Evening star., 1902-01-01

supervision and inspection by a body Of
officers whose special business il viii be TO
make every part of the system effective.
street Railroads.
Progress was made in the plan for the
consolidation OF the various street railroad
properties controlled by the Washington
Traction Company. The property OF that
company under foreclosure sale is now In
the hands of a receiver and two OF the
constituent companies. namely. the City and
Suburban and the Tenleytown lines, are in
the same position. Arrangements are being
made for the concentration OF the power
stations in one central station at 14th ana
B streets. 1t is proposed to consolidate the
railroad properties in accordance with the
law of 1900 In the meantime there has
been a marked Improvement in the opera
tion of the system, resulting in better sery-
Ice for the public. The heavy cars have
been taken off and a return made to the
old system of trailer cars OF lighter build,
which make less disturbance when running
through the residence sections OF the city.
The purpose of this system to cxtend the
Metropolitan line along Columbia road and
old 10th street to 18th and Park streets was
announced. 1t is the intention OF the Cap
ital Traction Company to continue its line
out 18th street toward Brightwood when
that road is extended. The change to be
made in the rates of fares on the Bright
wood line by a return to the old four-for-a-
quarter ticket was not carried into effect.
Telephone Companies.
The contest that has been going on be-
tween the subscribers and the telephone
company on the question OF rates passed
through varying phases during the year.
A setback for the users of the phone was
the decision OF the Court of Appeals revers-
ing the Supreme Court of the District in the
local telephone injunction case and uphold
ing the constitutionality Of the act OF Con-
gress limiting the rate to be charged for
telephone service in the District. The As
sociation of Subscribers decided to continue
the contest, and an appeal was made 10 the
United States Supreme Court.
Real Estate Market.
A more active real estate market is the
record of the months that have just ended
as compared with similar period that
preceded. There were more apartment
house buildings erected within that period
than ever before, and notwithstanding the
increase in the house accommodations in
this particular the work of building houses
has gone steadily on so that the years
building record is an encouraging one
Some large building sites were acquired
and the new owners either have or purpose
to erect fine residences. The increase in the
latter class of improvements has been espe-
cially notable during the year. Perhaps the
most striking feature Of the market has
been the buying for investment. Properties
offered either at private sale or at auction
found purchasers on the basis of an in
vestment and the presence Of this class did
much to stimulate and improve the mar
ket New building regulations were issued
in which the existing rules were modified
and changes made to meet the changing
conditions. The expansion of the business
and residence sections of the city and the
continued advance of the population rem
ders the year just closed one of the impor-
tant epochs In the material progress of the
city
Citizens Associations.
The various organizations of citizens
throughout the District that represents the
public opinion and the public needs of their
special localities maintained their full tide
of activity during the year and their voices
were heard In protest or commendation rel
ative to a number of public concerns that
were before the District Commissioners or
Congress In many instances the attention
of the public authorities WAS called to SUBJ
jects that needed their attention and so in
this way as well as in others the associa-
tions maintained their reputation for filling
useful and important place in the form
of government for the District
Business and Library.
In the world of business the detail of inn
portance to the local fire insurance under
writers of the District as well as to the
companies which located elsewhere main
new organization, which practically includ-
ed all the companies and resulted in cor
recting the lack of uniformity I'm the
rates. The great slump in Wall street
in May affected stock brokerage firms
here az well as elsewhere. Gurley & John
son suspended. During the year the Amer
lean Savings Bank suspended payment and
upon application to the court receivers were
appointed.
The corner stone of the public library
building was laid the oath of April last
and since then the work of erecting the
handsome marble structure has gone on so
that at the close of the year the walls Of
the building reared to their full height show
that good progress has been made in get
ting ready this building, which is to be the
center of so much that will be of impor-
tance In the daily lives of the people of the
District.
board of Trade
Several projects of Importance to the In
terests Of the city have engaged the atten-
ton of the Washington Board of Trade
during the past year. and the results secur-
ed have served to enlarge the record OF
public benefits which stand to the credit of
this organization. At the beginning Of the
twelve months an active effort was made to
further the enterprise of the Memorial
bridge, which was then pending in Con-
Sress, and that final action was not reach
ed by the national legislature on this sub
Ject OF vital consequence to the people OF
effort on the part Of the citizens as rep
resented by the Board of Trade. A strong
presentation of the necessity for making
the improvements of the Anacostia river
was sent to Congress. and when the ques-
tion arose of appointing a parking COM
mission the consistent advocacy of an
elaboration and systematizing of the parks
of the city and the creation of new ones
was shown to be an essential part of the
work of the board. Under the auspices of
the committee, in which the board and the
Business Mems Association Were represent
ed, mass meeting in the interests of ad-
vancing and promoting the manufacturing
concerns of the District was held. The
annual reception at the Arlington and an
excursion to River View in the spring fur
nished occasions for pleasant and profitable
social intercourse among those who are
with the material advancement of
the city. At the annual election of officers
of the board Mr.. Thos. w. Smith was
chosen president.
business MEMS Association.
Active steps were taken i'm opposition by
the Business Mems Association on the
question that was then pending in Con-
gress relative to the adoption of the alum
system of water filtration. 1t was finally
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