The Washington times., 1901-11-30
KENSINGT0N LINE
TO BE SOLD TODAY.
SALE FOR BENEFIT OF CREDITORS
A Railway Tragedy in Miniature
Description of n System Not
Long, But rs Wide
aB Any.

The Chevy Chase and Kensington Rail
way is to be sold al auction this afternoon
If a purchaser appears. The line is in
the hands of receivers amounted several
months ago on judgment creditors DILL
and the courts have ordered that it
be sold to satisfy the holders of its first
mortgage bonds and the various parties
to whom it owes money. 1t has been
long time since a railway was sold in this
vicinity-eyen a small one.
The line runs from Chevy Chase Lake.
at the terminus of the Chevy Chase
branch of the Capital Traction Company
to Kensington, Md. 1t is two and a guar
ter miles long. Friends Of the lire argue
however that although it is not as long
as the Capital Traction or the Washing
ton Traction systems. it is quite as wide
It's total passenger receipts have been
about s., GOO year and its traffic has
averaged from 400 to 500 passengers day
Its rolling stock comprises two cars,
The company is bonded for $4,000. Its
floating debt is nearly if not quite as
much as its bonded Indebtedness. There
is an issue Of $3.50 stock.
History of Railway Line.
, The history of the Kensington line has
been a disappointment to good many
people. But it still has friends who say
that il has not had a fair trial and that il
ought to have one before it is abandoned
| 1t was built when Kensington was having
its first boom and for time prospered in
a mild way. It's fortunes waned with the
activity in suburban real estate in the
depression following 1898. Meanwhile its
debts piled up and its rolling stock de-
Perforated badly and could not be re-
placed, and when suburban realty began
to look up again year or two ago the
people behind it were discouraged and re-
fused to rehabilitate its rolling stock,
which needed paint and other things.
It's traffic has fallen off because many
of the people that once patronized 1t two
times every day of the year with great
regularity now come to town in the morn
ing and return home at night on the steam
railway.
wear or more ago hope reared its
head in the breasts OF the stockholders
of the line. The Washington Traction
people paid a sum for an option on the
system, and made plans to extend 1t from
its Chevy Chase terminus to Tenley-
town to Join with the Tenleytown line.
The Washington Traction Company had
troubles OF its own at that time, however
and forfeited the option. Since then there
has been no color except dull grey IN the
hearts of the owners of the Chevy Chase
and Kensington Railway.
Thus a railway financial tragedy in
miniature reaches its climax.
Nh Ridders as Yet Appear.
No one up to the present time has ex-
pressed an intention to bid for the rail-
way today The Capital Traction and
the Washington Traction Companies have
both been considered as possible pur-
chasers, but neither has yet made any
sign of looking with favor at the pur-
chase.
Friends of the line say that the Capital
Traction people could make a good thing
out Of it. For every fare paid to the Ken
sington line, two fares are paid to the
Capital Traction. as after one has ridden
from Kensington to Chevy Chase Lake it
is impossible to get any farther without
taking the Capital Traction, and, of
course. the Kensingtonites do not wish to
remain at the lake. 1t costs two fares to
ride from the lake to the city. The friends
of the Chevy Chase and kenslhgton Line
argue from this that the Capital Traction
must have taken in $4,000 year from
their business.
In addition to this, the Kensington Line
has paid 81. 400 a year to the Capital Irac-
ion for power. But the question or this
81 400 may be looked at in two ways IL
Is undoubtedly true that IL the hhe were
discontinued there would be loss OF the
81 400 as well as of the $1,000. But on
he other hand. il the Capital Traction
should buy the line, it would pay out the
Il 4e0 itself instead of receiving 1t. The
uspicion has been expressed that the
capital Traction would rather have some