Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-22
OPPOSE NEW ROAD
Existing Traction Companies
to Fight Proposed Line.
VIEWS GIVEN AT HEARING
Use of Tracks by Competing Com
pany Vigorously Combated.
PLAN BEFORE COMMISSIONERS
Project For Electric Railway to Ter
ritory in Vicinity of Naval
Observatory.
VIEWS GIVEN AT HEARING
PLAN BEFORE COMMISSIONERS

Promise Of street railway fight is
made in the present attitude of the
Railway and Electric Com
pany and the Capital Traction Company
toward the proposed bih to allow a new
street railway to tap the property now
being developed in the neighborhood Of
the Naval Observatory, on Massachusetts,
avenue northwest.
At hearing before the District Com
missioners yesterday there were evident
The first signs of combined struggle
Of the two existing roads against any
attempt for a new line to use any part
Of the tracks of the Capital Traction
Company or Of the Washington Railway
and Electric Company.
Adds B. Browne appeared before the
commissioners and asked that hill
which had been given to the Commission
erS to allow the proposed road to come
into the heart OF the city. using certain
sections of existing track across Cal
vert Street bridge and at other points, be
sent to Congress with the approval of
the Commissioners.
In the arguments following. the
term "Massa chusetts avenue syndicate"
was applied to the property owners who
are behind the bill.
Expression of Hostility.
Determined opposition to the proposed
bill as it is drawn up is the prospect,
based upon the remarks of George +.
president of the Capital Trac-
ton Company, am Gen. George II.
Harries, vice president of the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company, at the
hearing. While MIR Browne, who appear
ed in the interests of the proposition t.
extend the line across Calvert Street
bridge and to use portions of the tracks
Of both the other companies, made but
a brief statement for his own side, the OPP
position which came from Mr.. Hamilton
and Gen. HarrieS, was pronounced.
Mr.. Brownies argument in general was
that there Is large population between
TenleytOwn and the lines of the Capital
Traction Company; that the population
is growing, and that a cross-town line
is necessary. He said that the necessity
locality Of which he was speaking was
forecast twentythree years ago, and that
the trend of things had borne out the
forecast and had made its realizatio
section he spoke of cannot get any
where in the northwest section except
by transferring or paying two fares.
Mr.. Hamilton's Position.
Following him. George E. Hamilton
made plain his attitude in the first words
which he uttered to the Commissioners !:
Il am here to oppose the extension as
it is contemplated. AS president of the
Capital Traction Company l am opposed
to it because 1t would impose on our road
conditions and burdens that would spoil
the plans OF twenty years. The use of
our tracks by this proposed line would
cause congestion at vital spot, and
= vHolS 1 I
traffic. 1 oppose 1t as citizen, because
in this scheme of laying out new lines
and new sections the idea of the Greater
should be considered. There
should be no extension Of railroads for
particular interests. All the railroad
developments should be made to serve
generally, and not to serve
particular localities.
This proposition comes I'D in an I'M
usual way. and 1 am embarrassed that
have to argue my point before the Com
miSsiOners to get them to see my point
Of view before this proposition has been
introduced in Congress. think it should
come up before Congress in the regular
way and then should be referred to the
Commissioners, the way all District leg
islation OF this kind is generally treated.
The proposition to use our tracks
would make operation at certain points
hazardous and almost impossible
Effect of Railway Extensions.
Speaking of how railroads develop real
estate and suburban sections, he told of
the growth of Chevy Chase. and said that
for fifteen years the railroad had operated
with its books on the wrong side Of the
account; that the railroad and the people
interested in Chevy Chase had bought
the land which is now Connecticut ave-
nue. extended and after developing it into
a street had practically given it to the
District.
He said the railroad had struggled for
twenty years to make something out OF
itself. and deprecated the proposition
that another line should come in and
use some Of those tracks for the real
estate benefit Of another section.
"A burden like that would seriously i'm
pede the further development of Chevy
Chase he said.
Asked for an alternative route, grant,
ing the fact that new line In the sec
tons mentioned is necessity, Mr.. Ham
ilton suggested that Massachusetts ave-
nue. afforded an excellent ingress to the
city. and il that would not do, he sug-
gested. cars might be run across Connec-
ticut Avenue bridge.
Opposed by Gen. Harries.
Gen. Harries, in opposition generally to
the proposition. said he had not read the
bill: that. the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company had not con-
sidered the matter. and that the presi-
lent Of the road Is out of the city.
But I can say for the president that
he is opposed to any use of our tracks
except with the consent of the Washing
on Railway and Electric Company. The
natter has not been presented to the
to the executive committee nor
% the directors
Gen. Harries pointed out specific in
stances OF real estate booms being made
permanently profitable by the extension
If railroads, and advocated. the general
of healthy and normal ex-
ension OF street railways. but promised
hat there would be opposition to a
wholesale use Of the lines OF his road
~ a street railway designed, in his
opinion. to benefit particular real estate
interest.