The Washington herald., 1921-06-06
GLEN ECHO LINE
PATRON KICKS
AT HIGH FARES
Declares Sixteen Cents
Is Unwarranted
Burden.
EARLY PROMOTERS
MOSTLY TO BLAME
Oldest Inhabitant Tells of
Recklessness in
Building.

ington Railway and Electric, has
had almost as many names as CEN
trail Europe and nearly as much
trouble. There may be something
significant in the fact that both
tried to extend their operations too
far.
ANY railway. in order to make
money" continued the first resident.
must have patronage. This would
seem to be so obvious as to be su-
rerfiuous-but is It? Review the
traction situation of years gone by
and You will be surprised at the
number Of times railways were built
through unimproved property in
which the promoters of the traction
company had more than a passing
interest
Descendant Of wild Forebearx.
The Washington Railway and
Electric is not by any means wholly
to blame for its present condition.
Its history seems to indicate that
it is the fourth generation of a
family whose forebears led a wild
and reckless life, much to the det-
riment of their health. Weakened by
dissipation. and with death staring
them in the face, many Of Their.
sought the comforting arms of the
receiver.
For example. take the FIRST line
that ran out here TO Glen Echo, an
abbreviated sort of a conveyance
that extended out over the trucks
fore and aft and gave the impress
sion that the manufacturers. failing
to- find the proper truck in stock
to fit the body. had temporarily sub
stituted q chiId,s express wagon.
This line. authorized by act of
Congress November. 1895. was called
the West Washington and Great
Falls Electric railway and formed a
junction with the washingtou and
Great Falls line. which ran from
the Aqueduct bridge to the District
line and was operated under a char
ter dated July 20. 1892,
Drops on tie "West.~
Seeming to follow the principle
in those days, that distance leads
enchantment IL not actual value. the
washington and Great Falls line
acquired the West Washington and
Great Falls Electric railway on
July /. 1896. dropping the West
from the name. This seems to
have been the only advantage ac-
cruing from the merger.
The combined roads came into
the possession of F. c. Stevens and
Oscar T. Crosby In June, 1899
through the sale to them of all the
bonds and nearly all the stock by
StiIson Hutchins, at one time presi-
dent of the road.
THE Washington and Glen Echo
company was successor in name to
the old Glen Echo railroad and was
purchased. together with the City
and Suburban. then the lexington
and Soldiers Home railway, in
1899, by the washington Traction
and Electric company. The to-
tai par value OF these two roads
was s1,s6s,ooo, for which the WASH
ington Traction and Electric gave
$2,s31.2 .2ss,1s in cash and securities.
1t is interesting to note" said the
oldest inhabitant, that both these
roads were on nonpaying ba-
sis. the Soldiers Home line having
just merged from the hands Of
the receiver.
Taken Over by W. r.. & Il.
Failing to pay the interest on
their bonds due June /, 1901, a
foreclosure, suit followed that re-
suited In the washington Railway
and Electric being organized to
take over the washington Traction
and Efectril. All of which proves"
concluded the first settler, ''that at
times finance is stranger than flc-
tion. iss nei
'The cars that run out here today
are a striking contrast to those
operated in the old days and in pass
ing / might mention that the fare
has increased cents. Not
cents for the entire trip, as we. have
always paid two fares. An s.
cent fare Is collected in the District
and another scent fare. after
passing the District line. total of
,1s cents as against 10 cents
In this old days. II makes a great
difference to those living out as far
as this, and has greatly retarded the
growth of this section of Maryland.
Reminded 81 Firtng Squad.
We hear from time to time. vol
unteered the oldest inhabitant. that
something will be done to relieve us
of this extra 3-cent or rather
'6-cent fare and I, for one am in
favor of anything within the law
that win bring this about. but when
I read that the railroad suggests to
the washingtonian that 1t be al
lowed to merge with the Electric
Light company and increase the rate
of electric light. think OF the con-
cession made by a firing squad to a
victim about to receive their undi-
vided attention. He wax asked
whether he preferred to be shot
facing the squad or in the back.
What is the difference. 1t all
amounts to the same thing in the
end.
"The washington: Railway and
Electric, according to its own story,
Is In rather bad state OF health.
the trouble was inherited from fts
ancestors and can only be removed
by an operation. The operation
means q merger with the Capital
Traction company. and this time. II
should be . merger based on sofld
valuaticnssv