Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-09
GOVERNMENT PLAN
F0RBE[TL LINE ROAD
Trackage to Be Constructed
Under the Supervision Of
Housing Corporation.
'T0BUILD SHORT SPUR NOW

New trackage required for the oper-
alton Of the proposed belt line IN
this city will be constructed under
the direction Of the United States
Housing Corporation, in accordance
with the plans prepared by the DIS
trict Commissioners and approved by
the Secretaries of War and Navy. Inc
work will be done at the expense OF
the government, as measure essen
tial to the successful prosecution of
the war. =
Owing to the lateness Of the season
and the difficulty of getting rails and
other necessary material, it is stated
that the laying of the tracks on b
street between 7th and 18th streets,
necessary to complete the belt, can
not be accomplished before spring at
the earliest. There viii De slmll mar
line on Florida avenue from 18TH ana
U streets to Connecticut avenue. an
other important link in the "oelt.
To Build Short Connection Now.
There is great necessity for addi-
tional transportation facilities at once
however, in the government sectloh
west of 18th street and south OF Pehh
sylvania avenue. To meet that want
the Secretaries Of War and navy nave
urged Otto M. Eidlitz, president OF the
u. S. Housing Corporation to arrange
for the immediate construction or the
short connection between the tracks
of the Capital Traction Company and
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company on 18th street from H street
to Pennsylvania avenue.
H., q hi
of the Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company to use the loop" of the
Capital Traction Company from Penn
sylvania avenue down 18th street to
Virginia avenue, thence to 18th and y
streets and thence by way of 18TH, +,
and 18th streets to Pennsylvania ave-
nue..
When the tracks are laid on B
street and Florida avenue carson both
lines would run on B street from 18th
street to 7th street. and from 18TH
and U streets to Connecticut avenue,
in complete belt.
Secretary Daniels Interested.
Secretary Daniels, who has taken a
personal interest in the matter OF ad-
ditional railroad facilities for govern
ment war workers, has just addressed
"a letter to Mr.. Eidlitz. which ex-
plains the situation.
1.-The Navy Department is now NOV
ing into its new building, SO that the
question OF providing adequate trans
portation facilities for its e'o'
will soon become a matter of impera-
tive need" says Secretary Daniels.
LAS the United States Housing Cor
poration is charged with the matter
of providing additional transportation
facilities needed for war purposes.
desire to bring to your attention the
immediate need of taking active steps
toward putting in operation the belt
line proposed by Mr.. Beeler and rec
commended by the Public Utilities
Corlcii:;s. on OF for Di~tcict Of C"i.ml,:p.
IT fee! sure that this belt line pre-
sents the best solution of the problem.
In carrying out the construction of
this belt line, it would undoubtedly be
desirable to build the connection be-
tween the Capital Traction Company
and the Washington Railway and
Electric Company at 18th street at
the earliest possible moment, so that
c;'"ta:n Mount Pleasant cars can be
routed over the lines of the Capital
Traction Company to Virginia avenue
and 18th street before the entire belt
line is put in operation. This would
materially improve conditions for res
idents in the Mount Pleasant section"