The evening times., 1900-02-28


Line Would Parallel Another.
The District Commissioners have sub +
mitted report to the House Comm, tee
on the bill providing for the incorporation .
Of the East washington and Benniag Rail .
way Company Of the District OF Columbia. |
IN their report the Commissioners o.
pose The granting OF the charter, and say
in part:
An examination of that portion OF the
route Of the East Washington and Ben
ming Railway Company, east Of the Ana
costa River. between the bridge by which
it crosses said river and the BenEing
Road. shows that the route selected is.
for the most part entirely inaccessible. the
only public ways which reach it being in
Twining City. and the streets mentioned
in the bill and specifications OF the COM
pany not yet being open to public use.
The portion OF the line within the ci,y
crosses the tracks of the Consolidated
Railway Companies. at II Street north. ID
Street north. c Street north. East Capitol
Street, and G Street south. and the Com
missioners believe that il a crosstowa lire
of this character is to be constructed the
consolidated companies. or one OF them,
should be required TO build the line. as II
is believed the public would b. much bet
ter served in this manner than by subur-
ban line,
From the route selected the road would
largely parallel a road already chartered.
The Commissioners are unable TO see any
public demand for the construction of
road. at the present time along the route
named. and they do not feel that they can
recommend the passage Of the bill In
case. however, the bill is to be favorably
considered the Comm issionors would in
vite attention TO the following amend
merts which they believe should be made
in the interests Of the public;
Tine construction Of a bridge across the
AnaCostia River, between the Navy Yard
Bridge and the Pennsylvania Avenue
Bridge. should not be permitted unless
the bridge is provided with an ample draw.
Tne question as TO the character Of the
/ bridge. however. should be determined by
the Secretary OF War.
The section authorizing the company to
build power plants and car barns anywhere
| within the District of Columbia is so
worded that il would allow the company
to run Conduits through the entire Dis
q
words should be added To- the section.
But provided that no such rails OF duct
| lines shall be extended TO a greater dis
tance from the main line Of said company
than LOCO feet
section Of the bill the Commission,
ers think should be stricken out entirely.
10 authorizes the company TO furnish cleo
trio light and power and to provide parties
| east Of the Eastern Branch with the same
/ a provision which is distinctly prohibited
/ to other street railway companies in the
/ District. The section is so wOrded that the
| company would have an indefinite right TO
! extend its cOnduits and a right 20 furnish
/ light and power at any point in the Dis
/ trict. As this is distinctly refused other
| street railway companies the Commission
| ers feel that il should not be granted to
/ this railway exclusively. but if such priyi-
| Iegcs are 10 be given should also be granted
I other and older companies.
Section 4 prescribes that the lines OF
| said company shall be completed within
/ two years after the approval Of the act
/ Il Is believed that a time of beginning
should also be stated. which time should
not be less than six months from the ap-
proval OF the act- The Commissioners
I would also recommend that the company
/ be required to make q deposit to Euaran-
| tee tho construction of the road and on
\ failure to do so that the charter be for
! feited.
The Commissioners would also invite
| attention to the transfer clause. which en-
| titles a passenger transferring from said
road TO continuous ride over any lines
| of any intersecuug or adjacent railway. Ii
/ is believed that the requirement should
simply be that the company shall issue
| transfers to intersecting lines. and that in
I terscctiug lines shall issue transfers to the
| East Washington and Benning Railway. a.
| the clause referred to might interfere with
the legitimate operation OF the roads to
which this company would transfer.
~ section Of the bill requires the pay
mert OF per cent of the amount Of stock.
but no further payment is required. Il Is
believed that the limit OF time within
| which the balance Of the stock should be
paid IN should not be longer than one year.
IL is believed also provision should be in
serted directing. the Commissioners to de-
/ tcTmine and hN the amount of stocks and
bonds which shall be issued by the com
pany.'
The route OF the proposed railway as set
/ forth in the bill is as follows. Beginning
( at the intersection Of Florida Avenue and
| X Street northeast: thence northwest on
| X Street 70 Eighth Street northeast;
thence south on Eighth Street to Penn
| sylYania Avenue; thence east on Penn
/ sylvania Avenue to Twelfth Street; thence
south on Twelfth Street to the Eastern
Branch OF the Potomac River; thence on
! a trestle bridge to be built by the said
company in accordance with the plans to
| be approved by the Commissioners Of the
District of Columbia or the Secretary OF
War; thence in the same direction to the
| south side of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
| road: thence north on private right-of-way
| parallel 10 the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
/ read to a point about 1.5O0 feet north Of
| the Bcnning Road where it crosses the
| Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at Benning.
! thence by suitable curved tracks to a point
| east OF the AnacOstia road thence to the
| District line by such route as the Com
| missioners Of the District of Columbia
! shall approve the line to be located along
| side ofornear the Benning Road and Central
! Avenue but outside their limits. The line
Of railway from the intersection Of Eighth
Street northeast and Florida Avenue south
| TO the point leo feet north OF the north
abutment of the bridge across the Eastern
Branch Of the Potomac River shall be the
| double track underground electric system
| similar to that Of the Metropolitan Rail-
k road Company and the company shall not
use the overhead trolley on its lines far
| ther north of the railroad than 100 feet
/ from the north abutmeEt OF the bridge
! across the Eastern Branch Of the Potoma,
! River. The lines south and east of the
| point 100 feet north OF the north abutment
| Of said bridge shall be of the double over
head trolley construction. and no portion
! OF the electric circuit shall be through
| earth and each motor car shall no nro