The Washington times., 1904-03-14
REPORT ON FALLS
RAILROAD PLAN
SENT TO SENATE
Commissioners Suggest
Two Amendments and
Discuss Route.
OFFER SUBSTITUTE BILL
Board Suggests That L Street
Rather Than NJ Should
Be Used for Tracks.
OFFER SUBSTITUTE BILL

The NJ Street cross-town railway prof.
ect. which has been before the District
Commissioners for some time for con-
sideratiOn and report. is now again IN
the hands Of the Senate District Com
mittee. The report of the Commission
ers was made public by Chairman Gal
nnger today
This report does not make any con-
elusive recommendation except that the
bill presented for consideration needs
at least two amendments OF an impOr-
tant sort. and therefore the COmmis-
sioners submit substitute bill 70 meet
these requirements. The suggest that
i Street might be better than M Street,
because a smaller amount of residential
property would be affected.
A Discoursive Report.
The report considers the subject IN dis
oOursive style, commenting upon the
protests made against the NJ Street
route and demand for transfers TO in
tersecting lines, and other details. but
leaves the forming Of a final decision
entirely in he hands of the Senate Dis
trict Committee. The report, in part,
is as follows:
Against Public Policy.
'"Fhe bin as introduced needs many
amendments. There are two paragraphs
in particular which are contrary TO pub
lie policy. Lines 16 TO 20, page .. state
tnat The company shall have and ex-
ercise in said District every power,
right. and franchise given by general and
special act OF Congress TO any other
corporation to maintain and operate
street railway therein" This would give
to the new company ali and each Of the
srsaH !.
The existing companies. consolidated
from several companies. have special
charters IN each case granted by Con-
gress, for each original road, so as TO
cover the particular circumstances, and
none have a general charter. such as IS
asked for here. II would manifestly be
better 10 give TO this company a char
ter suitable 10 its own needs than to
allow it 10 exercise every privilege
granted 10 all or a number OF compa-
MES
Section 4 provides that the company
shall have within the District Of Co
lumbla all the rights that are or may
be given to Il by the State Of Vir-
glnia. This IS absolutely al variance
with all precedents and contrary to good
administration. II would OF course not
be permissible TO allow the State Of Vir-
ginia 20 grant privileges within the Dis
trict Of Columbia, such as are asked for
here.
Two Main Points.
''The main points to be considered
with reference TO q new road are, first
the demand for the road, and, second,
whether the route chosen Is the best
'As a general proposition the Commis-
sioners are in favor OF the extension
OF the existing lines rather than the in
PRODUCTION OF new ones within the city,
= afa.rz-. L. -
the consolidation Of a number OF roads
authorized by Congress has been a bene-
fit. Such extensions could be built at
less cost and operated for less money,
50 that greater facilities. such as trans
4ers, could be afforded the public. The
onelats Of the existing railroad COM
panles have expressed themselves as
willing 70 extend their lines whenever
tratnc warranted It.
Needs of Traffic.
The daily movement in Washington is
from the outskirts to a center repre-
sented BY the section lying between the
Capitol and the State. War, and Navy
Department. so that in this consIdera-
ton it viii be well 70 separate the two
divisions on the northwest and the
northeast
Taking the northwest, there is a gen
eral feeling that an east and west
cross-toWn line is desirable; that II will
facilitate travel to the new railroad
station. and be an accommodation TO
many who wish 70 20 across the city
That this is a real demand appears on
Its face by the desire Of this new com
pany TO construct a route along these
lines. While this seems to be the gen
eral feeling, and IL has been so stated
by the Board Of Trade and others. there
has been 40 large body Of citizens
which has in any way appeared before
the Commissioners 10 make any effort
10 establish this fact. The street rail-
way would not reach any OF the Gov
ernment Departments or the business
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