Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-05
.CROSS-TOWN RAILWAY
Old Dominion's Plea for Right
Of Way.
HEARING GIVEN TODAY
MANY PROMINENT CITIZENS
HEARD ON BOTH SIDES.
Discussion Of the Routes Proposed
Commissioners Promise Care
full Consideration.
BEARING GIVEN TODAY

The board room of the District building
was the scene this morning of an important
gathering of representatives OF citizens as
sociations, business men. large property
owners Of the District and private citizens,
who appeared before the District Commits
siorlers to discuss the proposed bill author
izing the extension construction and opera
ton Of the Great Falls and Old Dominion
railroad into the District of Columbia.
The assembly, which was representative
of the various sections OF the city and CT
various interests. was by no means of one
mind, for some came to oppose and others
to advocate the propositions set forth in
the bill. It was quite generally conceded.
however. that a cross-town railroad, con-
Meeting the northwest and northeast Sec
tions and the northeast and southeast Sec
tions of the city, was greatly needed. The
principal objections presented to the Com
nissioners today were with respect to the
proposed route
Among those present at the hearing were
F. w. Hackett, former assistant secretary
of the navy; Charles D. Fowler, Admiral
Walker, Colonel J. D. Croissant, Rev Glenn
ent Brown, rector of the Church of the AS
cension. Major John T. Armes. Judge An
drew Wylie, w. c. Dodge. 8. J. Kubel,
Charles D. Davis, W. ]. Frizzefl, e. ]. Han
nan. John Moss, Oscar Luckett. Dr. W. L.
Gill, DR.. H. M. Smith, r. F. Goldsboro rep
resenting the proposed railway; DR.. w. x.
Butler: ]. Ridout, counsel for road; J. kas-
par, Mrs. Hensley, Miss Brouse, 8. T. u.
Morsell, former Senator James K. Jones'
Paul E. johnson, ]. NJ Wood and J. A.
Rapport Of the East End Citizens Associa-
ton: Charles Nelson. E. ]. Roche and Mil
ford Spohn of the Central Labor Union; ;
G. G. Boteler, T. W. Smith, w. Mosby VIII
Hams. F. G. Coldren. Fl. II. Westcott.
James F. Barbour, Gen. George H. Harries.
Tucker of the Northeast Washington Citi-
zens Association; George 7. Dunlop, and
others.
For and Against.
Among those who spoke in favor Of the
bin were W. Mosby Williams of the East
Washington Citizens Association, Presi-
dent Evan II. Tucker OF the Northeast
Washington Citizens Association, J. M.
Wood OF the East End Citizens Associa-
ton, Milford Spohn and E. J. Roche Of the
Central Labor Union, W. c. Dodge, John
Ridout, attorney for the road; @. g. Bote-
ler Thomas W. Smith OF the East wash
ington Citizens Association.
Those expressing themselves in opposition
to the bill were Mr.. F. w. Hackett. COL
Robt 1. Fleming, Charles D: Davis. TX
Senator James K. Jones, DR.. j. K. Butler.
Mr. George T. Dunlap, president of the
Capital Traction Company, Mr.. Mckee ana
Gen. Geo. H. Harries, vice president of the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany.
The route for the road proposed in the
bill begins at the north end Of the
Aqueduct bridge and running thence 70
the reservation at the intersection OF M
and seth streets northwest, then east
along M street to New Jersey avenue,
and southeasterly along New Jersey ave-
nue. to Massachusetts avenue to + street,
along E street to I'd street. then north to
act n
nue. and on out to the Bladensburg road
to a point opposite the Mt Olivet ceme-
terry.
Mr Ridout in answering the arguments
of those opposed to the bill stated that ne
had petition signed by 246 residents and
property owners living on M street between
18th and Sd streets northwest, fayoring the
construction and operation OF the proposed
road
He stated that the company desired to
fully protect the public, and that 1t IS not
the intention to use extra large cars. me
strongest argument in favor OF the road,
said he, 'is furnished by the directors, VINO
have stated that NJ street Is one OF the
greatest thoroughfares in the CITY,.
Mr. Ridout declared that 1t would be abb
solutely necessary to use the tracks of the
Canitai traction Company on NJ street be-
tween Seth and 26th streets.
Gen Harries, the last speaker briefly
stated that the Washington Railway and
Electric Company Is opposed to the bill.
He declared that the reciprocal transfer
system under present conditions Is pracu-
cally an impossibility in the District. He
also asked that the Commissioners grant
his company hearing on the. proposition
to parallel the lines controlled by the Wash
tngton Railway and Electric Company.
Just previous to the adjournment of the
hearing Commissioner Macfarland said:
LET no one imagine for moment that
there will be any hasty action On this mat
ter on the part of the Commissioners. We
will give the subject the most careful con-
sideration.
Already we have received number OF Pc
titions from citizens both favoring and OPP
posing the construction of the road, and We
shall be glad to receive others before making
a final report on the bill.