Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-31
TRACKS TO THE. PLAZA
Extension of Railways to the
Union Station.
BILL PASSED BY THE SENATE
Proposition for Universal Transfers
Defeated.
NO NORTHEAST EXTENSION
Taxation of Public Utilities of the
District Illuminated as
Irrelevant.
BILL PASSED BY THE SENATE
10 NORTHEAST EXTENSION


street car lines of the city to the new
union station In calling the bill up for
consideration Senator Gallinger, chairman
of the committee on the District of Column
bia, and his substitute for the original
measure. which to be acted on, had
been framed to meet objections urged
against the bill so that as it was then
framed it would be without any objection
so far as he knew. The lines down Florida
avenue and New Jersey avenue had been
eliminated because of protests of property
owners, the tracks on LIST street between
the Library and the Capitol grounds had
been left out and the bill had been framed
to secure the one purpose of getting the
roads to the station without additional ex-
tensions.
The bill provides a new feature by the
extension of a double-track road along X
street from North Capitol street to 7th street
west to give ready access between the sta
tion and the northwest section of the city
for the Capital Traction Company. The
substitute bill had provided that this con-
nection be made along Massachusetts ave-
nue. from the station to 18th street, but that
necessitated the use of the tracks of the
old Columbia road from 4th to eth streets
The new route on X street had not pre-
viousy been discussed in any prominent
way
Transfers to the Herdics.
As passed, the bill provides for n free
transfer system between the Washington
Electric and Railway Company and the
Metropolitan Coach Company at 18th and
II streets. and it is provided that the
coach company shall substitute motor cars
for its horse-drawn herdics within a year.
Mr.. Gallinger's Explanation.
In explaining the bill Mr.. Gallinger said:
by the first section of the substitute
the City and Suburban railway Is
quired to extend it's line from New Jersey
avenue and street along G street and
North Capitol street past the union sta
ton to functions with existing lines at
Sd and streets northeast, and at Stanton
Square. thus giving the business and shop
ping districts direct communication with
the station. This construction means in all
about 1900 feet of single track, the length
of double track being less than seven city
blocks
"Section requires the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company to extend its
line from Delaware avenue and street
northeast along Delaware avenue to the
station front, connecting with the City and
Suburban line authorized in the preceding
section. This extension of 1,210 feet of
single track will give direct line to and
from the Capitol, a little more than three
blocks distant.
Company rights on Delaware avenue from
C street to the plaza and the station. SO
that the cars running on Pennsylvania
avenue may have an absolutely necessary
connection. This companys construction
on the plaza means $40 feet of single track.
Furthermore provide facilities for the
Capital Traction Company passengers
from the northern and northwestern por-
lions of the city by requiring detection
eastward at 18th and X streets northwest,
continuing on X street to North Capitol
street, and thence over the tracks of the
City and Suburban railway to the station
plaza. The total length of these connections
is 1904 singe-track feet. about seven
blocks. and this eliminates the proposed
occupancy of New Jersey avenue by rail-
road tracks, to which objection has been
made
Extension to the Northeast.
Senator Burkett submitted an amendment
providing for a double track extension of
its lines. beginning at Florida avenue and
9Th street northwest, southeastery along
Florida avenue to its intersection with east
18th street, thence in a southerly direction
along east Sth street to its intersection with
the companys tracks at Pennsylvania ave-
nue. southeast, also double-track extension
beginning at the intersection off Sth and F
streets northeast, westwardly on said F
street to the union station, there to connect
by such route as may be approved by the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia
with the double-track loop hereinbefore
mentioned"
Mr.. Burkett had read petition for this
line signed by Mr.. A. R. Serven president,
and W. ]. Hughes, vice president of the
North Capitol and lexington Citizens Asso-
citation. giving many reasons why 1t should
be built to accommodate the northern and
northeastern section of the city. The
amendment was opposed on the ground
that IL gave an extension of existing
railroad not called for by the main purpose
of the bill. which was TO connect the tracks
of the roads with the union station. The
amendment was voted down
Mr.. Hansbrough offered the amendment
urged by him last winter placing tax of
L. per cent on the net incomes of all public
utility corporations in the District of Co
lumbia, and 1t was voted down as irrelevant
to the purposes of the bill.
Universal Transfers Defeated.
Senator Dubois then offered an amend
ment providing for a universal transfer
system, which was also voted down after
some discussion.
II do not know" declared Mr.. Dubois
''of any street railway lines in the country
that are less adequate than those in Wash
ington. There ought to be some time and
some place where We can legislate little
In the interests of the Washington public,
and | do not believe there can be any
proper objection to this amendment provid-
ing for transfers being Incorporated in the
pending BILL
Mr.. Gallinger insisted that the amend
Iuent was foreign to the bill.
1T has become the fashion of late to
decry the street railway service of WASH
ington," said Mr.. Gallinger. II do not
agree at all with the gentlemen who make
those criticisms. 1 believe we have got
the best street railway system here that
there is in this country, IL not In the world,
and any proper effort that Is made to i'm
prove 1t will certainly receive my cordial
CO operation"
Senator Patterson entered into long de-
bate on street railroads. showing what is
being done in Cleveland and Detroit for a
lower fare.
The bill was then passed in the form in
which it was approved by Senator CALM
ger.