Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03
new LINE TO UNION STATION
CAPITAL TRACTION EXTENSION
READY FOR INAUGURATION.
President Hamilton Says That Only
Continued Bad Weather Will
Interfere With Plans.

George e. Hamilton, president or the
Capital Traction Company, Is authority
for the statement that the extension OF
the line from Florida avenue and 9TH
street. by way OF New Jersey avenue. to
the Union station, Is nearing completion
and with favorable weather conditions Will
be in operation on or before tho LIST OF
March. The opening Of that line, he
said. depends altogether upon the weather.
It being impossible to work with cement
in temperature below 80 degrees. The
short gaps in the line at III street and at
street can be easily closed with few
days of comparatively mi weather. 1t
is hoped by the company that conditions
will permit the completion Of the line to
the Union station in ample time to meet
the increased travel of inauguration week.
The eastern extensions. on Florida ave-
nue. from New Jersey avenue to 8th
street east. on Sth street east southwardly
to Pennsylvania avenue and on F street
east from Sth street east westWardly TO
the Union station, Mr.. Hamilton said.
would be begun about the LIST Of March
and the entire work completed within the
time limit fixed by the act Of Congress.
The materials for these easterly extern
sions have been contracted for and other
pected that the rebuilding of the Chevy
Chase line now in progress Will be com.
pleted by July next.
Best Type Of Equipment.
ITO meet the new conditions created by
the act Of Congress authorizing the extern
sion of street railway lines to the Union
station" said Mr.. Hamilton, large In
crease in equipment was required, and an
earnest effort has been made by the direc-
tors to secure the best type Of equipment
nm Y
in operation of the 'pay-as-you-enter ana
'pay-within' cars have been carefully
considered OF the sixty-six new cars
ordered during the year thirty-nlne are or
the 'pay-as-you-enter type, these being Tor
urban service, and fifteen are of the pay
within type, these being for use on tbe
Chevy Chase line. The twelve double
truck semi-convertible cars. already re-
ceived and in use on the 14th street line,
will. it is expected. be equipped with pay
as-you-enter' appliances. All Of the
sixty-six cars ordered will be received
and placed in operation during the year
1909. To accommodate and operate this
new equipment, it became necessary to
make an addition to the car barn at the
navy yard and for this half square of
ground adjoining the old barn at this
point has been purchased. Additions to
power plants were also required. and ac-
cordingly new substation mas oeen onile
on the company's property In square 635.
and the power station and equipment at
the Grace street power station materially
increased. To provide for the greater
safety of passengers and TO avoid the
cost of claims and litigation. the company
is not only considering approved safety
appliances in the purchase Of new cars.
but it has. during the year. inaugurated
a merit system under which a substantial
bonus may be earned by every conductor
and motorman for each year OF continu-
Gus efficient and satisfactory discharge
of duty in the operation of cars"