The times., 1899-06-13
CONNECTING THE
CITY RAILWAYS
Curves, Loops, and CrOss-Overs
Approved.
The First Practical Steps Taken
Toward Consolidation.
..boIi,iop of Lines of Distinction He
tween Interurban md Suburban
Rapid Transit ways.

Another move in the direction of the
abolition of present lines of distinction be-
tween interurban and suburban street rail-
way systems was made yesterday when the
District Commissioners granted the Ana
costa and Potomac River Railroad Com
pany, or what is popularly known outside
legal parlance as the CrosbyStevens syn
dicate, permission to construct curves and
connections at six points around the rim
of the city.
The first practical step toward the final
consolidation of all the lines absorbed by
the street railway combine was taken last
week when Engineer Commissioner Beach
placed the stamp Of approval upon score
or more of tracings and charts showing
connections, curves. VS., and cross-oyers
which the syndicate desired to have placed
in all parts of the city for the purpose of
facilitating the interchange of cars from
one line TO another, forming loops around
entire blocks OF business houses in the
centre of the city, permitting the short
ening of various routes, and giving more
direct service from one point to another
within the city limits.
The curves and connections authorized
yesterday will serve 10 connect the trunk
lines within the city limits, with the sub
urban roads, recently purchased by the
syndicate, diverging in all directions
through the environs of Washington. One
OF these connections will permit the cars
Of the Tenleytown road TO approach the
centre of the city over the tracks of the
Metropolitan Railway Company. sec
ond curve will allow change of cars from
the Great Falls Railway onto the Metro
politan Railroad tracks, and in like man
ner the Brightwood Railway cars will
reach downtown districts through the con-
struction OF special connections. 1t is the
first step of any practical character that
has been made assuring through service
from the city to all parts of the District
of Columbia at one-fare rates.
The links authorized by the Commission
ers yesterday are as follwos:
AT Thirty-second and p Streets north
west to connect with the Washington and
Tenleytown Railway.
At the car barn on the Benning Road
and Sixteenth Street northeast, and on
Benning Road between Fifteenth and Six
teenth Streets.
At the intersection of Thirty-sixth Street
and Prospect Avenue, TO connect the
Washington and Great Falls Railway Com
pany with the Metropolitan Railroad.
At the intersection of Eleventh and W
Streets northwest, connecting with the
company's barn.
At the intersection of Thirty second and
Streets northwest connecting the Wash
ington and Tenleytown Railway with the
Metropolitan Railroad.
At Seventh Street, north of Florida Ave
nue. northwest, to connect the Brightwood
Railway with the Metropolitan Railroad.
The various connections already author
lied will not be constructed at once.
The attention of the engineers is being
concentrated on the laying of all the va
rious underground conduit lines in the
hope of having the work completed before
fall. II is pointed out that owing to the
difficulty in placing orders with iron and
steel companies which are rushed with or
ders for structural iron work, and the
length of time required to manufacture
the peculiar kinds of curves which it is
proposed to install, the syndicate applied
at this time for permission TO make connec-
tions so that the orders for material may be
placed, and the iron work shaped and
shipped here in time for use early in the
fall. when the finishing touches will be
applied to the completed system. The
amount of deposit which will have to be
made with the Commissioners to insure
the restoration of all streets to good sur
face condition after the curves have been
Installed has been fixed by the Computing
Engineer of the District al 81 500.