The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-01

| public hearing was granted yesterday
at the District building on the application
CT the Capital Traction Company for The
approval of its plans relating to the con-
struction OF tracks on First Street north
east, between and c Streets, under the
act of Congress approved June 4, 1900.
Henry B. f. Macfarland, President OF
the Board Of Commissioners. presided
There were present also Commissioner
John W. Ross and Capt. d. D. Gaillard,
| L. S. A., the acting Engineer Commits
sioner. After both sides had been given
| ample opportunity for expressing their
views the Commissioners informed all con-
cerned that the matter would be given
careful consideration.
The object of the act referred to was
to permit the Capital Traction Company
to run its cars of the Fourteenth Street
line from the present terminus al the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad depot ,ast-
ward along c Street over the Met4ol oil
tan Railway tracks TO Delaware Avenue,
south on the latter thoroughfare to B
Street and east TO First Street northeast
all over the Metropolitan tracks To
authorized on First Street between B and
c Streets, the cars at the latter junction
again running on existing tracks back 10
the depot.
The Capital Traction Company desires
that TIE track along First Street shall be
a double enc. The citizens of the locality
object to this and claim the language Of
the act does not permit of more than a
single track. There were present at the
hearing a large number of citizens and
property holders along First Street also
representatives of the Capital Traction
Company and of the Washington TTattion
and Electric Company. The latter corpo-
ration offered no objection to the plans Of
the former and, in fact, gave its approval,
especially in regard TO the double track
on First Street ii being stated that both
companies would use the same in cases OF
emergency. such as the parking OF cars
during an inauguration or other public
ceremony at she Capitol.
G. T. Dunlop, President Of the Capital
Traction Company was the first 10 be
heard he stated that for years his COM
pany had sought the privilege of a loop
around what is known as the Maltby House
square, and had not applied for the privi-
leges granted in the act of Congress, under
which a permit TO construct tracks was
now asked No request for such bill
was ever made, and its provision and align
ment was not known to the company until
it lad been announced in the newspapers
and had become law. 1t had always been
cardinal principle of the Traction COM
pany never TO run its cars over the tracks
of another company and to prevent as far
as possible the running of other cars over
its own tracks. In the present case, how
ever, he declared there was nothing else
to be done.
Mr.. Dunlop explained that the two tracks
were wanted on Street for the storing OF
cars for few hours every four years or so
during the progress Of public ceremonies,
so that the crowds in dispensing might be
properly handled and accommodated. He
said the tracks would be used by the Wash
ington Traction and Electric Company for
the same purpose and there was no objec-
tion on their part.
d. s. CARL. chief engineer and general
of the Capital Traction Company,
explained the mechanical details of the
plans.
George II. Harries Vice President of the
Traction and Electric Com
pany. spoke in approval of Mr.. Carll's idea
and of the practical impossibility and dan
ger of any other plan. He went into some
of the details OF the difficulties of under
ground electric railway conduit construc-
ton and the impracticability of operating
cars uphill over a number OF cut-outs in
the conductor rails. In regard to the dOu-
bic tracks in First Street he said that the
only corporation to succeed is the one that
does what the people want it TO do. Tie
double track was needed as President
Dunlop had said, for the accommodation Of
the Inauguration crowds.
H A. Dodge, a resident on First Street,
spoke in behalf of the property holders of
that thoroughfare. He said there was no
objection TO a single track, but that
double track would leave but ten feet OF
space on either side. which was not suf-
fcient for the traffic there. First Street,
he said is the first street east of the
Capitol grounds. through which heavy
wagons are not allowed to pass. He de-
clared the law involved had for its object
the prevention Of a further parking and
switching of cars at the present terminus
of the Fourteenth Street line at the Bal
timore and Ohio depot on Street. and to
bring the Capital Traction Company nearer
the new site Of the depot. 1t did not in
tend TO grant the privilege OF parking
cars on First Street. no matter what the
occasion might be.
They say" Mr.. Dodge continued. they
want to use this track only once in four
years or so. but once they get It down
no one knows what they will do with it."
A A. Birney the attorney, next spoke
for the property owners He said the
proposed action of the Capital Traction
Company was Illegal and that the act OF
Congress did not contemplate or authorize
a double-track construction on First
Street. He quoted 4 report of the Com
missioners to the Senate when the legis-
lation was in progress in which those Of
fcials explained the bill would mean the
Of single track" on First
Street He said it could not be claimed
the Commissioners had the power to ex-
tend the language OF the law. He said
Congress would never permit the parking
of cars in any locality of the District
1t is understood that the subject VIII be
held in abeyance until the return OF Capt
L. II. Beach. the Engineer Commissioner.
Commissioner II. B. F. Macfarland will
leave the city today for months leave
from duty He expects to spend the time
at various points on the New England
coast. returning 10 his desk on the LIST OF
October.
Edward Deylin recently communicated
with the Commissioners complaining of an
excessive charge for water rent at Gil ID
Street northwest. He states that he is the
owner of the premises mentioned and that
for come years he has paid a water rent
OF Si.67, and that this year he is taxed
$3.50 on account OF a store on the first
floor.
He states that the store has been there
twenty years and that there are 10 water
fixtures in the entire house, and that the
only water used on the premises is in a
water closet in the yard and a hydrant
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