Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-26
Views of Citizens Heard by
Senate District Committee.
MUCH INTEREST SHOWN
EAST WASHINGTON FAvoRs THE
PENDING BILL
Residents of L and M Streets Oppose
the Proposed Extension-Another
Hearing Monday Morning.

The Senate committee on the District Of
Columbia today resumed its hearing on
the bill to allow the Great Falls and Old
Dominion railroad line to build a cross
town line from Georgetown to the eastern
limits of the city.
Quite much interest was manifested
today as was shown at the first meeting
of the committee for the same purpose,
and there proved to be so many speakers
that was impossible to finish II. The
committee finally agreed to adjourn until
10 O'Clock Monday morning, when those
speakers who had not had an opportunity
to present tbeir views will be able TO ad.
dress the committee. Gen. George IL. Har.
ries, vice president of the Washington Trao-
ton and Electric Company, was present
but there was not sufficient time for the
committee to hear him. He will speak In
opposition 10 the bill Monday morning.
Those present largely represented citizens'
associations of the east and the northeast
sections of the city churches along the
proposed routes of the railroad and resi-
dents on l. and NJ streets.
The people of East Washington were in
favor of the proposed railroad extension.
They based their attitude on the necessity
Tor better communication between the sec.
tions of the city. Residents on L. and M
streets and representatives of churches on
street all opposed the bill, declaring that
SO Tar as possible the road should be con-
structed not to injure residential street
Of the city.
There were present at the hearing Sena-
Tors Gallnger (charman). Stewart Dill
ingham Foster of Washington Gamble NJ
south Dakota, Martin, Mallory Dubois and
Proctor O' "''~
Needs Of East Washington.
Inc hrst speaker Mr.. w MosbA
Williams, representing the East Washing
ton citizens Association. He spoke in favor
OF the extension. The section of the city
ne represented he said, has a population
OF 1o.0O0 persons, and at the same is al.
most devoid OF north and south railroad
transportation. If the North Capitol street
line was not to be included as within their
section, he said, there was absolutely no
north and south line to get the people to
their places of business
He claimed that with the $500 er,ployes
IN the navy yard and the equal number In
the government printing Office, and with
large numbers OF people having to travel
10 the other great government departments,
they found themselves far from ran.
roads as to be seriously hampered and this
was shown in the building up of the Sec
ton. Men In the northeast going to the
government printing Office to the navy
yard found very great difficulties. In order
TO get to the navy yard they had to 20
to the west to 1lth street and there trans.
fer, the result being that what should bs
ride of fifteen minutes was extended to
almost an hour. He referred to the need
of transportation for the large number OF
persons visiting Mt. Olivet cemetery those
going to the high school at sth street and
Pennsylvania avenue southeast, and to the
market house In Northeast Washington.
He laid especial emphasis upon the necessi.
ty OF high school children having to walk
In all sorts of weather or to ride to the
west long distance before they could
transfer to the Capital Traction line IN
order to get to the school house. In order
to do that two fares are necessary.
He said so far as he was concerned II the
committee does not favor new road, but
does favor the extension OF one of the ex-
listing roads. as the Commissioners had
suggested. from along Y street and down
would be satisfactory so Ear as II covered
the demands OF the section. What they did
want was to have more railroad facilities
The Question Of Profit.
Gen. s. s. Yoder also spoke for the East
Washington Citizens Association. He said
that that association had petitioned exist
ing roads for a cross town line and for adj
ditional railroad service. but had never
been able to secure favorable action. He
said he did not care how they were to get
the new railroads. They simply wanted
more railroad transportation facilities. He
spoke of the claim of the existing roads
that such a road would not pay, but said
that the gentlemen who are behind this pro-
ject for a new road have built roads vastly
more extensive than the railroads OF this
city and lie thought they knew what they
were about.
So far as he was concerned. he did not
feel In the nature of a guardian for these
capitalists 10 see that they should invest
their money In this new road with profit.
He thought they could attend to that mat
ter themselves. He was very well satisfied
that 1t would pay them or they would not
be in 1t.
Wishes Of the Northeast.
Northeast Washington Citizens Associa-
ton which, he said, had membership OF
1So. He said his association was unani-
nous in wanting additional street railway
facilities He favored the Great Falls and
Old Dominion line because that was the
only company that had ever come into the
field with proposition to build road.
Mr. Tucker spoke with a good deal Of
feeling In regard to the service on the II
street line. He said that the oars there
weather and he was satisfied that IL the
Capital Traction Company or some other
company paralleled that road the manage
ment would see to IL that open cars are not
run in zero weather. In addition to that
people were, obliged to ride In crowded cars.
He said they would like to have line
north of H street, running east and west
He thought that II the M street line were
extended eastwardly to 10th or nth street
1t would be good thing for them. He
Capital Traction Company should extend
it's line, but It had never seen At to do fts
but he had been told that when the terri
tory would support a railroad the Capital
Traction would be willing to build II. He
declared that no railroad should be expected
to pay In the first few years Of It's con-
struction The road was the instrument for
building up business, and the road would
necessarily have to precrae the amount OF
traffic that would be necessary to pay divf-
dends.
.