The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-14

terday between the incorporators oil the
East Washington and Benning Railway
Company. The purpose of the conference
was to discuss the plans of the company
with reference to the street railway Il is
proposed 10 build in the eastern part oil
the District.
Senate bill 267S recently introduced by
Senator Mcmillan, embodies project for
building and operating new line OF street
railway across the Eastern Branch o! the
Potomac, TO traverse several streets in the
northeastern section of Washington, ana
to connect with existing lines OF railway.
AS described in the bill the proposed
railroad would begin at Florida Avenue
and X Street northeast. and would run
down Street to Eighth Street northeast,
and thence south TO Pennsylvania Avenue.
Along this Avenue the line would extend
to Twelfth and follow that street to the
Eastern Branch CT the Potomac
Thence on a trestle 1t would cross in the
same direction to the south side OF the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. passing
along parallel with the tracks OF said rail-
road 10 point about 1900 feet south OF
Benning Road. From this point the route
would be by curved tracks TO a point east
! of the Anacostia Road. and thence TO tho
District line by such route as the COM
! missioners of the District might approve.
alongside or near Benning Road and Cen
1 trail Avenue.
Robinson White spoke in behalf OF the
/ delegation, and. by means OF map, de-
scribed the route to be trayersed and OF the
! general plans of the company. He state
that when the power house should be com
Melted il would be possible 10 furnish cleo
trio lighting and power in district not
now provided with such facilitiss. For that
reason the proposition to provide the cleo
trio current fer these purposes over pari
CT the route had been specified in the bill.
Mr. White spoke of what he considered
/ a public demand for such a railway as TIE
one proposed. The difficulty experiences
! by people living in Northeast Washington
10 reach such points as the Baltimore and
I Ohio station and the Congressional Library
was enlarged upon and it was shown that
when the new road should be completed
! all that would be obyiated through its con-
necticns and transfers.
Mr.. White stated that 1t was the earnest
purpose of the company 10 build the ro1d.
| and not TO secure a charter merely TO pre-
enpt street franchises In speaking OF the
1 financial plans Of the company. IL Wa
( shown that only sufficient stock and bonds
would be issued TO build and equip the
read a provision in the charter bill pro-
I hihited any watering of sock The pur-
! pose was avowed to proceed Immediately,
! as soon as authority should he granted, to
construct the line and put it in operation.
Theodore J. King explained to the Com
missioners the engineering difficulties to
be overcome, and gave reasons for follow
| ing the projected route in preference 10
| Others He described fully the conduits
| to be used. the plan of curves at certain
streets, and the bridge across the river
Others present spoke OF the advantages
of such a railway line TO the people of
Benning and TO those living in the north
eastern part of the city. The roundabout
way which II is now necessary TO follow
in order TO reach The Baltimore and Ohio
station or the Congressional Library was
enlarged upon. the fact being shown that
the new road. with its connections and
transfers. would obviate the inconvenience
| to citizens now complained of.
J. J. Darlington was present at the
I hearing and offered some criticisms TO the
bill which il was proposed that Congress
should pass. He objected TO the electric
lighting features of the measure in toto
He maintained that the bill was not ex-
plicit upon several points which had beer
strenuously insisted upon in the building
and operation of other street railways
One such point was in regard to the loca'
ton and size of the power plant and ear
sheds. As Mr.. Darlington understood the
bill. if it should become law the company
would be empowered to build its plant
anywhere and of any size
These and other objections were an
swered by Mr. King and Mr.. White. The
Commissioners expressed great interes
in the enterprise and stated 10 the delega
ton that the board would take into COZ
sideration all that had been said in pre-
pairing its decision on the measure pendin:
in the Senate.
Those named as incorporators OF III,
East Washington and Benning Railwa!
Company are: Robinson White and Fill
more Beall of Maryland. and a. J. Curtis
Miletus ]. Wine. George II. Judd, Freder
ick E. Chaplin. Smith Thompson, jr., Fred
erick VI. Detweiler, Fred G. Aukam, J. W
Gregory, f. c. Colts, Theodore J. King
Thomas Downey A. o. BabendreiT, ant