Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-25
Electric Railways Influence in E1-
panding the City's Business.
FREIGHT As WELL as PASSENGERS
A Condition avorabIe to a Brisk
Spring Trade.
COLONIAL HOU S E

One Of the features of the development of
property in the future from the standpoint
of a good many people will be the extension
of electric railroads through the suburbs
well as the building of new roads. Schemes
which are already pretty well matured pro-
pose the building of electric lines which will
serve to open up entirely new regions so
far as they are now directly tributary to
the city 1t will result as Is believed, in
adding materially to the present extent of
the suburban territory of the city, espe
cially in providing new markets. or. at
least, greater facilities for reaching them.
1t is believed by those who have given
the subject some thought that the posi-
bilities in this direction are of great conse-
quence to the business interests of the city.
For example. 1t is designed to connect the
Chesapeake bay beach with the city by
railroad passing through Marlboro and into
the city over the extension of the Column
bia railroad which is now being built
One Source Of Revenue
Such progress has been made in building
this line that it is expected to be in opera
ton by the coming spring. Already the
section from Bennng to Marlboro is in
use the connection with the city being
over the Baltimore and Ohio railroad via
Hyattsvi.le. Steam is being employed
but it is intended that electricity will be
ultimately the motive power. 1t is inter-
esting in this connection to note that one
of the expected sources of revenue is the
probable opening up of the country through
which the road passes as a market garden
for raising supplies for the market in this
city.
1t is claimed that the owners of farm
lands In that locality would be glad TO have
such profitable crops If they could also be
assured of rapid and easy communication
with the market in this city. 1t remains to
be seen whether this idea of the effect of
rapid transit facilities on farm lands is to
be realized, but there is doubt those
who are investing money in this enterprise
believe the prospects of return from this
source are quite encouraging.
To Sandy Spring and Rockville.
A somewhat similar motive has prompted
capitalists to go into the enterprise of PEN
etrating what is known the Sandy
Spring, Md, region with an electric road,
and also those who are Intending to con-
tinue the Georgetown and Tenleytown
railroad to Rockville. The recent declara-
ton of Commissioner Beach that it is con-
trary to good public policy to permit street
railways to serve as freight lines has, it is
thought, no particular bearing the
projects, for the reason that the objection
to such a use of street car lines is under
stood to apply only to the sections lying
within what is regarded as the limits of
the city. and not to the outlying portions of
Tie OIStTlCl
Income From Business Property.
One of the important questions that prop
erty holders are called on to consider is the
best means of getting the maximum rent.
This is more especially the case with own
ers of business buildings than with those
who have resident property. While in some
respects the thoroughness with which
house is kept in repair as we'll as its con-
venience of arrangement, affects or
less its income-producing ability, yet the
range of questions that arise in its man
agement is much more narrow than those
which affect business property. One sec
ton of the problem which is especially
knotty is the best method of bringing into
use the upper floors of buildings on bust
ness streets.
In building on the average lot with the
lower floor used for business purposes val
liable space must be taken for hall and
staircase in order to provide means for
reaching the upper floor
One Mans Experience.
An owner of a business building solved
the problem recently in the following man
ner: He abandoned the prospect of leas-
ing the upper floors, except, perhaps, for