Evening star., 1916-12-04
Abandoned Tracks Entirely.


"On a very bleak and snowy night the
old Lincoln Bank building at the north
east corner of 9th and D streets caught
fire l started down ahead Of our early
cars with the snow sweeper. We had
to circle around several blocks. abandon
ing tracks and taking an entirely un-
chartered route. Early cars followed us,
1t being nothing unusual for cars to be
Jumped off the track and turned around
in the street to the opposite track, par
ticularly on circus days, to save time.
At such times men were stationed at
PENNSYLVANIA avenue and a the circus
grounds on 9th street between S and T
streets for this purpose.
1.-The entire square at this point was
used as circus grounds Later Bill
Poster Moxley inclosed the square for
base ball park He had a skating rink
and a roller coaster, which used to be a
big attraction. He also had a bicycle
quently held.
about 1884 John w. Thompson, our
president. lost controlling interest in the
old Metropolitan road. He was succeed
ed by George w. Pearson. In March;
1855, Lloyd Emmart resigned as general
superintendent. Ham Fowler, very
competent stable foreman. and myself
were considered for the position. l was
selected.
"In 1892 Mr. Pearson got to experiment
ing with the storage battery system.
Naturally he felt IL was necessary to have
a mechanic well his two New York
experts to look after the storage battery
cars and l went back in charge of the
9th street barn.
when first went to the p street Office
in 1888 I found number of horses iso-
lated with the glanders Mr.. Key. HUI
name Society officer. got onto it and or
H.. L.
one night with a number of the horses to
Patsy Mann's wharf and had them shot
by DR.. Robinson, accompanied by Mr.
Key. The doctor did not miss a shot.
shooting each horse directly in the center
of the forehead. 1t took long time to
get rid of the disease in the stable
"The AZ street barn and Office was con-
structed specially for the storage battery
system, which proved failure.
wv. j Stephenson, who was president
of the Columbia line. was elected presi-
dent of the Metropolitan line in place OF
Mr.. Pearson.
I'm 1885 we had horse car hit by a
steam engine at Az street and Virginia
the tracks. damaging car and injuring
certain persons, including the driver. who
is in the company's service now as an Of
fetal Accidents were very few at that
.The company constructed a track
from 18th street on Florida avenue to
avenue. A base ball park
and show grounds was being operated
at the time at 18th street. The road
never paid A shuttle car run between
these points more than Accommodated
the trafrc The track was abandoned
later. The track on 18th street from
New York avenue to H street was
abandoned under Mr.. Pearson's admin
istration.
Early Underground Systems.
"About 1887 a new system was being |
experimental with on eth street to the
top of the hill 1t was an underground
system to be run by cold air. The
power house was located where the
Corby bakery is at present. The track
was laid complete and equipped with
a large cylinder tubing or pipe to re-
volve in conduit by power from the
engine house, furnished to small en-
ginss distributed in manholes along the |
line about 500 feet apart. The cars
were equipped with plow with small
rollers attached that were supposed to
come in contact with the large round |
tubing in the conduit. as II revolved. The
wheels on the plow were to revolve