The Washington times., 1904-03-14

Continued from First Page)
setcion of the city. except by transfer
1t would not be the daily business route
Of many persons, except by transfer.
because fl goes through entirely a res
idence section. Most Of the steam rail-
road traffic goes TO the hotels, which
are not on this line.
AS to suburban lines from Virginia,
except 10 the new railroad station,
which would not be often the case for
any one individual transfers would be
necessary 70 reach directly the depart
ments or the business section
There has been petition in favor OF
this line from some residents - NJ
Street, but on the other hand an almost
overwhelming protest against it. This
protest IS against the use OF NJ Street,
not against the cross-town road.
As to the route proposed-between the
Aqueduct Bridge and Twenty-elghLh
Street-M Street, Georgetown, is. from
the topography, the only one that can
be followed. This Street is perhaps the
most congested within the District. It
IS about 50 feet wide between the curb
and S213 feet between the building lines.
and cannot well be widened The con-
gesticn Will continue until a new bridge
as the proposed memorial bridge, gives
another route to Arlington. While this
proposed new street railway line viii. 10
certain extent, Increase the conges-
ton. this point is not considered a Sc
riOus drawback
After discussing the difficulties in the
traffic OF the road. the Commissioner says
As stated. a very large number Of
protests have been received against the
location OF the railroad on NJ Street
THESE protests are well founded. be-
cause NJ Street. especially between New
Jersey Avenue and Connecticut Avenue,
Is built up mostly with good and in
many cases handsome residences, which
would be greatly injured as residenc &c
property. and the street is not well stu
aztec for business. purposes. There is
evir ali
ycrSal objection TO street railroad
being allowed on a street already built
UP with residences. but II must be said
on the other hand that on streets where
railroads were in operation before many
houses were constructed, such as Con
necticut Avenue. Columbia Road. L
Street, and Cincinnati Street. the pres
ence Of the railroad has contributed to
the more rapid building Of residences
along me line.
L Street Considered.
THE only other location which it would
seem necessary to consider would be
along L Street. This street Is but thir-
ty-two feet wide between curbs for its
whole length, and consequently would
need widening over a greater length.
This route would have the disadvantage
that the railroad would have TO turn
from NJ Street into L Street. which. II
done, should be along some street be-
tween Twenty-second and Nineteenth
Streets L Street has an Offset TO the
north between Eleventh and Fifth
Streets northwest. but this could be
avoided BY going into Massachusetts
Avenue at Eleventh Street, passing
along north Of the Washington Public
Library, thence along K Street to New
Jersey Avenue.
The location on L Street would prob
ably be as vigorously protested against
as that on NJ Street. There are several
fine residence blocks on this street es-
peclally between Eleventh and Six
teenth Streets. but the amount OF resi-
dence property disadvantageOusly af-
fected Wc,-ld certainly be less, and the
dangerous crossings at Connecticut
Avenue and Fourteenth Street would be
avoided
The situation in the northeast section
demand for street car facilities from
citizens associations and individuals II
this section. There has been practically
no protest from the section. The de
mand Is mostly for a north and south
line connecting with the Navy Yard, and
X Is generally desired that the railroad
should 60 as far north as Florida Ave
nue. and not end. IS proposed IN this
bill al r Street The demand for an
east and west line arises mostly from
dissatisfaction with the services Of eX-
listing lines.