The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-08-11
TRACTION BOARD
CONDUCTS INQUIRY
Commissioners Request Sta
tistics Showing Cost of Car
Line From Brighrwood.

Whether the washington Railway and
Electric Company disobeyed the law in
1902, By falling TO put on record the
fact of its acquiring control Of the
Brightwood Railway Company, is a
question which the District Electric
Railway Commission may take uD in
the near future.
After searching in vain IN the office
Of the Recorder or Deeds for copies of
any contracts or sales showing that
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company controls the BTightwOod rail-
way, the District Electric Commission
has decided 20 assume that such control
does exist II has. therefore. instructed
Sc, rotary II. c. Eddy 10 request the
WI shlngton Railway and Electric Com
pany to furnish the commission with
statistics showing what would be the
cost OF operating a through line from
Brightwood 10 this city.
Through Car Line Wanted.
The question OF such a line has been
before the commission almost since it
was appointed. Vice President George
H Harrfes, Of the Washington Rail
way and Electric Company. as vice
president Of the Brightwood Railway
Company, in replying to "a letter sent
by the commission, stated that the eX-
penses of a through line would be so
great that 10 such service was being
contemplated. This reply was regarded
by the Brightwood Citizens Association
officials IN a letter 10 the Interstate
Commerce Commission, as being vague
and unsatisfactory"
The District Electric Railway Com
mission thereupon instructed it's eNecu-
tive to secure copies Of any contracts
and sales that might be on file in the
office of the Recorder Of Deeds show
ing the financial relations between the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany and the BrightwoOd Railway COM
pany, That was a week ago. At spe-
ciaI meeting Of the commission yester-
day, Mr.. Eddy reported that he found
| two copies OF contracts and deeds IN
which the washington Railway was
/ concerned, but neither referred 70 the
| BTightwood Railway Company
/ One of the deeds found concerned
/ the washington and Great Fall Electric
/ Railway Company, and another the Co
Iiumbia Railway Company. showing tnat
1.-THE washington Railway and Electric
Company has acquired control OF these
officials Admit Fact.
The law provides that in case OF con-
tracts being made by which control OF
certain named corporations should be
Iscquired by the Washington Railway
| and Electric Company or other specified
| concerns, copies OF the contracts and
sales shall be hled with the Recorder
/ OF Deeds. That the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company controls the
/ BrightWOOd Railway Company Is fact
! admitted by the officials OF both COM
GAMES. and is well known throughout
No copy Of any contract or deed show
/ ing such control has been filed with
I the Recorder of Deeds. The Washing
| ton Railway and Electric Company at
/ one zine deposited an amount OF bonds
and stock of the BTightwOod Railway
/ Company with local trust company as
! security for a loan, that being the near
est official acknowledgment of its con-
troll OF the BrightwOod line.
Commissioner Vests Opinion.
/ Commissioner West. who is a member
Of the traction board. when seen today,
spoke as II he believed that the con-
tracts referred TO did not exist. He
admitted. however. that the law requir-
cd that they should be filed II they did
exist.
I'VE al know that the Washington
Railway and Electric Company controls
the Brig1twoOd Railway Company" he
added. Acting on this assumption we
have asked Secretary Eddy to request
OF the former company the information
We degtre Previously we had endeavOr-
ed 10 ascertain what legal evidence
there was TO show that the control OF
the BTlghIWOOd company Was in the
hands of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company. but Mr.. Eddy report
ed at yesterdays meeting that there
was no such evidence in the office Of the
Recorder OF Deeds"