Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-14
THE STORY OF A ROPE.
Effect of District Entering Into Real
Estate Venture.

AS a consequence of the Districts VEN
ture into the real estate and landlord bust
ness. necessitated by the new union station
project, the authorities confronted by
the possibility of a melodramatic situation
the occurrence of which depends upon the
strength OF a rope used in connection with
the apparatus which supplies power for the
elevator in the old Mcdowell warehouse.
This warehouse, located on Il street near
North Capitol street, was recently pur-
chased by the District. and is rented to
the House of Representatives as a storage
house for documents stationery &c.
The officials interested in this matter
have but little to say about it. IF the rope
pause. and then they decline to discuss the
matter further. not wishing, perhaps, to
venture opinion to the consequences
depending upon the contingency.
If a new rope could be provided II is con-
ceded the possible danger Of a calamity
would be averted: but there's the rub.
the officials are without authority under
the circumstances to purchase a new rope.
and as the matter now stands the tension
on the District officials is exceeded only by
the tension on the old rope.
The rope in question Is about $50 feet
long and an inch in diameter. 1t Is used
to connect fy-wheel in the Mcdowell fac
tory on Massachusetts avenue with a NY
wheel in the warehouse now owned by the
District and rented by the House of Repre-
sentatives. The two buildings are sep
arated by distance of about 2U feet, ana
the rope is extended from one building to
the other over the roof of the Baltimore
and Ohio warehouses situated between the
two other buildings BY means OF this rope
power for running the elevator In the Ola
warehouse is communicated from the Nc
Dowel factory.
During the past few weeks il has been
noticed that the rope is wearing out. and
81, iSty irt etnlS h4W -
supply a new one. The cost of the same
would be about $40
AS there is no appropriation out Of which
to pay for repairs on the property pur-
chased In connection with the terminal
project the officials proposed 10 buy tno
rev rope and pay for II out OF the June
rent for the warehouse. Several Gays ago.
however. the officials were informed by the
dsbursing officer of the House OF Repre-
sentatives that the contingent fund Is very
low and that the June rent cannot DE paio
at this time. This condition OF AFFAIRS
leaves the officials without funds to replace
the rope, and almost any day, IL Is ek-
pccted. the old hemp cable will be rent In
twain and the elevator in the warehouse
will be stopped. and possibly other Things
may happen.
Al present the District officials need more
rope.
The officials in charge of renting the prop
erty purchased by the District in the vicin-
ity OF the new railroad station say they
are having scarcely any difficulty In secur-
ing tenants for the property. There arc
still vacant flats in apartment house
owned by the District, but nearly all the
dwelling houses are occupied and bringing
in revenues to the District and the United
States governm on the half-and-nan
basis
Last Saturday the District purchased
three more dwelling houses on I'd street
from Mrs. Elizabeth Gardner. and other
properly will be purchased this week IL
the owners and the District are able 10
agree on terms.