Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-01
NEW LINES PLANNED
TO RELIEVE TRAFFIC
Capital Traction Company Asks Per-
mission to Make Elk
tensions.
Aims to Provide More Direct Service
Downtown From Washing
ton Heights.

| Extensive additions to its tracllage, de-
signed to relieve the congested traffic on
the 9Th street line and provide direct
transportation facilities through the bust
ness center Of the city from Washington
Heights and neighboring territory, are
planned by the Capital Traction Company
and will be ordered Immediately if APP
proved by the public utilities commission.
! Application for authority to undertake
the improvement and issue bonds to the
amount Of s75O,O00 in order to pay for
! it was made to the commission today by
George L. Hamilton, president, and J. II.
Hanna. chief engineer of the Capital
| Traction Company.
Early Completion Promised.
| If immediate approval is given, the
| company will have the extensions in
| operation by next November, the utili-
ties board was informed Engineer
Commissioner Kutz, chairman of the
board, stated that the application may
not be passed upon until after 1t has
oeen considered at public hearing.
III; Inc principal extension proposed
Will be a double-tracl1 line beginning
| at 18th and streets northwest and
extending south on 18th to 1 street.
thence easterly on I to 18th street,
southerly on 18th to II street and ca St
| erly on II street to 7th street, connect
| ing with the company's present lines
at that point.
1t also is proposed to build a single
| track line on 18th street northwest
| from / street to Pennsylvania avenue;
single track extension on 18th street
| from + to q streets, and terminal
! loop around the circular park at the
| intersection of 7th street, Louisiana
avenue and G street northwest, to-
| gether with necessary switches and
connections.
Explains Proposed Extensions.
| Explaining the advantages which the
public will derive from the proposed ex-
tensions, President Hamilton, in d form
al communication to the utilities commits
sion, stated:
| These extensions will provide a new
north and south line, relieving the den
| sity Of traffic the 14th street line and
| giving direct facilities through the bust
| ness center of the city from Washing
ton Heights and the neighboring territory
| 1t will also provide a downtown terminal
| loop for cars coming south on 14th street
or on 18th street via 18th street and New
| York avenue.
| 1t will make possible the removal of
one Of this company's tracks now on
New York avenue between l4th and 18th
streets, and on 14th street between New
York avenue and | street. It will also
make 1t possible to run through cars
| from either 18th street or 14th street
| to the War and Navy Department build
| ings. terminating at a loop at 18th and
4 Streets
| Estimate Of the cost of construction,
| together with the necessary additions to
| the distributing system sub-station and
| power station equipment and rolling
| stock, amounts to $4,000. Authority
to make the extension would mean the
placing in service of about twenty addi-
| tional cars and re-routing of q number
| OF the company's present lines.
May Withhold Decision.
| In view of the fact that the public
utilities commission has worked out a
tentative plan for relieving the con-
gested traffic conditions in the vicinity
of 18th street and New York avenue,
| but decided not to order any extensions
| until after it has completed valua ton
| of the properties of the local street
! withhold action on the Capital Trac-
| ton Company's applica ton for the
| same reason.
| Shortly after it's organiza ton the
| commission decided TO postpone action
| on a request by this company that it
| be permitted to run 4 line from L street
along 18th and 18th streets to Potomac
| Park
! The commission has consistently fol-
lowed the policy Of not authorizing eA-
! tensions in advance of the completion
| of the valuation now being made, ex-
| cept Ian minor cases where urgent con-
ditions demanded that action be taken