Evening star., 1922-12-09
CITIZENS ADVICE
!. SOUGHT BY KELLER
Commissioner Favors Calls
at District Building to De-
bate City Needs.

! Engineer Commissioner Keller, al
a hearing today on the condition Of
Connecticut avenue, suggested a plan
by which the Commissioners and the
citizens Of various localities could
cooperate in obtaining the needs OF
| the city.
The coloners idea was that the
citizens associations might come to
the District building at stated inter-
| walls for serious minded and con-
structive discussion OF the needs OF
their respective sections. so that the
Commissioners might know what
they desire and the citizens at the
same time become familiar with what
the Commissioners have in mind.
In opening the hearing Col. Keller
referred to the sums OF money for
which the Commissioners have asked
to pave various parts of Connecticut
avenue next year, and then outlined
what he and his colleagues have in
mind for the treatment OF that part
Of the avenue which the Capital Trac-
ton Company Is required to maintain
Statement BY Keller.
On this subject he said:
"As to this portion of the avenue
we wish to explain that we regard the
existing track construction of the
Capital Traction Company as merely
temporary. It ought eventually and
probably soon. to be replaced by q
moro permanent type, better adapted
to city conditions.
"As all Of you know, however. no
definite conclusion has been reached by
thoughtful people who really understand
the interests Of the public in the matter
as to whether the permanent construc-
ton shall be Of underground type or
whether the public will not in reality
be better served by the overhead trolley
type 50 designed as to carry the mini
mum number OF overhead wires. the
feeder cable being placed underground.
We are proposing In the near future to
present to the public a statement, show.
ing just what the cost will be for each
type Of construction on Connecticut ave-
nue. and what the effect will be on the
pocket Of the car rider.
1t may be said that the underground
type costs perhaps three times az
much as the other, and that If this
more expensive type is chosen the car
rider will for all future times be
obliged to pay as part Of his carfare
q fair return on q considerable sum
for something that adds nothing to
the convenience or to the quality OF
the service"
Would save Expenses.
Col. Keller stated that until 1t Is de-
cided what should be done with the
car tracks it is In the public interest
to avoid expenditures for paving the
car tracks. Continuing. the colonel
said:
I'VE are all anxious to see car fares
reduced and this can be done only
when the income Of the companies
thus combined exceeds q Just return
on their legitimate investment. We
cannot control the number Of car
riders, who. by the way. are decreas-
ing, 30 that the only way the net
return can be increased IL by keeping
down expenses"
Referring to the curbs that were
laid recently in the middle Of Con-
necticut avenue between Newark and
Porter streets, and which have
brought forth strong protests from
residents of Connecticut avenue, Col.
Keller said:
these curbs were installed a. a
confessedly temporary expedient to
separate the roadway from the track
space. because It was not desired
prove this portion OF the line until
we were sure that Improvement
would be permanent and its cost in
carfare to the public therefore pusti-
fable. Whenever these conditions
are settled, as previously stated, the
railroad right Of way will be i'm
proved and properly surfaced and the
curbs removed"
Opposes Laying Others.
In answer to Q question from one
Of the speakers regarding future