The Washington herald., 1906-11-29
TO INSIST ON MOTORS
Commissioners VIII Appeal
Question to Congress.
SURE, THE PLAN IS FEASIBLE
District Officials Say Advantages of
Electric System at New Terminal
Are So Obvious That Difficulties
Should Be OVercOme-Last Rem
nant of smoke Nuisance Abated.

The Commissioners have not despaired
because the presidents of the Baltimore
and Ohio and the Pennsylvania Railroad
companies have declined to take uD the
question of introducing electric locomo-
tives in connection with the new termi-
nal station, and are determined to appeal
the matter to Congress.
/ The scheme has met with the unqUali-
fed approval of the citizens of the Dis
trict through the Business Mems AssOcia-
ton and other representative organiza-
tions.
President A. J. Cassatt. of the Penn
sylvania, in reply to the proposal said
that it would be impossible TO install an
electric plant by the time of the opening
of the new Union Station. He hoped the
/ c Commissioners would wait to see whether
the use Of steam locomotives burning
semi-bituminous coal would be seriously
Objectionable before proceeding further.
/ II is added that the Commissioners and
the public should give the Pennsylvania
credit for providing a magnificent sta
ton for the capital Of the nation at
cost far greater than il would have been
justified in incurring if it had dealt with
the matter from purely business stand
point, and thar they viii not seek 10 i'm
pose any further burdens than have al
ready been voluntarily assumed for the
credit Of the country by the railroads
ImpractfcabIe and Unsafe.
! G. L. Potter. third vice president Of the
/ Baltimore and Ohio, said an investigation
had convinced the officials that the sub
stltution of electric motors FOR steam
locomotives. would be entirely impracti-
cable and unsafe
Commissioner Macfarland. upon whose
motion the request was made, said yes
tcrday: Il regret very much that our
/ request has not been granted, and still
more that the officials of the companies
do not Indicate any definite intention 20
install electric motors in the District
at any future time As they control so
much of the railroad traffic within the
city, it means an indefinite postpone
meu Of this desirable action. unless Con-
gress should require 1t of them by law.
smoke Nuisance May BE Abated.
I shall ask the Commissioners to bring
/ this matter 10 the attention of Congress
at the coming session. Il has never been
/ fully considered or passed upon by the
Senate or House. The advantages 70
Washington lwhere what il left Of the
smoke nuisance is largely due 10 the
steam railroads. 10 the travelling public
and 10 the railroads themselves, are so
/ obvious that the change ought to be made
at the earliest possible day. Whatever
/ difficulties are in the way can be removed
by the railroads as they remove even
+ greater difficulties. Where there is viii
there is a way.
/ As 10 Presidents Cassatt's statement
/ concerning the Improvement 70 our rail-
road terminal facilities, including the
union station. TO one appreciates il more
u than I, and I have a special regard for
what Mr. Cassatt did personally in CO.
/ operation with our plans But on the
other hand. he most generous co-0pera-
/ Ton has been given the railroads by act
/ of Congress. and between 10000 and
100000 more VIII be paid by the Ma
tional and District governments towards
. the work"