Evening star., 1901-08-31
The BrfghtwOOd Railroad Affair.
70 the Editor of The Evening Star:


1t is gratifying to learn that the difficult
ties between the Washington Traction and
Electric Company. and its patrons on the
Brightwood line are in fair way of ad-
justment. We hope this settlement may
be permanent, and may result in better
understanding between railroad officials
and the people living along the Brightwood
line. I believe the recent friction to have
resulted wholly from misunderstanding
The complaint Of the citizens OF our Sec
tion against paying double fares, when the
people in every other section are carried to
the District line for single fare, was well
founded, and II not needed would have
brought about an ill-feeling OF such inten-
sity as to have caused bitter and deter
mined fight. Such a conflict would have
entailed great inconvenience to the people
of our section, and resulted in immense loss
to the Brightwood Railroad Company.
This road runs through the most popu-
lous section Of the District; its people are
Intelligent, progressive and determined.
The contest would, 1t is believed, have re-
suited finally in an extension of the Capt.
tai Traction Company's lines from 14th
street to BrightWood and Takoma Park. l
am sure the railroad officials misconstrued
the attitude of the committee Of the two
associations In petitioning the Commits
sioners to uphold the opinion of Attorney
feet not to be in compliance with their
charter. The company evidently under
stood 1t to mean contention Of the peo-
pie that more cars should be run. Neither
the joint committees nor the associations
have complained Of the present schedule or
sought to compel the railroad authorities
to give them more frequent cars. They
only thought proper to attempt to show the
Commissioners that the present schedule
should not receive official sanction and
thus perpetrate the present inconvenience
of half-hour service to Takoma and the
District line during certain hours Of the
day. AS a member of the joint committee
signed the protest, believing it to be right
In principle, but objecting to what I be-
lieved would be its construction by the
railroad company, and urging that the
shuttle car" to Takoma and the increased
fare on the whole line be instituted as with
in their charter rights and as compen-
satory measure.
I thought 1t would have been better to
remain we were than to invite these
features Of far greater injury. AS the COM
mittee was unanimous in thinking 1t proper
to assert our rights before they might be
officially abrOgated. / yielded to what
thought might well be regarded as the SUI
perior judgment OF my associates and
joined in the communication to the Com
missioners. The result showed that my
views were correct as to the interpretat ton
Of our act by the railroad officials, and that
the committee was right in its conf
dence in the power and influence of the
people to protect their rights from infrng-
ment or at least from having such infring-
mentS perpetuated.
The action Of the railroad officials in an
nouncing a return to the two-fare system
was construed by the people generally as
not so much in the nature of cOmpensa-
tion for the inconvenience and additional
cost imposed on them, but as a retaliatory
act. This aroused them to an excited and
bitter feeling against the railroad company
and the officials in charge, and they were
ready, when the meeting Of Wednesday
evening was called, to do or say anything
that seemed would best meet what they
believed to be the ill-feeling and coercive
acts of the railroad company against their
community. While the utterances at this
meeting were mostly in moderation, 1t was
easy to see the feeling was intense, and
that sober words and moderate measures
would have slight consideration.
1 maintained at this meeting, as I have
at frequent meetings Of our associations,
that the Washington Traction and Electric
to our. section, as 1t has to the entire city
and District; that the tracks, as well as the
equipment of the road. have been greatly
improved, and that the schedule, while not
altogether satisfactory. has been generally
convenient, and, in view of the transfer
privileges accorded, has been as good as
these views. but they have been generally
expressed by our people, and have even
been adopted by resolutions Of the Takoma
Park Citizens Association. The few criti-
made in our meetings or published some
times by correspondents have not been
shared or indorsed by our people generally,
but have been invariably refuted or con-
tested.
While the hostile feelings Of the people
were manifested In the remarks Of some
OF the speakers In the recent meeting and
eliminated In the resolutions, which were
strongly opposed by some Of the more con-
servative citizens, but were finally adopted
by the majority, to institute boycott as
far as possible against this railroad, yet
the prompt action OF the special committee
through Mr.. Wilton ]. Lambert, its efficient
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