Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-20
WIRES UNDER GROUND
Matter Affecting w., A. and Mt.
Vernon Railway
BEFORE SECRETARY TAFT
Company Required to Remove Over
head Wires by June 80.
TIME MAY BE EXTENDED
Company Declares It Is Impossible to
Comply With the Law-Major
Cosby's Views.

On his return to this city next Saturday
Secretary Taft will be called on to consider
question of vast Importance to the Wash
way. as well as to all residents of Virginia
and the District who use 1t as a means of
transportation. Under the law the railway
company is required to replace the existing
overhead trolley on the Washington ap-
proaeh to the Highway bridge across the
Potomac river with standard underground
electric system by the Both instant The
Secretary Of War is authorized, however, to
extend the time for the installation of the
underground system if he is satisfied that
the new fill made for the approach has not
become sufficiently settled for such con-
Struction
The officers of the railway company have
informed Gen. Mackenzie, chief of cngi-
neers and Maj. Cosby. the engineer Off
Ger in charge of the construction of the
bridge and approaches, that 1t will be physi-
cally impossible for them to install the
Underground system within the time limit
fixed by the law They have therefore TIP
pealed to the Secretary of War TO exercise
the authority conferred on him by the law
to extend the time for the completion of the
work. This application is based on the alle-
cation OF the engineers of the railway COM
pany that the bridge approach is not SUI
fictently settled to justify the work.
It was further stated in explanation of the
failure to complete the underground con-
struction that such work has been inter-
fered with by the action of the District
authorities in lowering the grade of 14th
street at its junction with Water street
near the north end of the approach and
also by the non delivery of material needed
in the construction of the underground gys
tenn. 1t was alleged that this ma terial was
ordered in ample time and that its nom
arrival is no fault of the railway company.
Major Cosby's Views.
On the other hand Maj. Cosby has re-
ported officially that the approach is fully
completed within the meaning of the law
and that the fill Is sufficiently settled to
permit the required installation Of the I'M
derground system. The engineers have been
severely criticised for alleged delay IN the
completion of the Highway bridge and It's
approaches and 1t has already been neces-
sary to extend the time limit several times.
Maj. Cosby says that the work Is now en-
tirely finished, so far as the operations OF
the government are concerned, and that
the railway company has had ample time
to make the required change from the over
head to the underground system.
The settlement Of the controversy rests
with Secretary Taft. and it is probable that
he will call the acting judge advocate
general of the army for an opinion as to his
legal authority to grant the requested ex-
tension of time, In view of the unqualified
fill Of the approach has sufficiently settled
for the construction Of the underground
system.
In case the Secretary Of War denies the
application Of the railway company and
directs a rigid enforcement of the law. the
company and its patrons will be seriously
handicapped in getting into and out Of the
national capital, In that event. 1t is stated.
the cars would moot be allowed to cross
the north approach to the Highway bridge
spanning Potomac Park, and the passeng-
would have to walk over that stretch
of road unless, as has been suggested. the
railway company established temporary
line of coaches or buses for use until the
required underground system is installed in
compliance with the law.
The authority for the Washington. Alex
andria and Mount Vernon Railway Com
pany to use the Highway bridge and Its ap-
proaches was given in section IL of the act
approved February ~. 1901, providing for
the elimination of grade crossings on the
line of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad
Company in the city Of Washington. That
section required the railway company to
install standard underground electric sys-
tenn on the park highway leading to the
bridge.
Act Of March 2, 1905.
Subsequently Congress, by act approved
March 2. 1905. provided follows: That
section twelve Of the act to provide for
eliminating certain grade crossings on the
line of the Baltimore and Potomac Railway
Company. in the city of Washington, Dis
trict of Columbia. and requiring said SOM
pany to depress and elevate as tracks, and
to enable 1t to relocate parts of It's railroad
therein. and for other purposes approved
February Y. 1901. requiring the Washing
ton Alexandria and Mount Vernon Railway
Company. in case it made use of the High
way bridge across the Potomac river in
said act provided for, to install a standard
underground electric system of street-car
propulsion on the park highway leading to
said bridge, and that no dynamo furnishing
power to such portion of its road should be
In any manner connected with the ground,
is hereby amended SO as to permit said COM
pany to operate its cars from the present
terminus of its underground electric sys-
tenn at 14th street and Maryland
avenue southwest to the north end
Of said new Highway bridge. by standard
overhead trolley system such as Is now used
by said company from said terminus of its
underground electric system, as above to
the north end of the present Long bridge;
the privilege hereby extended to said COM
pany. however. to expire at the end of
fourteen months from the time said new
Highway bridge shall be opened for traffic.
or such additional time thereafter as the
Secretary Of War. who is hereby authorized
to grant additional extensions of time may
deem that the new fill made for the APP
proach to the new Highway bridge has be-
come sufficiently settled to permit of the
proper anu saIe CONSTRUCTION and fnStalla-
ton of standard underground electric
system; at the expiration of all of which
times. however. the requirements of said
section II, above referred to, shall become
operative. and the said company shall be
compelled to comply Herewith as therein
provided"
The latest legislation on the subject and
which will govern the Secretary of War
In his action Is contained in an act ap-
proved January 10, 1907, which simply ex-
tended until June 80 1907, the time for the
completion of the bridge and approaches
authorized by section II of the act of Feb
ruary r. 1901, as amended by the act of
July l, 1902, the act of February IS 1905
and the act of Eehr,,aru 10os