Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-03-20
", B. & A. IS
AFTER TRACK LOOP
Representatives Of The Company
Go Before Washington Serv-
ice Commission.
SENTIMENT DIVIDED.
Plan Finds Adherents And Op-
ponents Before Utilities
Commission, Washington.

Proposed looping of W, 3. & \.
cars around Masonic Temple, at 18th
street and New York avenue. Wash
| ington. found both adherents and op-
ponents at a hearing before the pub
lie utilities commission in that city
! on Monday, with two of Washington's
biggest civic organizations represent
ed on opposite sides of the question.
The Board of Trade and Federation
of Citizens Association took posi-
tions based on broad policies of pub
lie rights and interests, while indi-
yiduals mainly discussed the propO-
sition with respect to its effect on
private property interests.
Charles A Baker, for the fedora
ton, filed a resolution adopted by it
Saturday setting forth its opposition
to the use of public streets as termi-
nails. This organization stood on this
policy alone, without considering
whether the arrangement would lead
to an improvement in tra1fc condi-
tiOns.
FaYOrs Proposed Loop.
The Washington Board of Trade,
through its joint cOmmitte on streets
and avenues and transportation, went
farther. w. G.. Henderson appeared
for the joint committee and stated
that it favored the proposition be-
cause it believed that the w, B. and
A. cars should be permitted to come
to the business center of the city;
that the proposed new loop would re-
lieve the congestion at 18th street and
New York avenue and mean a better
service to the public, and that it
would not injure business interests
in vicinity of 18th street and New
York avenue, but, on the contrary,
would improve them.
The considerations advanced by
these organizations were almost en-
tirely eliminated from the discussion
of the early part of the hearing which
largely was taken up with question
ing as to the effect of the proposed
change on private property interests
rather than the general interests of
the public.
Edward +. Colladay. who appeared
for a number of business firms locat-
ed on the south side of II street,
across from Masonic Temple, and
others representing business interests
in the section interrOgated represen-
tatives of the railway company at
length as to the effect of the improve
ment on business. 1t was brought
out that many private interests are
opposed TO the plan.
President Clarence p. King of the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company, which has proposed to con-
struct the loop for use by the cars of
the w, B. & a. company, was the
first to address the commission He
said that through car service is be-
ing encouraged by cities all over the
United States and that the arrange
ment under consideration had been
worked out as being the most practi-
cal one that could. be adopted.
j. ]. Doyle, general manager of the
Washington, Baltimore and Annapo-
that the plan contemplates widening
the present roadway of II street be-
tween 18th and 18th street, from
thirty-four feet and eight inches, its
present width, to fifty-nine feet and
six inches. 1t was pointed out that,
with this additional width. the plac-
ing of a single line of track on II
street as part of the proposed loop
would still leave as much space for
vehiclar traffic, as is now available,
and, at the point where the cars are
to park. near 18th street, the space
between the south rail and the south
curb of H street would be wider than
at present
President George C. Bishop of the
Washington. Baltimore and Annapo-
lis road spoke of the effect of the
Baltimore terminal upon property in
that vicinity He said that property
| interest had advanced materially, and
that he believed the construction OF
the proposed terminal in Washington
would haYe similar effect upon
/ property in Washington.