The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-10
THROUGH SERVICE DESIRED
An Appeal by Brightwood and
TakOma Park Citizens.
The Railroad Committees of Both
Associations Call ON Washington
Traction OiliciaIs-0bject to Chang
ing Cars at Florida Avenue.

Associations Call ON Washington
Traction OniciaIs-0bject to Chang
ing Cars mt Florida Avenue
\ committee consisting of the railroad
committees of the Brightwood and Ia
koma Park Citizens Associations called
upon Vice President Harries and Super
lntendent Fuller, of the Washington Trac-
ton and Electric Company, yesterday
afternoon at 4:30 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 consde. able interest
| among residents of Brightwo,-t Takoma
! Park. and other populous suburbs on the
| Rrightwood line They are unanimous in
| desiring that Transportation 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;s J. b. Kin
! near President of the Takoma Park AS
sociatiou: Samuel $. Shedd, Mayor of Ia
koma Park: W. j. Lambert, n. Il. 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-
lions and the community. They desire to
secure. not alone in their interest. but In
! h.. int IF ~
regular frequent, and adequate service.
I'VE are here gentlemen, to advocate
| fair treatment in the spirit of friendship.
| We believe that your interests and those
| of the community are reciprocal III you
! injure one disastrou results inure to the
other II 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
1 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 a larger number
/
| population. built when we are removed
several miles from the centre of the BUSH
ness section of the city. rapid transit with
through cars becomes imperative ne
cessity.
AS stated. the interests of the railroad
and the interests of the community are
! identical. so TO speak. You cannot 1nJure
one without injuring the other.
The rapid Improvement OF TINS terri
/ tory in the last few years with insuih-
cient public improvements, and made
1 qnatc. 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
1 that which could be accomplished if conf
| plete facilities Were afforded.
1 without entertaining desire to com
/ plain unnecessarily and with feeling Of
| dependence with reference to the rail-
/ road company, We will state few facts
There never has been time since the
present mauag gers purchased from the old
| Brightwood Company that the service
/ has been regular. satisfactory. and COM
plete, or. in other words. sufficient to ac-
I commodate the people who are obliged TO
/ use the cars. except for the short time
\ OF a few weeks before the through cars
were discontinued; open. or summer cars
1 have been used in the winter; power has
been insufficient and aggrayating delays
have too frequently occurred; our cars
/ do not run TO Florida Avenue as provid-
ed by the charter; daily during certain
/ hours even standing room with protec-
/ zion from the weather has not been pro-
yided much less seating capacity Tor
your patrons, and large number OF peo-
! pie have been required TO stand IN the
I public street for a great length Of time
! without protection; many maze Deeh
obliged to use teams and the steam cars
! Some have left the section while others
I have been prevented from settling there
/ We assert these statements as facts. We
do not make them merely In the spirit
| of complaint. but to enable us TO ask you
| 4 question.
| road Company does not pay, We desire to
| know how it can possibly pay. ana now
/ YOU can expect it to Yield adequate reve-
! nues under these existing conditions ne
! charter requirements were known when
1 the road was purchased at much more
! than the actual cost of equipment, there
by voluntarily placing 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 mas been
| greatly augmented, even with all these
! disadvantages. was also well known. We
think the public is entitled to at least a
fair service. We believe that complete
/ and regular equipment Will not only bring
comfort to your patrons, but pronts 10
I'VE therefore respectfully ask that a
regular. complete, and satisfactory ser
vice shall be given to Ninth and f Streets
| or Ninth Street and Pennsylvania Ave
| nue..
After fair trial with an adequate
! system and not until then will you be
! prepared, in our opinion, to say whether
| the Brightwood Railroad can be operated
| at profit 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
lay within their power. He said that the
| present question would be at once taken
| under consideration. The committee de-
| parted expressing themselves as confident
| that the road would make the desired
! changes.
PORTO RICO OFFICE SEEKERS.
| EnnuIries Annlicn ions LOT