Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-19
DRAWBR|OGE BILL FAVORED
REQUIRES HINGED SMOKE
STACK FOR TUGBOATS.
House Committee Will Report Bill.
Advocates and Opponents
Given Hearing.

The House committee on interstate and
foreign commerce today ordered a favor
able report on the bill to compel tugs
operating on the Potomac to be fitted
with hinged smoke stacks, exhaust pipes.
etc, in order to enable them to pass
under the railway bridge instead of
through the draw.
This action of the committee followed
hearing at which representatives of the
tugboat owners and railway men and
citizens of Alexandria, who commute to
Washington. We're heard in brief.
A. F. Harand, representing l.. e. Smoot,
sand and gravel dealers opposed the bill.
He thought the proposed legislation would
affect comparatively few tugs-those with
pilot houses too high to permit their going
under the bridge being exempted-and said
the lows going up and down the river
caused comparatively little delay.
Representative Mann of Illinois asked
if ii would not be good thing to leg
islate to prevent the draw being opened
during certain hours of the morning
and evening. as is the case in Chicago.
Mr.. Harland replied he did not think
much of the scheme.
He called attention to the fact that tOws
here took advantage of the tide and
that it would be a hardship to legis!ate
to provide that for six hours the
bridge should be closed.
Mr.. Harland said that about 1000 men
We're directly interested in the tugboat
and towing business of Washington. Mr.
Mann said in view Of this showing he
did not believe that thousands of people
using the railroad bridge should be held
up by the tugs in which SO few people
We're directly interested.
G.. G.. Smith. vice president and treas
urer of the Columbia Granite and Dredg
ing Company. was also heard in opposi-
ton to the bill
r. a. Chester, president of the Washing
ton. Alexandria and Falls Church rail-
way, favored the measure. declaring that
ears of his road were held up frequently
sometimes from fifteen minutes to half
hour by the opening of the draw to per-
nit tugs with lows to pass through.
A b. Brockett vice president of the
Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, also
favored the measure. He told the COM
mittce that many AeXandrians were en-
ployed lin Washington and that they all
had to make ii practice of taking a car
that left from fifteen minutes to half All
hour earlier than was necessary on the
schedule in order to he sure that the de-
lay on the bridge due to the frequent
opening of the draw did not make them
late at the places where they were en-
ployed. He told of having an appoint
ment in Philadelphia last week and of
missing his train by reason OF delay on
the bridge, due to this cause.
]. NJ. Culp. vice president of the Rich
mond, Fredericksburg and Potomac rail-
road had prepared d list of figures show
ing delays the bridge to which the
trains of his road have been subjected.
lie said that in 19OS 256 northbound pas
senger trains had been delayed by the
open draw and more than twelve hours
time lost. The delays averaged about
seven minutes He had no record of the
northbound freight trains and the south
bound passenger and freight trains that
had been delayed by the same cause.
Harry .. Birse of the Commuters As
sociati6n of Alexandria county, and r.
L. Holbrook of the Washington Hy-
drauic Press Brick Company, also
favored the bill. Mr.. Holbrook told the
committee of delays to which teams OF
his and the other brick companies We're
subjected by reason of the passing OF
tows through the bridge.
At the conclusion of the hearing it took
the committee only a few moments to de-
eide to report the bill to the House.