The evening times., 1899-03-23
RUSHING WORK ON
ELECTRIC CAR lines
Installing the Underground
System on G Street.
Cars Will Be in Operation Some
Time Next Month.
Belt aud Anacostia Lines VIII he
Equipped as Soon as Possible
With the New Power.

The work of installing the underground
electric system On the lines of the Ecking-
ton and Soldiers Home Railroad is nearly
completed, and it is expected that cars
run under the new system will be in op-
Grafton some time next month. lt was
thought By the railroad officials when the
work was commenced several months ago
that it would be possible to operate cars
by the LIST of the present month, but ow-
ing TO unlcoked-for contingencies il has
been impossible TO fulfill this expectation.
The severity of the weather during Feb
ruary was in a great measure responsible
for the delay. For several weeks after the
blizzard it was impossible TO carry on the
work. owing to the large accumulation OF
snow and the alternate thawing and freez-
ing. Since the disappearance of the snow
rainy weather has necessitated the stoppage
of the work for days at time.
An official OF the read stated this Inorn-
ing that il the present spring weather con-
tinues there is 10 doubt that cars Will be
running by the middle OF April. The tracks
have been completed from Third and I
Streets in lexington rs far as the corner
OF Fifth and @ Streets northwest over
crete has been laid between the rails.
The C Street section was left until the
last. that the entire force of men employed
by the road could be set TO work on this
part Of the line The work on G Street
is nearly finished ana if the present wealth
sr conditions prevail little longer il is
thought that the tracks will be in place
in two weeks. The rails have been placed
IN position except at Fourteenth Street
where the tracks cross those Of the Met
roDoiitan, and at one or two of the cross
streets where no excavations have beea
made or account Of the hsayy traffic. The
company will not be under the necessity
OF erecting and equipping a power
house. The syndicate which controls the
lexington and Soldiers Home road also
own the Potomac Power Company. the
plant Of which is located in Georgetown.
Power VIII be furnished from this plant
and will be carried by means OF under
ground conductors to the terminus OF the
line at Fifteenth and Streets, where con-
neciIons viii be made with the under
ground trolley. The cars equipped with
electric motors have already been received
by the company A number Of these are
stored in tho Belt Line car sheds at Elev-
enth and the Boundary northwest. and
Others AZ the car sheds CO the other lines
controlled by the syndicate.
An official cf the syndicate stated this
morning that the contract for the install
Lar on of the underground system on the
other roads recently purchased viii BE- be
gun as soon as possible. He thought thar
the Belt and Anacostia lines viii next BE-
equipped with the system. The contracts
for ih;s work have not been let. The work
OF improving the consolidated lines belong
ing 10 the syndicate is a big undertaking
and il viii probably be several months
before all the changes now contemplated
can be carried out.
II is stated that the managers Of the
property belonging TO the syndicate are
making every effort to get the lines in ac-
tive operation in as short time as passi-
BILE