Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-07
THE WORK DELAYE D
Re-equipment of the Anacostia Will Be
Begun Next Week.
In Case the Rails Arrive-Members of
the Syndicate Leave on a
Vacation.

Instead of the underground construction
of the Anacostia street railroad being
about completed by this time, as was an
ticipated some time ago by those controll-
ing the Washington Traction and Electric
Company, the actual street work will not
be begun until the latter part of this week
Ihis IS the decree of the iron company that
has the contract to furnish the rails. While
the delay represents a considerable loss
to the railroad company, the mana gers say
they are powerless to prevent it. as they are
at the mercy, so to speak, of the iron
mills.
1hese establishments are now thronged
with orders, and have been for some time
supplying the demand for railroad iron, as
Well as for structural iron. Under the
stimulus of this demand, the price of iron
mas advanced so it would be an advantage
to the iron men If a contract made months
or even weeks ago should be given up. As
all the iron mills are in the same situation
the railroad people here are obliged to
bear the loss as well as they can, and
wait with patience the pleasure of the
men who make iron.
With the AnGcOstia road, which includes
the old Belt Line. equipped with the under
ground system, and with the connections
which are available. it is believed that the
read will do a profitable business instead
Of as now. being operated at loss. There
Is a somewhat similar situation in regard
to the suburban reads controlled by tn
same company. 1t was impossible. UP to a
snort time ago, to get the I rails, which
are used outside of the city limits, In place
OF the grooved urban rail. Now, however,
a supply is on hand, and the work of re-
constructing the Brightwood road and
building the section of the Tenleytown
T ad which is TO go to Rockville is in
progress.
Much of the utility of having the sub
urban and certain of the city roads under
reason that it is impossible to get the con-
Meeting rails SO that the cars from one
road can be run over the tracks of the
other roads. 1t not known when the nee
essary curved rails for this purpose will De
received. In the meantime the cars of the
company between the city and points in the
suburbs must be operated at what is rec5g
nized as a distinct disadvantage. In this
respect, also the company. it is believed is
not earning the money that it will when
the entire system is equipped with & mod
ern motive power and brought into a har-
monious line of street railroads.
The company will take actual control of
the City and Suburban road Wednesday.
ard it is expected that as soon as possible
through cars will be run from Lakeland,
station beyond Hyattsvile, to 10Th and q
streets northW est. The affairs Of the COM
pany are in charge of the president Mr..
George Truesdell. He viii have the oppOr-
tunity of comforting with Mr.. C. A. Lieb,
the representative Of these who own the
controlling interest in the property, and
who is also of the officers of the com
p&ny. Mr.. L;eb lives in New York but 1t
is expected that he will come here a. least
once a week. With the exception of Mr..
Lieb all those who have represented in this
city the capital that has been invested in
electric lighting and street railroad prop
critics will at the close of the present
week either be out of the country or some
where else enjoying vacation. Mr.. o. z.
Crosby expects to sail Wednesday for
Europe. and, already stated in The Star,
he viii spend most of the time in travelling
through Abyssinia. Mr.. Frederick c.
Stevens has been in Europe with his fam
lily for several weeks, and Mr.. H. D. Mirick
expects soon to leave for a season. of rest