line, which recently
passed into the hands of the syndicate
are in first-class condition and will moi
need repairs.