The Washington times., 1904-11-17

There is a great public demand Tor
better service on certain Of the suburban
lines which act as feeders for the city
lines" says Col john B!ddle. Engineer
Commissioner. in his annual report. to
be submitted 10 Congress next month.
Colonel BiddIe advocates in emphatic
terms that the District Commissioners
be given authority to regulate the opera
tion of street railway lines in the Dis
trict
Says the report:
The Commissioners would again in
vite the attention Of Congress 20 the bill
introduced AT their request giving them
the authority 10 regulate the operation
OF street railways Ina the District OF
Columbia The charters OF the existing
street railway companies, while placing
uptn the Commissioners certain duties.
such as the approval OF time schedules,
etc, fail 10 give them authority 10 en-
force by penalties the observance by the
railway companies of the directions Of
the Commissioners.
AS consequence, though the Com
missiOners may make such regulations
for the benefit Of the public. they may
be entirely disregarded by the railway
companies. Such is especially the fact
in regard 70 the time OF operation OF
cars. and there is a great public de-
mand for better service on certain Of
the suburban lines which act as feeders
for the city lines.
The biA IN question was drafted by
the Commissioners with the assistance
oI committee representing the various
clllzrus associations Of the District of
COluEDld, and Is believed to be fair
T "a rFtfl.
the public. The Commissioners would
earnestly recommend the passage Of the
blH during the next session OF Con-
/ The report makes many recommenda-
lOus 70 Congress regarding street and
building improvements, and contains a
comprehensive review Of the progress Of
| the Union Station work
Municipal Building.
In recommending that the Commission
ers be allowed e, 10000 instead OF s.. .OO0,- %
009 for the construction Of the new
Municipal Building. the Engineer Com
missioner makes the following explana-
tion.
Under the present Limitation Of cost
It would be possible TO erect a building
OF brick with stone trimmings, with the
interior facing OF brick. but as the
building Is U-shaped and the interior
of the L. faces the Mall the Importance
Of the appearance OF the rear OF the
building is equal TO that OF the front
Nor is il believed that a building
monumental IN character, as the Offices
Of the District Of Columbia ought to be.
should be constructed Of any material
other than granite or marble. IL Is de
/ sired that the erection OF the super
structure should be begun as soon as
possible after the foundations shall have
been completed, and Il is hoped Congress
VIII take early action 70 Increase the
. limit Of cost as recommended. so that no
. time viii be lost in the construction Of
the building.
Progress on Union Station.
Concerning the many conjectures that
nave been made as to the time OF the
completion Of the Union Station, the
report says
About 80 per cent of the foundation
work on the Union Station building has
been completed and II will probably be
two years at least before the structure
Is ready for occupancy. The character
Of the work Is good.
I'm the matter OF acquiring the ucces-
sary property 10 lay out the plaza and
I iuteTsectiug streets substantial progress
was made More than Oue-third Of the
necessary land has been acquired and
lAtA AhA ga 1hnh bl thfhAA rA'tf'A's AHl HIS
have been agreed TO as 10 additional
property, costing about 500 900. although
these purchases have not been entirely
cOnsummuted The balance OF the
necessary land 10 complete the project
win, IL IS estimated. cost nearly 500 600
Blind Alleys.
THE Commissioners" continues the
report. believe that the blind alleys
OF the District OF Columbia, many Of
which are inhabited. should be turned
/ into minor streets. so that they can be
/ built up with good class OF houses and
/ be better polieed. More OF this work
/ has not been done previously becaus
| of lack Of funds but in the appropria-
| ti0n act FOR the next fiscal year about
/ 5000 was made available for this pur-
! rose and the Law so amended that the
/ benefits, which IL is provided under the
code shall equal the amount OF damages
may be dec ucted from the damages. This