The Washington times., 1905-01-24
n STREET PEOPLE
BITTERLY OPPOSE
CROSS-TOWN LINE
Declare Tracks Would
Ruin That Resident
Thoroughfare.
CHURCH AND LEGATION
Three-Cent Fare Discussed
at House Committee
Hearing.
CHURCH AND LEGATION

TIE House Committee on the District
Of Columbia today gave a hearing on
Ina tiers pertaining to the proposed
cross-town railway In Washington, and
heard vigorous protests from seventy
five n Street residents and property
owners against the use of that thor
oughfare for street car tracks, and con-
sidered emphatic arguments from the
heads of the present street car COM
panies In Washington against the pro-
posed Scent fare for the District.
No hearing had been granted by the
committee TO the y Street people, but
they thought it had, and at 10 o'clock
they marched into the committee room,
bearing long-listed petitions against the
proposed amendment to the cross-town
shall be laid on n, instead OF on NJ,
Street between Fifteenth Street and
New Jersey Avenue.
Delegation of Dignity.
They had in their number four min
ic-ers. eleven women, q general, and an
admiral
All of them made the plea that the
proposed route would annoy and almost
ruin the six churches on n Street. be-
tween Fifteenth Street and New Jersey
Avenue Attention was also called to
the fact that the road on n Street
would annoy the occupants of the Rus
sian and japanese legations
The n Street protestants were headed
by Gen c. M Vincent.
General Vincent introduced the III
Street speakers, and announced the OBJ
Iect OF their coming TO the committee.
Street of Churches.
The Rev. DR.. Muir said there are on
NJ Stree no less than six churches, be-
tween Fifteenth Street and New Jer-
sey Avenue and those houses of worship
had beea built there with the under
standing that they would not be disturb
ed by railway noises
Don't you consider street car Ines
convenient for churches?" asked Mr..
Babcock and was told that there are
now enough street car lines IN that vi
cinity.
The Rev Father Marr tl:en told the
committee he has parish school on NJ
Street. between Seventh and Eighth
which the school children would be
subjected by even singie-track line on
NJ Street
This argument. he said. applied also
to the Sunday schools Of the churches
on NJ Street
The Rev. Dr. Schneider. of the Church
of the Incarnation. Twelfth and n
Streets objected To tho NJ Street line be-
cause ne has large number of ageo
and inf.rm people under his charge
The Two Legations.
Admiral Lamberton spoke for the Jap
anese cnd Russian legations. which are
on y Street. He said he called some
.!ays al go on the Japanese minister, who
said he objected to the road on n Street
The Russian legation people Were also
rot glad to have the read. 1T was under
stood
Captain Bell said the proposed L
Street route would work great hardship
10 the churches there, especially to the
Luther Memorial Church The noise In
summer. he said. when windows and
doors are thrown open. would be par
t-cularly annoying
One of the reasons for the committee
fixing On y Street for the route" said
Chairman Babcock. was the desire to
give the churches the convenience OF
transportation facilities"
Wen willingly foregc that privilege. .
cvclafrned several simultaneously
Would Ruin Strset.
Miss McComb said the road on a mar
row street as \ Street is would ruin
It for business and residence purposes.
One speaker here said the crosstowr
road was desired by a private corpora
ton, and not by the people of the north
west
Il call the attention of the gentle
man." said Mr.. Babcock, Ito the facl
! that the demand for this road has beer
persistent ever since l have been ir
Congress The Georgetown and Eas
| Washington people. especially. want tht
road"
Evan III. Tucker, president of tht
alton, suggested that single tracks bt
laid on NJ and Streets. or on NJ an6
L Streets
This brought protests from severa
l. Street residents present. and mem
bers OF the committee laughingly sait
! they could get plenty of protests from
! any street This brought the \ Stree
hearing to a close.
Oppose ThEee-Cent Fare.