Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-06-05
STATEMENT BY
WALTON MOORE
Proposition by Capital Trac-
ton Company to Use
New Bridge
Propose TO Carry Passengers Between
Rosslyn and Washington at Local
Fare Plus Half Cent

In an interview with Hon. K. Wal
ton Moore by "a Gazette representa-
tive, the former said:
81 have just been furnished by the
Public Utilities Commission OF the
District of Columbia a copy of the en-
! closed letter, which contains the pro-
position of the Capital Traction Com
pany to operate over the new bridge
at Georgetown which will be open for
traffic on January lst.
The Washington Virginia Railway
Company does not operate over the
present bridge. The Washington and
Old Dominion Railway Company
operates over the present bridge, but
has announced its purpose not to
operate over the new bridge. Thus,
unless the Capital Traction Company
lays its tracks on the new bridge, all
Of the passengers travelling over the
Virginia trolley lines will be without
railway facilities across the river be-
tween Rosslyn and Washington.
1t appears from the letter that
what the Capital Traction Company
proposes is to carry passengers be-
tween Rosslyn and points in the Dis
trict of Columbia at the same fare 1t
charges in the District, plus one-haIf
cent to take care Of the charge for
the use of the bridge"
The letter to which Mr.. Moore re-
fers, is as follows;
May "a, 1922.
Col Charles Keller, u. 5. A.,
Chairman,
Dear Sir
According to our understanding of
Yesterday. am submitting in writing
the view and position of the Capital
Traction Company in the matter OF
the extension Of its lines across the
Key Fridge now rearing completion,
TO be submitted tc the Public Utilities
Commission.
As you know the suggestion for the
construction of tracks across this
bridge came to us from the Washing
ton and Old Dominion Railroad Com
pany, which company does not. we are
informed, intend to avail itself of the
permission granted by Congress to
cross the Bridge with its tracks, but
will. on the compulsory abandonment
of its present location, bring its pas
sengers into terminal to be built on
the Virginia side just south of said
Bridge, and this suggestion is receiv-
ing our consideration because OF the
requests from citizens of Virginia ire
quently urged upon US that we shosld
extend our service over this Bridge.
TO construct underground trolley
over the Bridge, and we would not
consider any other type Of construc-
tion with the necessary loop on the
Virginia side and turn out and tracks
from NJ Street on the Washington
side, will cost. approximately $l5O,OOO
and this without bringing any I'M
mediate increase in revenues to the
Capital Traction Company.
Under the Bridge law the cost OF
naving and maintaining in good con-
dition between the tracks and two
feet outside thereof shall be paid by
the railway constructing said tracks,
and it is also provided that all elec-
trio railways, including the company
making the construction, using said
new bridge, shall, in addition to taxes
and other charges, pay monthly into
the Treasury of the United States the
sum of one-half cent for each pas
senger transported each way over said
Bridge.
As we stated to you we are not
seeking this extension, and would only
undertake it to meet the wishes and
needs of the public, and on terms fair
and equitable, and we could not do so
unless the tax of half cent per pas
senger above referred to is repealed,
or an additional fare authorized by
your Board of one-half cent on all
rides over the Bridge.
1t would be unfair to require the
Capital Traction Company out of its
funds to pay this one-half cent Bridge
TAX on all passengers carried, and in
our opinion it would be unfair that
the general car riding public of the
District should pay this special tax on
Bridge passengers. Indeed the eXac-
ton of any such tax. especially from
2 Company required to pave and main
tain the pavement as set forth in the
Act is both unusual and unfair. This
is particularly true in the case of
such q substantial masonry structure
as the new Key Bridge, which will re-
ouire small expenditure for main
tenance. and this maintenance will in
no wise be increased by the fact that
street railway cars operate over it,
and the further fact that such paw
ing maintenance as may be caused by
the existence of the tracks must in
any event be cared for by the Rail
way Company.
Why rider in car over this
Bridge on tracks constructed by a
Company compelled to pave and main
tain its pavement, when riders in
busses, automobiles, etc, are permit
ted to go untaxed, is question diff
ficult to answer.
The most satisfactory solution of
this difficulty would come through
(Continued on mage y