Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-08
Bad Car Service on Wisconsin Ave.

10 the Editor or i ne star:
With signs and tears, beatings of breast
and gnashings Of teeth the cry How long.
0 Lord, how long," still goes up from
the patient suburbanite, as he stands
without shelter, in snow. rain or hot sun
on a corner in Georgetown for fifteen
minutes-often more-waiting for car to
take him out to the Cathedral Close. West
Cleveland Park OF West Chevy Chase,
as the case may be.
To strangers coming to Washington, or
to those VINO have been away several
years and then come back, it seems in
credible to find such inadequate means of
reaching one of the most, If not the most,
beautiful suburbs Of Washington, at pres
ent almost inaccessible to the average
busy man or woman.
This suburb comprises Cathedral
Heights. Fairview Heights, the Cathedral
Close, or the site Of the National Cathe-
dray Of IS. Peter and Paul, the Choir
School for Boys and the National Cathe-
dral School for Girls; also West Cleve-
land Park and West Chevy Chase. The
present only line OF cars on Wisconsin
avenue renders these places almost i'm
possible to reach for those who, though
DESTROYS enough, have but limited time to
spare An instance in point to the writer
personal knowledge was that of Il promi-
nent EpiScopalian clergyman from sub
urb of Chicago, q delegate to an Episco-
palian gathering of churchmen recently
held here. The one thing he wished to
see most. being familiar with tile better
known parts OF Washington, was the
Cathedral Close. and the recently COM
pleted exquisite Gothic chapel in the
crypt Of the Cathedral of SIS. Peter and
Pauk Clearly his visit WAS limited TO
but few days away from his own par
s.,r, -f,,rv I,yc
time. Defeating spare hour or two
to the trip. he decided to start. What
was his amaZement to find no direct car
line to that vicinity whatever, and such
ing an entire half day. involving as it did a
change of cars and long wait, where in
other cities fifteen or twenty minutes
would suffice to go the same distance by
the ubiquitous suburban trolley lines that
form a close network about any other
city Of the size OF Washington in the
Union. The price Of a taxicab, 81 for the
trip. was more than he cared to spend,
and no kind friend was at hand to offer
him a ride in his motor. Therefore, as
a consequence. he was obliged to go away
without having been able to carry out his
wish to see the Cathedral Close and it's
beautiful buildings, due solely to the ridi-
culous lack of means to reach quickly
this given point within the city limits un-
der less than an hours time all told each
way.
Citizens of Washington who have
friends who have rashly moved out that
way unanimously declare that. much as
they desire to keep up their friendship,
the means to reach them now in use
forms. as 1t were. "a great gulf. fixed"
impossible to cross. A suburbanite from
near the Cathedral Close refrains as far
as possible. for similar reasons. from
shopping, the theater and general social
intercourse: from everything, in fact not
compulsory-unless he has a machine
rather than exhaust himself mentally
morally and physically in the effort
Real estate men unanimously declare
the absence OF a through direct car line
into Washington prevents the immediate
rental and sale of hundreds Of houses in
that region.
This extensive and beautiful suburb of
Washington. over which are scattered
many beautiful homes, is thus deferred
from, being built up. and though the trend
of the city that way is inevitable the
growth, till a better means of direct,
quick transportation is esta blished, is be-
Ing very much retarded.
ISABELLE S. SHEPARD.