The Washington times., 1918-04-02
OFFICIALS
AND PUBLIC BACK
RAILWAY UNITY

all students of traffic conditions to
be decidedly best, preventing teal-
ousies and enabling one executive
head to proceed without worry as to
possible chickering's. Next to that
comes unification OF management and
operation, such as is indicated in the
official statements made public by
the two companies. And the big busi-
ness men OF Washington who control
the destinies of the two companies
believe II pretty sure that men Of
wide perspective will not interpose
minor objections that would stand in
the way of Indication or threaten its
failure once IL il agreed upon
A straightout merger of the two
companies into one ownership would
be most sure OF eventual success, a >
viewed by utility students ano
officials today, but they realize that
there might be obstacles to this just
at this time, although they also be-
lieve that this is not an impossibility.
II il Is not worked out now IL will
come later.
No Plans TO OneR.
Members OF the joint committee
have no particular plans to offer In
advance OF their first meeting, the
date for which has not yet been fxed.
They wish to avoid being handicapped
by rumors that any particular plan
Is likely to be adopted, simply be-
cause there is a spirit of give and
take, and cooperate on broad general
principles that would mean an agree
ment founded upon the combined wis
dom OF all six men who will partici-
pate in the meetings.
Regarding the thoroughly grounded
hope OF the public that eventually
there may be obtained a consolida-
ton that will bring either universal
transfers or the operation OF cars so
as to eliminate much transferring,
there appeared today to be q willing
ness not to press this question and to
refrain from pushing 1t to the front
until such time as conditions justify.
Mr.. Beeler's experts. looking over
the railway map OF the city, see many
opportunities for shortening the
routes now Travelled by the public il
the tracks OF both companies are
opened up TO the cars OF each other.
4 sample OF this, 1t was pointed out,
might be that Georgia avenue cars
could continue down Seventh street
without switching around two blocks
at Florida avenue and u streets over
a stretch of two blocks now greatly
congested by traffic. II was declar-
ed also that two many cars are run
around the Union Station tracks ow-
ing to competitive necessities.
One Power House.
These experts pointed out the two COM
panies now operate three power houses
where one might be made to answer.
The Capitol Traction has a power house
In Georgetown and one at Chevy Chase
lake. The Washington Railway and
Electric has a big power house at Ben
nings.
The Utilities Commission has been told
by Expert Beeler that all future pur-
chases OF cars by the existing street
railway companies should be controlled
by the commission so that they may be
OF type suited to the traffic OF Wash
ington and interchangeable for operation
on all tracks OF the city. That is, the
commission should see that as new cars
are bought by either line they should be
practically OF the same type. II the
commission adopts the Beeler sugges
ton IL will inaugurate a new policy in
hereafter debating the style OF cars to
be bought so that under ownership.
private or public. the cars may be shifted
from one line to another as emergencies
or good business warrant.