The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-10-20
Steamship Lines Oppose Short
Line Railway Project at
Public Hearing.
RURAL RESIDENTS ASK LINE
War Department Only Interest.
:. ed in Protecting Navigation
| From Obstruction.

Following the public hearing in Bal
tlmore yesterday upon the application of
the Potomac River and Baltimore Rail-
way Company and the Washington
Newport News Short Line to build
bridges across the Potomac. the Kappa
hammock. and the York rivers. Col. c.
A. F. Flagler, OF the United States
Corps Of Engineers. who presided at
the hearings. will report soon to the
Secretary of War. who then will an
nounce his decision.
The hearing related to construction Of
. bridges across the Potomac near Me-
tomkin Point, Va; across the Kappa
hammock. near Laytons, Va, and across
the York river. near Yorkton, Va.
Construction of the two bridges last
named Is covered by State law. To cross
action Of Congress which has not yet
been obtained. but the proposed struct-
ure at Metomkin Point was included In
the hearing for convenience.
Additional Facilities Needed.
Interested persons In both Maryland
and Virginia attended the hearing. The
proposal for all three structures was
advocated by residents. who asserted
the present water facilities are not suf-
fcient to develop the sections through
which the railroads made possible by
the bridges would pass.
These petitioners argued that the wa
ter transportation facilities do not now
reach the agricultural regions which
are capable of development by rail-
p roads, and that the ability to get prod
ucts to market In quick time would
benefit Washington and Baltimore as
we'll as the producers.
Frank s. Cannon, representing the
: promoters of the road. said a high
hlbitive In cost. Wilton J. Lambert, OF
Washington. counsel for the railway
company. discussed the legal aspects
and stated that with one exception
there was no draw opening upon navig-
( able streams in the country greater
{, than the proposed 200 feet. the excep-
don being upon the Missouri river
where go feet had been provided. He
also pointed out that the Norfolk and
Washington boats would only have oc-
casion to pass the draw twice every
twenty-four hours. and then at set
times.
Would Shorten Running Time.
{ It was brought out that the erection
OF the bridges would reduce the time
from Norfolk to Washington to four
hours. One passenger connection, via
Richmond, now is Ave hours. Most of
the freight now Is handled by boat.
leaving Norfolk In the evening and ar
irving at Washington next morning
One farmer cited the fact that such
products as asparagus, which has to be
cut daily. cannot now reach Washing
ton as cheaply or In as goodScondition,
because 1t FIRST has 70 be shipped to
There Ia no way of gauging what the
Washington demand for produce will be
50 far ahead OF time, hence the market
is apt to be glutted one day and scarce
the next.
Oystermen pointed to the same condi-
ton. and argued that a quicker connec-
ton for. freight would result in a supply
OF .seafood OF better quality at lower
prices.
!, Chesapeake Steamship Company and
the Southern Transportation Company,
and d. J. Callahan, OF Washington,
spoke for the Washington and Norfolk
Company.
Fear Loss in Efficiency.
These speakers made the point that
the steamship lines. like railroads. run
g. on schedule time and that schedules
would be upset by the draws. They
I, said that stops now are made at points
available for all the producers to send
their goods to market. They argued
that barge and schooner service has
been OF great service 10 washington
and Baltimore. as well as to the COM
munitles OF producers In marketing
produce cheaply.
Assisting Colonel Flagler in the
hearing was Capt. Thomas Snowden.
of the photographic office of the
navy. and William B. Harrison, as
sistant engineer of rivers and harbors
work.
Not all the agents OF the steamship
company opposed the bridges, but
they insisted on suspension bridges
600-foot span.
Colonel Flagler said the War De-
partment was interested only in navi-
cation and not concerned about con-
fiicting interests.