The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-26
CITIZENS OPPOSE
CROSSTOWN LINE
Proposed Great Falls Railway Before SEN
ate Committee Again Prominent Resi-
dents Give Views on the Subject.

! hut find street cars an absolute neces-
sity every working day of the year.
The existing companies have not been
true to the interests OF these labOrtng
men. who pay over a 81 600. 900 into the
Golfers of the companies every year.
The working men have TO walk some
times q mile or two before they reach
the cars and then pay their cents fare
any way"
Mr. Spohn went into details of the
transfer system, and told how hard 1t
was TO go from one section to another
of the northeast and southeast
He then passed TO a criticism of the
District Commissioners of the past ten
years 10 whom complaints had been
made continuously about inadequate
service. He referred to the suggestion
of the present Commissioners to turn
these citizens over Ito the tender
mercies of the Washington Traction and
Electric Company"
He said he could well understand why
the claim was made that an extension
would not pay. 1t is because the peO-
pie have 70 walk far 10 the cars or
they can't ride at all. The plan OF the
company is 70 compel them to go any
distance. and still pay the fare.
Wanted by Citizens.
E. Roche. representing the local
ac the American Federation OF
~ ike briefly but explicitly. He
we siIlply want the building OF this
railroad We think it IS a necessity
We believe the S5OO0.OOO 10 be spent in
the enterprise will benefit the working
men and the business men of the Dis
trict. There are only two sides to the
question of additional street car facilI-
ties: the railroads don't want them: the
citizens OF the District do want them
Robert A Phillips, representing the
Washington. Arlington and Falls
church Railway. spoke for a few min
utcs IN the interests OF his company.
u wished to have a provision put into
the Dill 10 permit a connection with the
Great Falls and Old Dominion Railway
so that the traffic of his companys
lines from Arlington and Fort Myer
couio get into the city over the Old
Dominion's tracks over the Aqueduct
Bridge
Defends His Road.
George G. BoteIer. one of the officers
Of the Great Falls and OLD Dominion
Railway. spoke next. He said he was a
Virginian. speaking for Yirginians who
have property interests in the District
The company had been Incorporated in
1900 by sixteen persons. Of whom seven
were Washington men. One - them Is
Samuel r. Phillips, who put the Capt.
tai system on It's feet and did the same
for the Metropolitan Street Railway
here
Many of the people in Virginia who
come 10 the city daily are ofhceholders,
he said. Transfers TO the Capital line
at the town end of the Aqueduct Bridge
would not be sufficient to accommodate
these people.
He spoke Of the arrangements with
the Capital Traction Company to get
/ into Georgetown. and said no promise
had been made TO anyone not TO ask for
a further extension. lie said the En-
glneer Commissioner of the District re-
qulred that S25. coo should be deposited
within thirty DAYS before starting work
( on the Aqueduct Bridge strengthening
The House increase il to S25 00g The
/ lowest bid was $49 900 for the work, and
hnally S46,5o0 was put up to insure the
completion OF the work TO the sasfsfac-
tion Of the District.
President Dunlop here inteTrupted TO
take issue with Mr.. BOteier on the sub
ject Of the alleged understanding with
the new roads officials not 10 ask any
further extension through the city He
said some 1f the road s hackers had
given certain assurances on the subject
Chairman Gallinger ended this ex-
change OF views by saying ne thought
Congress wodld take the responsibility
for that legislation"
Argument by Hackett.
Frank ". Hackett opposed the build
! ing of a lire through NJ Street He re-
viwed the argument Of the previous
speakers. who wanted facilities in the
northeast. and said he sympathized with
them. and thought they ought TO have
relief somehow. But he did not want
, a line through NJ Street
I lie compiimented President Dunlop for
the review OF his company's progress
and referred 10 Mr. McDermott's words
/ OF wisdom at the hearing two days
4 ago; He said railway always brought
I trade IN its path. and his would make
/ a business street Of NJ Street This the
residents there do not want, he said
Chairman Gallinger inquired as to
/ whether MIR Hackrtt objected 10 a
street railway on any street in the
( Northwest
u am opposed to any street railway
/ on any residence street in a section
which can be reached by existing rail
ways, replied Mr.. Hackett He Thought
1 II woulG' demage property and that the
railway Ompany ought to be made to
/ pay damages IN such cases.
! Has that ever been donc2" asked
/ Chairman GalIinger.
! 1t is high time il ought to be done. -
I was Mr.. HaCkett's answer
] suppose, then. the railway improves
| a mans property by running through Il
! residence street. II it helps him. ought
/ he not pay the company" inquired Mr..
/ Gallinger.
/ Yes, If 1t gives him any business
/ advantage. was Mr.. Hackett'S reDIv
| There seemed TO be some doubt In the
/ minds Of Senators and spectators on this
! point Of the argument
Jones Not Afraid to Walk.
Mr.. Hackett read letter from ex-
! Senator James X Jones of Arkansas.
/ who owns a house in NJ Street near
/ Ninth northwest The writer said he
| could not understand why anyone would
| want any better street railway facili-
/ ties In NJ Street, when they already had
! one line within SIX blocks and another
/ not more than eight blocks distant. Mr..
/ Jones views as to what constituted n
! city convenience in street car facilities
/ caused some amusement when read TO
/ the committee.
Similar petitions were read by Mr..
| Hackett from residents of NJ Street OH
/ Jecting TO a road there
/ Mr.. Hackett said the committee
! would be committing an outrage III
! Il recommended the granting of the
new company's application He said
electrical transportation would soon
solve the problem at any rate, and so
/ he opposed any new street RAILWAY
I tracks in any part of the city
/ Stopping IN his argument Mr. Hackett
! took an opportunity 70 pay his compli-