The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-12-08
THREE-CENT FARE
IN The DISTRICT
COWherd Gives Notice 0
Amendment.
GR0SS-T0WN RAILWAY BILL
Oso Advocates Use of City Tracks by
Suburban ROads-Hearing on
Tuesday.
GROSS-TOWN RAILWAY BILL

THAT from and after the approval
or this act. all street railway COM
Panies In the District Of Columbia be-
and are hereby, required To sell eIgPt
coupon tickets for IS cents. good f.,r
one continuous ride i'm IN eDistric. OF
Columbia over the lines OF the cor1-
pany issuing the same" Amend
ment which Representative CoWherd
of the Committee on the District OF
Columbia, has given notice ne will
make 10 the bill chartering the Great
Falls and Old Dominion Street Rail-
way company as a crOss-town road
IN Washington
Il also thing Congress should re-
pulre the city railways To allow, on
Ialr compensation. any suburban
Foads built in the District. or com
ing into the District, 10 bring the
suburban cars down into the city on
the tracks of the city roads when
the suburban tracks connect with
the city tracks''-Assertion of Aep-
resentative Cowherd 10 a Times re-
porter today.
Hearing on Tuesday.
AT the initial meeting of the House
District Committee this morning il was
decided TO grant a final hearing at 10
O'Clock next Tuesday morning TO those
advocating or opposing the project of
the West Fails and Old Dominion Rail-
way Company 10 operate a crosstown
railway in the District. An hour will
be allowed each side for the presenta-
ton OF its views on the matter
Following the fixing of the hearing
date. Representative CoWherd gave no
tice 10 the committee that he would, at
the proper time. move 10 amend the
crosstown railway bill by providing
that, after its passage. all street rail-
way companies in the District be COM
PEELED by law 10 sell eight, instead of
six, tickets for for p cents. That is. he
would move 10 establish a Scent fare In
Washington.
Time Is Row.
Speaking of his intended amendment.
Mr.. Cowherd said:
Il shall introduce il because 1 believe
that the time has come in Washington
for the establishment of the Scent
fare.
Washington is a city Of peculiar COM
pactness. and, therefore. the railways
have only a short haul i'm order To carry
their passengers TO and from their desti-
nations. Moreover, certainly one rail-
way company in Washington makes a
great proTit by the large traffic. the pro-
ceeds Of which IL enjoys.
Consequently, ] think the Scent fare
would be right and just, both for the
railways and for the public
Suburban Traffic.
Discussing railway affairs generally
in the District. Mr. CowheTd con-
tinued
Il also think Congress should require
the city railways TO allow the suburban
roads. which may be built In the Dis
MI
on the tracks of the city roads. That is.
] mean. provided that the suburban
roads pay fair compensation To the
city roads for the use Of the tracks and
such incidental expenses.
III would be manifestly inexpedient 10
allow q multiplicity of tracks through
the residential sections and streets 0f
Washington, and the arrangement /
mention between the CITY and suburbs n
lines would ObVidte the necessity of the
latter building more tracks in the citv
proper. such an agreement also would
encourage the construction of more
suburban roads than we now have. and
would bring about a consequent up-
building and DEVELOPMENT of the ONT
lying parts Of the District"
Mr.. CoWherds position is strengthened
by the facts that provisions similar 10
the one he contemplates have been Laid
on me steam railways in the late Union
Alexandra and Mount Vernon Railway
In connection with the use of its tracks
across the Potomac River bridge.
Storm in Sight.
II cannot be doubted that this propo-
sition, together with the Scent fare
amendment, viii provoke a stormy hear
ing next Tuesday. Manifestly the first
suburban road 10 profit by this trackage
arrangement would be the Great Falls
and Old Dominion. The hearing Tues
day will be final and the House COM
mittee VIII then address itself 10 the
task Of reporting on the crosg-town
railway bill
AT the session today the committee
reported favorably on the bin autboriz-
ing the East Capitol Heights Traction
Railroad Company 10 change It's name
10 the East Washington Heights Rail
road Company"
A favorable report was also made Cp
the joint resolution allowing the Ameri-
can Railway Appliance Exhibition the
Tree use or q section Of the Monument
grounds for its exhibit here next spring
and summer.