Evening star., 1901-08-28
WILL MAKE PROTEST
Citizens to Fight Increase Of Fare on
Brightwood Road.
MASS MEETING TO Be HELD TONIGHT
Questions at Issue May Be Car
ried to Court.
RIGHTS UNDER CHAR TER

Patrons of the Brightwood railroad are
not by any means reconciled to the change
which the company has announced to go
into effect Sunday morning, by which
double instead of a single fare will here
after be charged all passengers coming
irto and leaving the city by that line and
its connections. At present patrons of that
road are given transfers from the 9TH
street cars which are good to the District
line or to Takoma Park and intermediate
points. with the same rate for the trip to
the city. After Saturday night the same
class of patrons will either pay another
fare to the connecting line or else use the
coupon ticket, which will be- sold at the
rate of four for a quarter. After that
date, in other words, a trip will cost bt4
cents, instead of 4 1-6 cents. Those using
the Forest Glen branch will be obliged to
pay full fare for ride on that road.
AS stated in yesterdays Star, meeting
of those who are affected by the proposed
change is to be held this evening. in Ia
koma Park Hall. Representatives. OF the Cit
liens Associations of Brightwood, Bright
wood Park, and Takoma, have united IN
the call for the meeting, which. it is cX-
pected, will be representative of those COM
munities, and also of Woodside, Md, and
the entire region which is served by the
railroad.
A conference was held yesterday In the
office of Wilton ]. Lambert, who, in the
absence of Mr.. Shoemaker, is the acting
president of the Brightwood Avenue Citi-
zens Association. Those present We're
Messrs., ]. B. Kinnear, president of the
Takoma Park Citizens Association; Mr..
w. MCClay Clayton, president of the
Brightwood Park Citizens Association, and
n. T.. Robinson, chairman of the street
.pn IF n
tion.
AS the result of the Interchange of views
call for the mass meeting was issued. 1t
is expected that the sentiment of the citi-
zens will be for resistance, and in all prob
ability a committee will be appointed, au-
thorized to take such action as an exami-
nation of the the laws governing this COM
pany seems to warrant.
An Appeal to Court.
1t is likely the matter will be taken to
the court, and that tribunal will be called
upon to pass on the question of the right
of the public. under the roads charter, to
a continuance of the one-fare system. 1t
is believed the charter is broad enough to
give the people good ground for their con-
tention that they have such a right Prompt
action is likely to be taken, as it is deemed
important that the attention of the court
should be called to the proposed action of
the company at as early date as is prac-
ticable.
In order that the expense of legal pro-
ceedings, if such be authorized by the meet
ing, can be met, it is expected that sub
scriptions will be made this evening and a
fund in this way created.
Putting Up the Poles.
The few poles that are needed to continue
the overhead wires of the Brishtwood
railroad south on 7th street for the loop to
the old terminus at Tth street and Florida
avenue are being erected today. 1T is cx-
pected that the construction will be COM
pleted so that the cars can be run on the
new plan beginning Sunday morning.
1t is anticipated by some that in the
event legal proceedings are determined
upon to prevent the railroad company from
carrying out its recent order, they will take
the form of an injunction to restrain the
company. Whether it will be possible to
induce d court to grant such request is
a question about which doubt is expressed
by some who have given the subject atten-
ton.
The ComDany's View.
The following statement was given out to-
day from the office of the Brightwood Rail-
way Company:
Changes in the operation of the Bright
wood railway have been rendered necessary
by the demands of the District Commits
siOners, supported by two aSsocia tions of
citizens and some unattached individuals
who deemed the company fit subject for
criticism because it, in its desire to give to
its patrons the best possible service, de-
parted from literal compliance with the
terms of its charter 50 far as to disregard
the provision which calls for the running
of one car not less frequently than every
fifteen minutes between ) o'clock am and
II o'clock midnight.
Operation in strict accordance with the
schedule provision would give the entire
Brishtwood road seventy-six round trips
per day. The schedule which Is now in
force provides 102 round trips and has been
so shaped as to give service which has been
cOmplimented by many passengers who, not
so very long ago, were among the discon-
tented.
The company has endeavored, in spite of
its meager receipts and comparatively
heavy operating expenses, to maintain its
program OF improvements. 1t has recently
reconstructed at great expense, the entire
roadbed and electrical equipment, has re-
duced the rate of fare from GA cents to
1-6 cents, and has run its cars with evil
dent fidelity to an exact and liberal time
table, although such ultra-liberalty could
not be financially justified.
Fails to Secure Appreciation.
These and other efforts toward improve
ment have failed to secure the apprecia-
tlon of several holders of unremuneratiye
real estate whose claim to plenipotentiary
power is not disputed by those in whose
behalf they are alleged to appear. Frequent
compiaints-always trivial and alyavs
framed in the interests of the untenanted
land-have been filed with the District
! commissioners, and there has been SUPER
abundance Of querulous and often anony-
nous output in the public press from the
same source.
Great stress has been laid upon the
company 5 departure from one of the
minor and almost unnecessary provisions
of its charter. No mention has been made
OF the company s extravaganza in the mat
ter of fare although that departure from
the terms Of the charter meant more of
loss to the company and more of gain to
its patrons than any other probable
change.
In view of the circumstances, and bear
ing in mind its own financial condition, the
company has decided to readjust its opera
tions so as to conform to the precise re-
quirements OF the statute, with the hope
that conformation will result In mutual
| benefit TO all the parties concerned.
Schedule On and After Sunday,
''On and after Sunday next September 1,
cars will be run directly from 9TH street
and Florida avenue to the District line not
less frequently than once every fifteen
minutes; cars to Forest Glen will run not
less frequently than every thirty minutes
Connection between Takoma Park and the
main line will be by shuttle car: free
transfers with the Metropolitan and the