Evening star., 1916-12-04

against the tubing and propsl the car.
The first trial froze the engine and
caused . wreck to the power plant
that ended tho new system.
I'VE then had another underground
system constructed on Florida avenue
and U street, from 7th street to 18th
street. called the love underground.
magnet in tubing. and ran successfully
for some time.
yet another system was operated on
NJ street southeast for a short distance.
magnet contact placed in the track %
that the car in passing over the magnet
got its power. 1 believe that Mr.. Grfs-
void of the Anacostia line controlled It.
town line was in operation. and
branched OF at the District line for
Glen Echo Park.
This was the regular route to Glen
Echo Park, the line having difficulty to
accommodate the crowds.
Bethesda had q pleasure park in oper-
alton that was very well patronised. the
parks being reached by Tennallytown
cars.
Line to Cabin John.
The Great Falls or Cabin John line
had a single track. starting from 3sth
street. with turnouts. which was poorly
patronized. Later this was double
tracked and the old route by way Of
Tennallytown to Glen Echo was ahan-
doned The F street or Georgetown
line had been extended to S6th street
and Prospect avenue.
Two small carriage coaches were
run from Cammack's corner. or Rock
Creek Cemetery road, to convey pas
sengers to the Soldiers Home gate and
the cemetery. but this service never
justified the expense.
About 1883 Mr. Pearson bought a
drove of Texas ponies as an experiment
for horse car service. and we had much
amusement and hard labor in breaking
very odd attached to a car. Later he
bought a drove Of larger-size ponies that
| turned out very we'll Horses were begin
| ming to increase in value.
After the death OF Mr.. Stephenson the
directors selected Samuel Phillips as
president. He was a hustler and started
| the construction OF the present under
ground system. Mr.. Phillips was sue
ceeded by Robert Weaver as president.
About this time the interest Of the
| road was sold and consolidated with other
| roads, which combined to make the pres
ent system. Mr.. Weaver turned the lines
the Commercial National Bank. After
Mr.. Stevens resigned Col. Truesdale was
selected as president and he installed the
first electric railroad in Washington.
-DOuOle-OeCKef cars were run from 11h
| street and New York avenue to lexington
as pleasure car trips.
After Col. Truesdale resigned from the
presidency of the Washington Railway
assumed the Office After him came Clar-
ence F. Norment as president, a lifelong
| resident Of Washington and then Clar-
ence P. King. who is now president.
I'VE had several tracks operated on
different streets that were abandoned The
old Belt line ran cars on P and streets,
curving out of 1st street northwest to
11th street northwest. for a long time.
"A track ran out of 5th street down
Louisiana avenue to 9Th and Pennsylvania
avenue and was operated by w. Kesley
Schoepf with storage battery car that
was never much Of a success
! I'VE had a track from 18th and D
| streets northeast to the Treasury. by way
| OF d street northwest, north on LIST street
! to G street. west on G street to 18th
street.
Not Stopped by Floods.
THE old Belt line ran cars down 18th
street to Ohio avenue, eastbound to 18th
street. down. southbound on 18th to vir-
ginia avenue. to a connecting line tracks
which were abandoned later I saw Mr..
time OF the big flood. swimming his horses
attached to cars down 18th street. Tho
passengers were standing on seats and in
| the windows.
1.-THE Anacostia line had tracks on N
street southeast running to 7th street
wharf southwest. Another line ran from
11th and G streets southeast to the Con-
| gressional cemetery.
John w. Thompson extended the horse
| car line from 4 II and M streets to his
wharf opposite the 7th street stables for
excursion traffic. which paid well The
tracks ran on to the wharf. Underground
| tracks were extended and built through
| Water street to L street. east on L street
to AZ street. with a double curve and
switch at Az and L streets This was
| intended to run cars at certain times when
| people were going to the excursion boats.
| down L street instead of down " street.
| to street. then changing the route back
| to the regular line. after the excursion
boats had departed. Mr.. Clark. the super
| intendent at that time. never succeeded In
operating 1t satisfactorily