Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-19
THE CROSS-TOWN LINE
Hearing by the House Dis
trict Committee.
MR.. DUNLOP'S VIEWS
VOICES OPPOSITION OF LOCAL
COMPANIES TO PENDING BILL.
Thomas w. Smith Heard in Behalf Of
the Old Dominion Company-An-
other Hearing Thursday.


Columbia began this morning a series OF
hearings on the bill to permit the Greai
Falls and Old Dominion Railroad Company
to enter the District and build cross
town. line. The committee was In ses'
sion from 1890 o'clock until noon. at which
time an adjournment was taken until
Thursday morning at 1890, when the mat
ter will again be considered and those
desiring to be heard will be given an op-
portunity to speak.
The hearing before the House committee
this morning was along the same lines
as were followed before the Senate Distric,
committee, when the matter was under
consideration there President Dunlop OF
the Capital Traction Company voiced the
opposition Of the existing railway com
panies to the bill. and at the same time
renewed the proposition that the Capital
Traction Company be given the privilege
of building 'cross-town addition to It's
present lines. Representative McDermott
president of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company, and General George 81
Harries, vice president of the same COM
pany, were present, but were not heard
this morning. There were also present a
large number Of representatives OF citl-
zens' associations, members OF the Board
Of Trade and the Business Mems AsSo-
citation, and representatives of labor Or
CARNATIONS.
Mr.. John Ridout, attorney for the Great
Falls and Old Dominion Company, opened
the hearing. He stated that the company
woul stand by the record made before the
Senate committee and represented in the
printed volume of hearings placed before
the House committee. Mr.. Ridout announc-
ed further that the company would ask but
one amendment to the Senate measure.
This amendment would provide for sys-
tenn of free transfers between the Old Do
rinion road and all other lines at every
point of intersection.
The Georgetown Union Station.
Mr.. George T. Dunlop, president of the
Mr.. Dunlop referred the committee to the
special act of 1894 which compelled the
Capital Traction Company to build union
station at Both and NJ streets, Georgetown,
for the purpose of accommodating passen-
gers from suburban lines at that point The
speaker declared the act was intended to
&C yer just such cases as the one presented
by the Great Falls and Old Dominion Com
pary. 1t was intended that the SUBURBAN
lines from Virginia and elsewhere should
have their terminal facilities at the Aque-
duct bridge and that the Capital Traction
Company should bring the passengers into
the city and distribute them at points along
it's line. The union station, he declared
was built at cost of half million dollars,
a solid wall of rock having to be blown
out before room for the structure was avail
able. Mr.. Dunlop said the union station
has never been used. but is always ready
for use for the purposes outlined in the act
of 1894.
Referring to incidents of a few years
ago. Mr. Dunlop said that the gentlemen
interested in the Great Falls and Ola 10
minon Company had come to him TO see
If the Capital Traction Company Wouid
object to an act permitting the Virginia
company to cross the Aqueduct bridge .
"They confidently expected that we would
object" continued the speaker, put we ola
NOT do So for we believed 1t to be Sood
business policy to let the cars of the COM
pany cross the bridge and thus be able TO
accommodate their passengers with the
least possible Inconvenience. Accordingly
the bill to permit the use of the Aqueduct
bridge was drawn at my table. we all
urged it's passage and 1t was enacted into
law. That was the last we had heard OF
the matter up to few months ago ..o
ssThen what occurred? Why, we have the
spectacle of the Great Falls and Ola Do
minion Company coming to Congress ana
asking the privilege to parallel ana 10 &C,
tuaIly use a large portion of the Capital
FRACTION Company's lines. 1 believe the
sixteen gentlemen who controlled the deS-
TIMES of the company at the time Oh the
agreement with regard to the construct on
across Auueduct bridge are no longer as
ISOLATED with the enterprise.
No Profit on M Street.
Mr.. Dunlop said 1t would not pay the new
company to build a line on M street They
might secure operating expenses, but moth
ing more.
"Then why should your company desire to
build a line along practically the same
route?" Mr.. Dunlop was asked
.sRecause" he replied. I'VE could equip
tbe line with our existing rolling stock and
we would simply divide our trafifc we
would not lose enough fares to competing
line to make any material difference. ven
hat would
creased to the extent of sl0.0eO year. we
are an established company, with lines
reaching all parts of the city and District.
and 1t would be but natural that we should
have the bulk of the traffic.
Chairman Rabcock asked Mr.. Dunlop If
he thought the construction OF line on NJ
street would enhance the value OF real
estate along that thoroughfare. ,
81 will say this. Mr.. Chairman" said Mr..
Dunlop in reply. that the street railroads
have practically built up this city. 1t is
but natural then to suppose that they en-
nance the value of real estate in any sec
ton entered. L will be entirely frank and
say that / would not like to have car
line Immediately in front of my house But
we must give way in such matters to the
general good. and there is no doubling
street railway lines
Mr.. Dunlop was asked as to the cost OF
constructing underground electric lines.
He replied that the cost was between 500,
600 and s6D0O0 per slngle-track mile. The
estimate of 100000 per mile, single track,
or $4,000 per mile. double track. would in
clude the cost of equipping the road and
building the power station.
Company's Sincerity.
President Dunlop next stated that de-
spite the criticism arising in certain citizen
associations and from other interested per-
sons the Capital Traction Company was
entirely sincere in its application for the
right to extend its lines across town and
out Florida avenue He referred to the
fact that the Capital Traction Company
had constructed every foot of track for
which it had been granted FRANCHISE, anu
declared 1t came with bad grace from cit
liens to say that the bill recently intro
duced In the Senate at the request of his
company was not intended seriously. Mr..
Dunlop declared the road would be built
| and built as quickly as any company In the
United States could accomplish the work.
| The reason the Capital Traction Company
| had not asked for the permission before
| now was because 1t had not wanted to in
wade the territory of Its neighbor, the
| Washington Railway and Electric Com
peny. In conclusion Mr.. Dunlop said mis-
company stood ready to make any reaS IN
| able transfer arrangement with the Great
| Falls company at Both and Nj streets for
| bringing It's passengers into the city.
Thomas w Smith FOR the R;ll