Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-23
Washington Railway Company
Asks Right to Extend.
PLANS AFFECT NORTHEAST
Necessity of Additional Trackage Is
Cited to Congress.
CONVENIENCE TO CITIZENS
Sections Now Hard to Reach
Would Be Made Easier
IT
of Access. Z. !

Authority was today asked of Congress
by the Washington Railway and Electric
Company for important extensions Of Its
lines in the northeast section of the city
to connect the East Capitol and III street
northeast lines by a loop on 18th and
18th streets northeast.
1t is desired to construct a single track.
with underground conduit from the east.
ern terminus OF the East Capitol street line
at 18th street northeast. up 18th street
northeast TO II street or Benning road 10
construct similar single track from III
street northeast along l4th street down to
East Capitol street, and to extend tho
tracks of the c and ID streets northeast
line from 18th to 18th streets on both q
and ID streets northeast.
The construction of the loop between
the East Capitol and III street northeast
lines is desired to afford street car facili-
ties to a section of the District that now
has no cross-town line. and to allow the
railway company better facilities for
operating the East Capitol street, C and
d streets and II street lines.
Necessity l. Urged.
The request for authority to build these
extensions indicates that the reconstruc-
ton of the car barn at 18th and ID streets
northeast. which was destroyed by fire
about month ago, is not contemplated.
Present plans call for the storage OF the
cars used on the 18th and ID streets line
in the car barns at 18th and n streets
northeast and at 14th and East Capitol
streets northeast.
In asking sanction of Congress the rail-
way company sent letters to Senator Gal
lfnger. chairman of the Senate District
committee. and to Representative Ben
Johnson, chairman of the House District
committee, urging the necessity for the
additional trackage and inclosing copies
Of a bill which, II passed, would give the
necessary franchise.
You will note says the letter, that
the extensions on 18th and 18th streets
northeast will serve a territory at pres
ent without street car facilities. and these
extensions, together with those of the
City and Suburban lines on c and ID
streets northeast, will permit of more
convenient handling OF cars on the 18th
and ID street line, besides affording resi-
dents OF the. northeast sections conven-
lent means of access to territory which
they are unable to reach now except by
roundabout routes.
Company Handicapped.
Pressing necessity exists for the enact
ment of this bill, due to the destruction
by fire February IL last of the City and
Suburban car barn at 18th and ID streets
northeast Since the destruction of this
barn the company has been seriously
handicapped in the operation of the 18th
and ID street line, due to the necessity of
storing the cars in the barn at 14th and
East Capitol streets.
with the passage of the bill this line
can be operated from either the barn, at
15thand III streets northeast or the barn
at Nth and East Capitol streets
understand that these extensions are
among those recommended by the District
Commissioners in their report TO the SEN
ate"
Underground Conduits.
The bill itself specifies that under
ground conduits shall be used and that
the present tracks on 18th street north
east, connecting the c and ID street
tracks. are to be removed. The plans for
the extensions and the manner. method
and quality of construction are to be SUBJ
ject to the approval OF the District Com
missioners; and the cost of inspection as
well as of construction or removal, is to
be paid by the railway companies.
The construction of the extensions is to
be begun within six months after the
passage of the bill and completed within
one year. The Commissioners may ex-
tend the time for completion for not
longer than six months
The bill will be introduced in the Sem
ate Monday by Senator Curtis, for SEN
ator Gallinger. Mr.. Gallinger leaves
Washington tomorrow to attend the fu-
neral of Representative Foster of Ver-
mont and to attend some political confer
ences in New Hampshire.