Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-18
", B. { A. LOOP
PROPOSAL |S.T0P|C
Plan Finds Adherents and Op-
ponents Before Utilities
Commission.
BUSINESS MEN PRESENT

Proposed looping of W.. B. and A cars
around Masonic Temple. at 18th street
and New York avenue, found both adj
herents and opponents at hearing be-
fore the public utilities commission to-
day. with two of Washington's biggest
civic organizations represented on OPP
site sides of the question.
The Board of Trade and Federation OF
Citizens Associations took positions
based on broad policies of public rights
and interests, while individuals mainly
discussed the proposition with respect to
it's effect on private property interests
Charles A. Baker, for the federation,
filed resolution adopted by it Satur-
day setting forth it's opposition to the
use of public streets as terminals. This
organization stood on this policy alone,
without considering whether the ar
rangement suggested would lead to an
improvement in traffic conditions.
Favors Proposed Loop.
The Board of Trade through it's joint
committee on streets and avenues and
transportation, went farther. w. G..
Henderson appeared for the joint COM
mittee and stated that it favored the
proposition because it believed that
the W., B. & 4 cars should be permit
tied to come to the business center or
the city; that the proposed new loop
would relieve 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
fryf ba nfrcy
prove them.
The considerations advanced by these
organizations were almost entirely
eliminated from the discussion of the
early part Of the hearing, which largely
was taken up with questioning as to
the effect of the proposed change on
private property interests rather than
Vie general interests of the public
Edward F. Colladay. who appeared
for a number of business firms located
from Masonic Temple, and others rep
resenting business interests in the Sec
ton Intercepted representatives OF the
railway company at length as to the
1t was brought out that many private
interests are opposed to the plan.
President Clarence P. King of the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany. which has proposed to construct
the loop for use by the cars of the
W., B. and A. company. was the first
to address the commission. He said
that through car service is being en-
couraged by cities all over the United
States and that the arrangement under
consideration had been worked out as
being the most practicable one that
could be adopted.
J. J. Doyle. general manager Of the
Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis,
followed Mr.. King. He explained that
the plan contemplates widening the
present roadway of II street between
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 placing of single line of
track on H street as a part of the pro-
posed loop would still leave as much
space for vehicular 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
Baltimore and Annapolis road
spoke of the effect of the Baltimore
terminal upon property in that vicinity.
He said that property interests had adj
vanced materially. and that he believed
the construction of the proposed ter
minal in Washington would have a
similar effect upon property here.