The times., 1901-04-10
THROUGH SERVICE DESIRED
An Appeal by Brightwood and
TakOma Park Citizens.
The Railroad Committees of Both
Associntioas Call on Washington
Traction OfiiciaIs--0bject to Chang
ing Cars at Florida Avenue.

1
Traction oRiciaIs-object to Chang
ing Cars at Florida Avenue.
! \ committee consisting of the railroad
] committees of the Brightwood and TIA
koma Park Citizens Associations called
! upon Vice President Harries and Super
| intendent Fuller. of the Washington Trac-
| tion and Electric Company, yesterday
| afternoon at 4:3n o'clock for the purpose
! OF protesting against the rule at present
! in force on the Brightwood road where
| by passengers to the city are obliged to
change cars at Florida Avenue. This
matter has caused considerable interest
among residents of Brightwood. Takoma
Park and other populous suburbs on the
Rrightwcod line They are unanimous in
desiring that TRANSFORMATION facilities
direct to the heart of the city be ford
ed them.
The committee which waited upon the
officials of the road consisted of Louis T.
Shoemaker President of the Brightwood
Association, Chairman J. b. Kin
near President of the Takoma Park As
sociation: Samuel S. Shedd. Mayor of Ia
koma Park: w. J. Lambert, y. r. Robin
SON Claude F. King. g. NJ. Heaton, and
NJ. ]. Wine.
Mr.. Shoemaker set forth the side of
the surburbanites in the following state
ment:
The joint committees of the Bright
wood and Takoma Citizens Associations
appear before the Board of Directors of
the Brightwood Railway Company in be-
half of the members of these organiza-
tions and the community They desire to
secure. not alone in their interest. but in
the interest of said railroad company,
regular frequent, and adequate service.
we are here, gentlemen to advocate
fair treatment in the spirit of friendship.
We believe that your interests and those
of the community are reciprocal If you
injure one disastrous results inure to the
other If you fail. neglect. or refuse to
apply business principles to the manage
ment of the road you prevent the people
of this section of the District from en-
joying their homes, residing in comfort,
and others from building upon and i'm
proving their lands.
Rapid transit to the business section
of the city is an advantage absolutely
necessary and requisite for the develop
ment and adequate Improvement of any
territory. We may have complete street,
water light. and sewer facilities. nay.
even more we may have larger number
of houses. and consequently increased
II.
several miles from the centre OF the busi-
ness section of the city. rapid transit with
through cars becomes an imperative ne
cessity.
AS stated. the interests of the railroad
and the interests of the community are
identical. so to speak. You cannot inJure
one without injuring the other.
The rapid Improvement OF TINS terri
tory in the last few years with insuih-
4. saFzfG nh
quatc. uncertain, and irregular street car
facilities, is apparent by the number OF
houses which have been constructed and
the additional number of people who con-
stantly travel This is an indication OF
that which could be accomplished If conf
plete facilities We're afforded.
Without entertaining desire TO com.
plain unnecessarily and with feeling of
dependence with reference to the rail-
road company, We will state a few facts:
There never has been time since the
present managers purchased from the old
BTightwood Company that the service
he's been regular. satisfactory, and COM
pIete, or. in other words. sufficient to ac-
commodate the people VINO are ObilSed 10
use the cars except for the short time
Of a few weeks before the through cars
were discontinued; open or summer cars
have been used In the winter; power has
been insufficient, and aggravating delays
have too frequently occurred; our cars
do not run to Florida Avenue as proVid-
ed by the charter; daily during certain
ti0n from the weather has not been pro
yided much less a seating capacity Tor
your patrons, and "A large number OF peo-
ple have been required TO stand IN the
pubIiC street for a great length OF time
without protection many nave peeh
obliged TO use teams and the steam cars
Some have left the section whlle DINERS
have been prevented from settling there
We assert these statements as facts. ne
do not make them merely in the spirit
of complaint, but TO enable US TO ask you
= question.
when YOU say the Brightwood Rail-
road Company does not pay, we desire to
know how il can possibly pay, ana now
YOU can expect it TO yield adequate reNe-
nues under these existing conditions. The
charter requirements were known When
the road was purchased at much more
than the actual cost of equipment, there
by voluntarily placing a value upon the
mere franchise which was derived from
the people without compensation. The
amount of travel then existing. which we
have every reason to believe has been
greatly augmented, even with all these
disadvantages. was also well known. We
think the public is entitled to at least
fair service. We believe that complete
and regular equipment will not only bring
comfort to your patrons, but profits to
you
we therefore respectfully ask that
regular. complete, and satisfactory ser
vice shall he given to Ninth and f Streets
or Ninth Street and Pennsylvania Ave
nue.
system and not until then will you be
prepared in our opinion. to say whether
the Brightwood Railroad can be operated
at profit or not
A number of others gave their views
upon the matter. Mr.. Harries then stated
in behalf OF the company that the officials
were willing to help the residents OF the
suburbs along their line in any way that
Law within their power. He said that the
present question would be at once taken
under consideration. The committee de-
Il arir hon gQaly =
that the road would make the desired
changes.