Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-25
USE.OF THE HIGHWAY BRIDGE
QUESTION BEFORE THE WAR
DEPARTMENT.
But One Condition Upon Which Rail-
way Company Can Be Granted
Further Time.

Acting Secretary Oliver Of the War De-
partment has been called upon to decide q
question Of the utmost Importance to the
Washington, Alexandra and Mount Yer
non Railway Company, and to everybody
who has occasion to use that line as q
means Of transportation between this city
and points in Virginia.
Maj. Cosby. the engineer officer in charge
OF the Highway bridge across the Potomac,
which Is now used by the railway company
In getting Its cars into and out of this city,
has officially reported to the War Depart
ment the failure Of the company to Comply
with the terms of the law requiring 1t to in
stan standard underground electric sys-
tenn on the bridge and its approaches by
the 10th instant. and has recommended that,
In compliance with the terms of the law,
the company be prohibited from using the
bridge and Its approaches for the trans
portation of its cars after the Both instant
next Monday-until such time as the said
underground system shall have been in
stalled and ready for operation.
The various laws bearing on the question
have been already cited In The Star.
Briefly stated, they authorized the railway
company to use an overhead trolley system
In crossing the bridge and its approaches
bridge was opened to public travel by
which time it was to have installed a
standard underground electric system. The
time allowed for the change from the over
head to the underground system expired
April IA last. On the application Of the
company. the time for the change was ex-
tended by the Secretary Of War until June
80. 1907, which is the date fixed by the law
for the completion of all the works con-
nected with the bridge and Its approaches,
including the work required of the railway
company.
A few days ago the Washington, Alex
andria and Mt. Vernon Railway Com
pany. through its president, Mr.. King,
applied to the Secretary of War for
further extension of time, until December
81, 1907. on the ground that 1t will be
physically impossible" to install the I'M
foreground system on the bridge and its
approaches by the Both instant. This
application was referred to. Gen. Macken-
zie. chief of engineers, who returned 1t,
calling attention to the report OF Maj.
Cosby on the subject, and recommending
in compliance with the terms Of the law,
that the railway company be denied the
use of the bridge after the Both instant
until the underground system is in
stalled.
The Only Condition.
It Is explained that under the law the
only condition under which the Secretary of
War can grant the company an extension
of time beyond the Both instant is that
the fill Of the approaches Is not settled suf-
f1ciently to permit Of the installation of the
underground system. The army engineers
nave OmClally reported tnat the NIL has
settled sufficiently and that there Is nothing
In the situation to Justify further delay on
the part Of the railway company.
Some officials of the War Department
believe the law in the case Is mandatory,
and that the Secretary has no discretion in
the matter, but in order to be sure on that
important point the papers in the case have
been referred to Col. Porter, acting judge
advocate general. for a legal opinion as to
the powers Of the Secretary of War in the
premises.
If that official sustains the view that the
Secretary cannot extend the time. it is de-
clared that the cars Of the company will
not be allowed to cross the Highway bridge
after the Both instant, and all passengers
to this city from the south will have to
walk from the Virginia end of the bridge.
unless the company provides buses or
coaches to bring them from that point to
its station at the corner Of Pennsylvania
avenue and 18th street, distance Of about
a mile and a half.
1t Is said at the War Department that
while the authorities do not believe that the
railway company Is entitled to much con-
sideration in this matter they are naturally
averse to taking any action which will in
convenience the public. who are in no wise
to blame. for the situation which has arisen.