Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-21
THE PROPOSED LINE
lfAgs
Hearing on the Old Dominion
Company Resumed.
DIVE.RGENT VIEWS
LARGE ATTENDANCE OF CITIZENS
AND halfway OFFICIALS
Denied That the Project is in the In
terest Of the Wabash Road
Its Owners Named.

81,
Tuesday. on the bill to permit the con-
struction OF "a cross-town line by the Great
Falls and Old Dominion Railroad Company
was resumed. The committee met at 1890
o'clock and sat until noon. At that hour
there stun remained several prominent per-
sons who desired to be heard. SO an adj
1ournment was ordered until Tuesday next
at 10 o clock, when it is hoped the hearing
may be finished.
commensurate with the large attendance
OF members of the committee there was
also large, attendance of citizens and
railroad officials b The representatives of
the new company were out in force while
the opponents OF the bill, and the two ex-
isting companies had their interests capa-
bly, handled.
Not in Interest Of the Wabash.
/ There was considerable discussion during
the morning as to the purpose OF the Old
Dominion Company in wanting to come into
the District and cross the city. There were
hints that twas. an enterprise in connec-
ton with'ths proposed entry of the Wabash
railroad Into Georgetown, the street rail-
way link being used to transfer Wabash
passengers to the new union passenger sta
uon at Massachusetts and Delaware ave-
nues northeast. These assertions led to
statement by. counsel for the company TO
the effect that the Great Falls and Old
dominion Company is owned and controlled
BY Senator Dlkins. Mr. John r. Mclean, Mr.
Robert Weaver and one or two other gen.
tiemen. Counsel was asked II the Goulds
or other railroad magnates had anything to
DO with the road. and stated that they did
not nor did any other outside gentlemen.
MIR. Evans H. Tucker Of the Northeast
Citizens Association was the first speaker
OF the morning.l His association, he said,
was In favor of cross-town line in the
northeast. knowing it would be great con-
ven!ence and believing it would be a great
benefit to that section of the city
MI William G.. Henderson of the North
Capitol and lexington Citizens Association
spoke next He said he believed there was
no necessity for line across M street. He
thought this thoroughfare too far south to
meet the DEMAND for cross-town railway
facilities. Mr. Henderson thought the so
luton OF the whole problem Of added facil
tiles could &c sotSed by the extension of the
Capital TraetiOn. lines eastward from 7th
and U streets oh Florida avenue to Sth
street east, and thence southwark to Penn
Navy anS TING EASTERN w ea ene
sion to the PENNSYLVANIA avenue bridge
This line would give the north and south
line on Capitol Hill. which had really been
the source of agitation for increased IA
cilities, and at TIE same time would afford
an opportunity 70 get across town on "a
route well to the north of existing roads.
s'oFavors New Line.
Mr. Barry Buckley secretary of the
Business Mems Association, followed Mr..
Henderson. Mr.. Buckley said that while
the association felt grateful to the Capital
Traction Company and the Washington
Railway and Electric Company for the part
these two corporations had taken in build
ing up the city, 1t nevertheless strongly
favored the Great Falls and Old Dominion
line across town. 80 ~
IA tive ppwarS asked Mr. RIlk-
ley If he would prefer a cross-town line
built by the new company or by one OF
the old companies. He replied that he
would favor the new enterprise.
Asked why, Mr.. Buckley replied that
when the Old Dominion bill was first con-
sidered by the Senate committee there was
no more vehement opponent to the measure
than President Dunlop of the Capital Trac-
ton Company. 49,.
with an astounding change Of front"
added Mr.. Bulkley, Mr.. Dunlop now asks
that his company be allowed to, do the
very thing 1t SO strongly opposed.
Asked which would serve the public best,
a new company or the old, established
companies, Mr.. Buckley said he believed in
new blood and new activities to give life
and impetus to the community, and he
thought it would be to the best interests
of the city to have the new company In
the field. He declared that unquestionably
three companies would give better service
than two. Mr.. Buckley closed by arguing
that the Great Falls and Old Dominion line
proposed to open up new territory.
It would be the first of chain Of trolley
lines to penetrate the old dominion, and
bring that great commonwealth Into closer
touch with the national capital and the
states to the north.
Opposes Use Of NJ Street.
Col Robert I. Fleming spoke strongly in
opposition to a cross-town line on M street
or any of the other narrow thoroughfares
in that vicinity. He said he had canvassed
M street from end to end, and found no one
ia favor of the new road. On the contrary,
the property owners believed 1t would in
jure their holdings. M street, he declared.
is built up with dwellings. There are no
business interests on 1t from Rock creek to
New Jersey avenue, and, consequently, he
could not see the necessity for a car line
on the thoroughfare.
argued that great injury would result by
ture that the committee. In driving over
the proposed route of the new line last
Saturday morning, were impressed with
the fact that something was apparently
needed to build up and improve M street
from Rock Creek as far east as Connecti-
cut avenue. He asked IL the railroad
would not help porperty values on that
portion Of the thOroughfare
Col. Fleming replied that there were
undoubtedly some sections to be found
where railroad would be benefit. He
argued that great injury would result by
building a line on M street east of Con-
necticut avefueii He said the road would
not pay in the District of Columbia and
expressed It as his belief that it was an
enterprise of professional promoters or
else a link IN TIE proposed entrance Of
the Wabash railroad into the city. He
was opposed to-Any company building q
line along A street
Mr.. Arthur Cowsill, representing the own
ers of the NoftheHst market and the North
east Templeee afo12th and H streets north
east urged that IL cross-town line was
to be constEucted north and south in the
eastern section OF the city, IL should be To-
Gated on 18TH street instead Of 9Th or 10th
streets. Twelfth street, he argued afforded
the greatest convenience to the people
Mr.. Alexander Porter Morse declared
there could be no question that cross
town line was necessity. The point to
be settled however, was as to route He
believed. the real demand was for a road
north Of r etreesa
attitude Of Labor.
A. j. Roach, representing the Central La
Dor Union, declared that organized labor
was in favor OF the bin introduced for the
Great Falls ana Ola Dominion Company.
The workingmen. he declared, have no con-
tentions with the existing Ines They be-
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