The evening times., 1900-02-28


mitted a report to the House Commi, tee
on the bill providing for the incorporation
| Of the East Washington and Bennilg 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 Benning
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 city
crosses the tracks of the Consolidate
Railway Companies. at II Street north. ID
Street north, Street north East Capitol
Street, and Street south. and the Com
missioners believe that if crosstown lie
Of this character is to be constructed the
consolidated companies. or one of them
should be required to build the line, as IL
is believed the public would b. much bet
ter served in this manner than by a 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 a
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 Commissioners would in
vite attention to the following amend
ments which they believe should be made
in the interests of the public:
The 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.
The 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 cenduits through the entire Dis
trict. 1t is believed that the following
words should be added TO the section:
But provided that no such rails or duct
lines shall be extended to a greater dis
tance from the main line of said company
than 1,000 feet
Section 3 of the bill the Commission.
ers think. should be stricken out entirely.
II 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
a. al,
company would have an indefinite right to
extend its conduits and a right to furnish
light and power at any point in the Dis
trict. As this is distinctly refused other
street railway companies. the Commission
ers Geel that it should not be granted to
this railway exclusively, but if such privi-
leges are to be given should also be granted
other and older companies.
Section 4 prescrbes 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
would also recommend that the company
be required to make a deposit to guaran-
tee the 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 intersecting or adjacent railway. Ii
is believed that the requirement should
simply be that the company shall issue
transfers TO intersecting lines and that in
tersecting 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.
a section Of the bill requires the pay
ment OF per cent of the amount of stock
but no further payment is required. 1t 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.
1t is believed also provision should be in
serted directing the Commissioners to de-
termine and fix 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
K Street northeast: thence northwest on
X Street to Eighth Street northeast;
thence south on Eighth Street to Penn
sylvania 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
trestle bridge. to be built by the said |
in accordance with the plans to
De 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 to the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road to q point about 800 feet north of |
he Benning Road where it crosses the |
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at Benning;
hence by suitable curved tracks to a point
east of the Anacostia road; thence to the
District line by such route as the Com |
nissioners of the District of Columbia |
hall approve. the line to be located along |
ide of ornear the Benning Road and Central |
Avenue but outside their limits. The line |
f railway from the intersection of Eighth |
treet northeast and Florida Avenue south |
o the point leo feet north of the north |
butment of the bridge across the Eastern |
iranCh of the Potomac River shall be the
ouble- track underground electric system
imilar to that of the Metropolitan Rail-
Dad Company, and the company shall not
sc the overhead trolley ON its lines far
her north of the railroad than 100 feet |
rom the north abutment of the bridge |
cross the Eastern Branch of the Potomac
liver. The lines south and east of the
oint 100 feet north OF the north abutment
said bridge shall be of the double over
cad trolley construction, and no portion