Evening star., 1899-02-01

| and resident of this section, both as indi-
vduals and in associa tions, to make sin
gle fare and free transfer an accomplished
fact
The Commissioners in their report OPP
pose the extension up Brightwood avenue
of the Metropolitan railroad with its mag
nificent underground system and first-ciass
equipment of rolling stock, bringing as 1t
would single fare and through service, az
fcrding relief 10 the present intolerable con-
dtiOn of affairs, because such extension
would practically mean the conhscation Oh
the Brightwood company's line even so
if there ever existed d line of street rail-
road that deserved confiscation at the
hands of an outraged public sentiment for
the violation of its every charter right ana
it's criminal disregard of the comfort and
convenience of the travelling public 1t is this
very road.
The Commissioners further say that
should the, Metropolitan road come up
Brghtwood avenue, they (the Metropolitan
road should pay the BrightWood railway
for the use of the Street-thus introducing
a novel theory into municipal government.
When cid the Brightwood railway acquire
the fee simple of Brightwood avenue? How
many thousands of dollars did they pay
for this highway of travel. which they
occupy to the exclusion of every one else?
1t is true that Brightwood avenue was be-
fore this corporation tore 1t open from
end to end a splendid example of road
building-it is today the main artery for
travel leading into Maryland Over it pass
tne OF the fertile acres or Mont
gomery county, on their way to the markets
of Washington. Since the advent of this
railway-cutting the heart out of the street
and running forever the roadbed-two-t birds
of the avenue have been closed entirely to
travel, and the present condition of the re-
manning one-third Qrom Rock Creek Church
road northward) is disgrace to the capi-
tai city of the nation. frontier town upon
the borders of civilization would refuse
ownership. Street extension had better
pause in It's mad career until we can rem
der navigable the county roads We now
have.
The fear is further expressed by the COM
misSionerS in their report that with the
advent of free transfers the Brightwood
road might not then be able to continue in
business-and we would then go back to the
primeval methods of locomotion, and walk
to town. A very slight investigation into
the affairs of this railroad will quickly lay
at rest all these fears-a corporation that is
paying annually over $4,000 interest upon
an investment of $4,000 Is not going ito
fold it's tents like the Arabs and as silently
steal away" Neither earthquake nor food
could loosen its grip upon this most valua-
BILE of all the suburban railroad franchises
within the bounds of the District of Co.
lumbia-a gift granted them from the peo-
ple's treasury without money and without
price. We who are most vitality interested
in this question are willing to take our
chances on this promised ghost dance OF
the Brightwood railway upon the advent |
of free transfers
The truth of the matter is that this rail- |
road has been loaded down with fcti-
ticus bonded Indebtedness Of from six to |
seven times its primary cost. and each year
finds. its representatives before Congress |
proclaimirg: mo new cars. no new track, |
no single fare, no transfer, no improve
ments of any description whatever because |
you see, gentlemen, our road Ia losing
money" And in support of this statement !
wonderful to behold showing a defioit of |
thousands OF dollars, always appealing FOR !