The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-14
Hope THE Fight IS WON
Brightwood Citizens Less Fearful
of Double Street Car Fare.
The Mass Meeting to Protest Against
the Increase Notifying EYect
mittees by the Railroad Of
fciais-specchcs and Resolutions.

A mass meeting under the auspices OF
the Brightwood Park Citizens Association,
! to protest against the establishment of a
double fare rate on the Brightwood Rail-
way. was held at Thomas Hall, Brightwood
Park, last evening. Because of the gra-
cious reception accorded the committees OF
various citizens associations at the con-
I ference with the representatives OF the
/ Washington Traction and Electric Com
( pany there was conspicuous lack of pro-
testation, and Indignation was at low
ebb. The citizens present at the meeting
were inclined to regard the trouble as
past, and thought that when the peti.
lions presented at the conference yester-
day come before the board of directors
of the railway company the plan to es-
tahlish a -doubIe-fare rate will be aban-
doned Self reorganization on the part of
the association, because of the favorable
outcome of the controversy, was freely in
dulged in.
There were present when the meeting
was called to order by President Clayton,
| OF the Brightwood Park Association, about
a hundred representative citizens OF
Brightwood, 1akoma Park, Forest Glen,
and other suburban points on the Bright
wood railway. President Clayton acted
as chairman and Charles B. Ray was ap-
pointed secretary.
Chairman Clayton read the memorial
that was presented to the company in the
conference held yesterday He called upon
Col. c. G. Kniffen, a member of the Ia
kon,a Park committee, to report on the
result of the conference.
Colonel Kniffen said that General Har-
ries, on the part of the company. had met
the committee most cordially. The me
mortal setting forth the formal protest OF
the citizens was presented, and will be
taken up by the board of directors at their
next meeting. Colonel Knffen said that
judging from the manner Of General HaI
ries and the treatment accorded the COM
mittee, there would never be a higher fare
than at present in effect on the Bright
wood line
j. B. Kinnear expressed the sentiment
that the fight was won, but that ii had not
been won by fre-eating methods. He fur
Their said that he believed that the quiet
manner in which the committees had pre-
scented its protest had much to do win
what he considered a successful termina-
tion OF the trouble. He called attention to
the fact that the railroad was great help
to Brightwood and vicinity, and he be-
lieved that the company at last realized
that higher rate would do harm to both
Brightwood and the company itself.
Austin P. Brown, of Petworth, said that
he had heard from reliable source that
General Harries had stated recently that
he was interested in the prosperity and
growth OF suburbs on the Brightwood Gf-
vision, and that he was In daily commune
cation with the president of the Washing
ton Traction and Electric Company, Fred
erick C. Stevens. and could promise tina,
no injustice would be done to the resi-
dents OF the Brightwood line
President Clayton then presented the
following resolutions:
We, the property owners and residents of the
District of Columbia residing along the line OF
the Brightwood Railway Company, in mass meet
Ing assembled, do enter our most earnest protest
against the double fare system about TO be est ID-
hshed by the Washington Traction and Electric
Company on and over its Brightwood line.
Pelisving do that the interests Of the
Brightwood Railway Company, and of our section
CT the District, identical; that the r",Js-
?erIty Of the Is the prosperity Of the otter:
.lat the failure OF the viii work dislstc-
TO the other. therefore we protest against the
double fare system, because fewer people would
ride under a double than under single fare, and
the number of passengers would grow smaller
year by year. to the permanent loss of both the
company and the community.
We protest, because it would drive from our
section OF the District many families who could
not pay the increased fare.
We Protest. because il would stop the building
Of houses along the line Of said railway.
We protest, because it would stop all invest
ment Of capital and deaden all enterprise, spread
ing blight and mildew throughout the section OF
the District tributary TO the Bfightwood Railway
Company.
No railroad could prosper or no community
could progress under the conditions that would IL
eyitably ensue Tnder double fare system.
We most emphatically protest against the dis
orisiination unwauanted either IN law or TACT.
about to be made against the patrons OF the
Brighwood Railway Company. Only single fire
IS now charged over the allied lines of the Wash
ington Traction and Electric Company from An.-
costa, Benning. Brookand, lexington. and Other
places, all Of whose residents carried longer
distance for single fare, than passengers over
the Brightwood Railway would be, for dousle
iare
Finally We ask at the hands of the Washington
Traction and Electric Company only fair and
honest treatment in the matter OF rlilroad trans
roTtatiOn, through to the centre OF the city,
and six tickets ior % cents.
It was moved and seconded to adopt the
resolutions with the amendment that a
copy be presented to the Washington
Traction and Electric Company.
r. NJ Johnson asked what the people
OF Brightwood would do if. on September
l. the double-fare rate did go into effect.
He thought some preparation should be
made for continuation of the fight in
case the request of the citizens is not
granted by the board OF directors of the
company.
Colonel Kniffen replied that the patrons
of the line were done with the company
if the recent demands of the people were
not Needed it was in Congress that the
fight should be carried on. But, he said,