Evening star., 1902-03-12
THE STREET RAILWAYS
THEME DISCUSSED BY MOUNT
PLEASANT ASSOCIATION.
Universal Free Transfer System Con.
Regarding 18th Street.


tended meeting of the Mount Pleasant Citi-
night at the Hotel Stratford. with Mr.. E.
B. Townsend the newly-elected president,
in the chair. Almost the entire evening
was given over to the discussion of rail-
road matters and the association seemed
quite well pleased with the outlook. The
proposed universal transfer system, the ex-
tension of the Connecticut avenue branch
of the Metropolitan line out Columbia road
to old 10th street, and the bill prepared
giving the District Commissioners power
to regulate the operations of street rail-
roads were all discussed at some length
and number of resolutions on the sew
eral subjects were adopted.
The first business of the evening was the
report from Mr.. l. W. Watson, chairman
of the special committee on free transfers
between the railroad companies. Mr.. Wat
son has reported the progress Of his COM
mittee at the last two monthly meetings.
Last night he displayed to the members OF
the association a map especially prepared
b. him, showing the transfer points In the
city as now regulated, and the proposed
points of exchange which the associa ton
would like the Commissioners to fix In the
event the bill granting them that au-
thor:ty should become a law. Mr.. Watson
pointed out on the map the difficulties some
residents have in getting from their home
tlict. He showed that in order TO reach
point little more than mile distant,
some residents are compelled to pay two
fares. while in other instances a ride or
eight nine miles may be had for SIN
gle fare.
Pending Measure.
Mr. Watson said the committee had pre-
pared bill giving the Commissioners au-
thCrity to make schedule of transfer points
between the lines of the same company or
&C mpeting companies The bill has been in
troduced in Congress, and has been favor
ably reported upon by the Commissioners.
The commissioners assured Congress they
would endeavor to so regulate the proposed
schedule of transfers as TO work no undue
hardship on the companies.
President Townsend, following up the
subject of street railroads. gave to the
association a detailed report OF the hear
ing granted by the District Commissioners
yesterday morning to the joint committee
of the various citizens associations. He
said that the hearing was an exceptionally
large one, and he felt the Commissioners
had been impressed with the earnestness OF
the people in seeking street railroad re-
forms. He said the committee presented
the Commissioners with copy of the bill
drawn up by it to regulate the operation
of street car systems Mr.. Townsend felt
that good would come Of the hearing.
Metropolitan Extension.
A report was received from the standing
committee on railroads in regard to the eX-
tension of the Metropolitan railroad from
it's present terminus at 18th street and Co.
lumbia road, east on the latter thorough
fare to old 18th street and out 18th street
to Park street. The committee stated that
it had been in constant communication with
the officials of the Washington Traction
and Electric Company. and letter from
General George H. Harries, vice president
of the company, was read. In the letter
General Harries stated that surveys OF the
proposed extension had been completed and
We're in the hands of the Engineer Com
missioner. AS soon these We're approved,
he declared, the company is ready to order
the necessary material and to begin the
work of construction.
Mr.. Louis F. Shoemaker brought up the
subject of the opening Of 10th street and
there was placed before the association a
letter from Commissioner Macfarland Of the
District board, explaining the various rea-
sons for delay in acting finally upon the
verdict Of the jury Of condemnation.
Mr.. Macfarland's Letter.
The letter. addressed to Mr.. Townsend,
president of the association, in response to
an inquiry on the subject. was as follows:
Permit me to say the Commissioners
have proceeded in this matter without un-
necessary delay, and that they expect to
they We're notified on May 81. 1901, of the
terms Of the award, they gave immediate
attention to it, listening publicly and pri-
vately, as board and individuals, to
arguments for it's acceptance and to OBJ
jectiOns made against It, This necessarily
consumed considerable time. In view of the
fact that the act of Congress authorizing
the proceedings provided that the Commits
sioners might reject the award If the
amount of assessments for benefits did not
equal 80 per cent of the amount Of assess
ments for damages, and of the further fact
that the jury assessed the damages at
SI29,?52 30, and the benefits at $10S, ,S34 70,
the Commissioners concluded that they
should not act upon the award without
taking the advice of the committees on the
District of Columbia in Congress.
Advised to Accept Award.
''At the earliest possible moment they
sought the advice of those committees, and
after due consideration, the Senate commit
tee advised the Commissioners to accept the
award, and the House committee declined
to advise the Commissioners. The latest
Of these communications, that of the House
committee, reached the Commissioners on
February /, 1902. The Commissioners at
once took up the question in the light of
the action of the two committees, and have
since been engaged. with the assistance of
the city solicitor, in considering the legal
pha ses of the matter, in view Of certain
suggestions made by counsel for property
owners. The Commissioners are preparing
to act decisively at an early day."
National Association.
Mr.. Shoemaker introduced a resolution
which he has placed before several of the
other associations, and which has been
favorably acted upon, calling for the for
nation Of a national association for the
Improvement and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of the
national capital. The association would
disseminate information of Washington
throughout the United States and endeavor
to arouse feeling Of pride for the beauti-
flying of the city at national expense. The
resolution was unanimously adopted.
After the transaction of business Of minor
Importance the association adjourned.