The Washington times., 1915-05-26
Two Clubs and Other Residents
Along Proposed Route File
= Objections.
SEES BURDEN ON DISTRICT
attorney for John F. wilkins
Claims Congress Should Act,
Not Public Utilities Board.

PROBABILITY of municipal ownership.
the entrance of the jitney into the
neio or public transportation, and the
risht OF the Commissioners to act
favorably on the application of the
capital Traction Company were the
three principal arguments advanced by
@protestants against the proposed ex-
tension of the company's lines in Sew
enteenth street northwest at n hear
Ing before the, Public Utilities Com
mission today.
Attention was directed by jackson
n. Ralston, representing a number Of
property owners In Seventeenth street
to the Crosser bill providing for the
municipal ownership of street rail-
ways. which was reported favorably
by the House District Committee at
the last session and which received
favorable report at the hands of the
Commissioners
If. he said, the bill is passed at the
next session, the District will be called
upon to meet in addition to the cost of
The present system, an additional ex-
penditure of approximately $75O,OOO. the
estimated cost of the proposed extern
Sion. The Capital Traction Company.
ne declared. has supplied no informa-
lion showing the need Of the proposed
extension. and the District, therefore,
would be in the position of assuming a
burden. the value of which it has not
aScertained.
U. S. Holds Title.
Ihe right Of the commission to order
such an extension was questioned by
clarence Wilson, attorney for John +.
wilkins. owner Of property at Massa-
ctusetts avenue and Seventeenth street.
1t had been stated previously by George
E. Hamilton. president of the Capital
Traction Company. that the laying OF
double tracks would necessitate the
widening of the thoroughfare Mr..
Wilson pointed out that the title Of the
streets Is in the name Of the United
States. and that to widen them il is
necessary to obtain the approval Of
Congress.
to WHISTLER the proposed extension
Is an extension proper or a. new
railway. Mr.. Wilson defined an ex
tension as a prolongation of a street
railway line from one of it's termini
which, he said. was not proposed in the
present instance.
Sees Dangerous Crossing.
Protest was made also by Gen. Ed
ward A. Goodwin. president of the Army
and Navy Club. The placing of tracks
In these streets. he said. would create a
ri q n trer -
! streets. One OF the reasons for the
selection of the site for q clubhouse,
he declared, was that it was not di-
rectly on the line of street railway
resentative of the Washington Club.
Seventeenth and K streets. also entered
a protest Mr.. Blair said that while he
was not appearing in his official capacity
as president of the Board of Educa ton
he wished to direct attention to the fact
that there are several schools in Seven
teenth street and to the danger to
which the pupils would be subjected by
having to cross the car tracks.
Object To H Street Line.
Protest against the proposed ex-
tension of the line in II street north
west from Fourteenth to Seventeenth
street which is included in one of the
alternate routes proposed by the Cap
ital Traction Company was made by
the Rev. Samuel H. Green, pastor Of
the Cavalry Baptist, Eighth and
streets, and Walter c. Clephane, rep
resenting the New York Avenue Pres
byterian Church.
The question OF property values also
was presented, several of the protest.
ants declaring the laying of street rail-
way tracks would diminish the value of
their property.
Protest against the occupation of I
street was made by M. NJ. Parker. presi-
dent of the University Club. Among
other protestants were John Paul Ern-
est. representing the Y. w. c. A, Thir-
teenth and H street, and F. s. Tyler,
representing the Shoreham Hotel
Approval Of the general plan for the
extension on the ground that it would
aid in the unemployed situation and
provide needed railway facilities was
given by Albert Schulteis representing
the Chamber of Commerce?
The commission. he said, should de-
termine what is needed for the great
est good of the greatest number"
William Nick. Clayton, representing
the Federation of Citizens Associations,
also urged the commission to provide
for all extensions necessary, suggest
l.ax Aat H., hn