Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-02
RAILWAY EXTENSION
FAVORABLE REPORT MADE ON
CAPITAL TRACTION BILL.
Permitted to Build Tracks to Union
Terminal Station-Regulatien
Of Street Car Lines.

The Commissioners today forwarded to
Congress a favorable report on the bill
granting permission to the Capital Traction
Company to extend it's tracks to the union
terminal station. Together with the report
on the extension bill, the Commissioners
transmitted to Congress the draft of a bill
prepared jointly by the Business Mems As
sociation and several citizens associations.
giving the Commissioners authority to regu-
late the operation of street railways In the
District, and which the citizens recommend
ed should be attached as rider to the Capt.
tai Traction Company bill.
In regard to the proposed legislation reg
ulating the operation of street cars, the
Commissioners state that it is contrary to
their policy to add such legislation to ex-
tension bills of the character of the Capital
Traction Company measure They forward
the draft of the BILL however. for the con-
sideration of the committee with a state
ment that they are in favor of the legisla-
ton, either as a part of the extension bill
as separate measure.
The bill providing for the extension of the
Capital Traction Company's lines provides
that the company be authorized to construct
a double-track extension of it's underground
electric lines from G street and Delaware
avenue northeast, enthusiastically along
Delaware avenue to the plaza in front of
the proposed union SIdllOIl, IO6SIlcI Win q
single-rack loop passing in front of the sta
ton.
Line Of Extension.
With regard to the line of extension the
Commissioners state there are two routes
that might well be used. The first is the
route proposed in the bill and the alter
native is from LIST and streets northwest
up street along the Capitol grounds to
OH al
ware avenue to the station. The first has
the advantage of good grades. of using ex-
listing tracks and minimizing the number OF
tracks, and the disadvantage is that only
part of the cars would go to the railroad
station and part make the loop around LIST
and streets northeast, and beside the con
nection with the Capitol is more than two
blocks longer. The second has the advan-
tage of being a slightly shorter route to
the station and more than two blocks short
er to the Capitol and because all cars would
connect with both the Capitol and the pro-
posed union station. 1t has the disadvap-
tage of much sleeper grades and of pass
ing between the Capitol grounds and line
residence property
In section of the bill it is provided lat
the company shall enjoy the same rights
and privileges over the new line that it
now does over its present lines.
To this the Commissioners have added the
following THAT the road shall be subject
to all regulations made or which shall BE-
made hereafter by the Commissioners, in
pursuance of law" The Commissioners al
so demand that the work be completed by
the company within six months after the
permit for the improvement is granted.
Control of Street Lines.
The bill drafted by the Business Mems
Association and the citizens associations is
in part similar to that presented to Goa
gress two years ago asking that the street
railway lines be placed under certain con-
troll of the District authorities. 1t provides
that the companies shall not operate WITHIN
the city limits any cars of greater Weight
than ten tons, except upon special per
mission from the Commissioners, and that
no cars shall be operated on any street rail-
way lines within the District without hav-
ing first been approved by the Commission
ers.
The companies are also required to sub
NIT to the Commissioners a time schedule
OF the running of their cars and of the
routes and destinations thereof and of all
transfer arrangements. These schedules
shall be approved by the Commissioners,
who are empowered to make such altera-
tons or changes as may be deemed ad-
vsable
90 In section of the bill 1t is stipulated that
the cars shall be kept in good repair and
in clean and proper condition: all tenders
shall be at all times In good working order,
and no car shall be used which is liable
to produce any unnecessary noise. During
coiu VI increment weather after the first
day of November. 1904 the bill provides
that it shall be unlawful to operate any
open car. other than a trailer, or any closed
car which Shall not be artiflcially heated,
on lines in the District. The companies
are also required to erect and maintain
properly lighted and heated waiting rooms
at transfer points when directed by this
Commissioners. All cars are required to be
equipped with emergency brakes if operated
on any line portion of which has grade
greater than D per cent.
Part Of Act Repealed.
Section repeats part of section : of the
act of February 20, 1895. authorizing the
Brightwood Railway Company and the
Georgetown and Tennallytown Railroad
Company to sell four coupon tickets for 25
cents for continuous trip over either of
the roads. respectively. and the Metropoli-
tan railroad. The bill also makes it I'M
lawful to charge more than cents for a
single trip in either direction between any
Georgetown and Tennallytown railroad to
any point on the lines of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company
The suburban railroads are required to
run cars into the business sections of the
city.
For violation of any of the provisions of
the act, or of any regulation made by the
Commissioners under authority of the act,
the bill provides that the railway company
president and each Of the directors of the
company, shall be jointly and severally
liable to a fine of not less than $40 nor
more than 500 for each violation. The
causes are to be determined in the Police
Court.