Evening star., 1924-12-13
z NEW BUS LINES
FOR CITY PROPOSED
One Would Start From
Georgetown and Cross Most
of District.

Two new bus lines. one of which
would run almost entirely across the
built-up. area Of the city from east
TO west. were applied for today by
the Washington Rapid Transit Co.
The cross town line would start at
Thirty fifth and T streets northwest
and cover the following route: On L
to Thirty to S street, to
Thirty fifth. thence to Q street. east
20 Twenty street, thence on New
Hampshire avenue to X street, east
to Thirteenth street, south to H
street, east to Massachusetts avenue,
thence on Massachusetts, avenue to
Union Station. on First street north
east to street, on 3 to Maryland
avenue, out Maryland avenue to
Fifteenth and H streets and return
The company proposes to give a D.
minute service.
The second new route would be in
the nature of an extension OF the
existing bus line the transit company
has on Sixteenth street. The request
is that those busses run east on
Spring road from Sixteenth to Kansas
avenue, thence to Sherman circle,
north on Illinois avenue to Long
fellow and west on Longfellow to Six
teenth street and down Sixteenth street.
Would Give Transfers.
On the first line running across
town the company proposes to issue
free transfers to its other bus lines.
The company also advised the Com
mission today that II may have IA
instead of 10 new busses to put In
service by February /.
1t is not likely that a public hear
ing will be held on the petition for
the two new lines until near the end
ory,- t,, -ait
cause it is said to be the desire or
the bus company to have the public
see the new busses before considera-
tion Is given to the new service lines.
Due to Fare Increase.
The petition for two new lines is
believed to be a, sequel to the recent
action of the commission in granting
the bus company an increase In fare
from three tokens for 25 cents to five
for As cents, which means a token
rate of cents, with a cash fare
of 10 cents for persons not buying
tokens. The increase is to take effect
February I.
Following the increase in fare. the
bus company applied for and obtained
permission to put doubledeck busses
in operation on Sixteenth street. At
the outset the company plans to buy
four double-deckers.
Maj. w. E. r. Covell, assistant to
the chairman of the Utilities Commis-
sion, pointed out today that the
streets to be covered by the proposed
Sixteenth street extension are not in
very good shape for bus operation
at this time. 1t is possible that this
second petition may be altered to
provide only for straight extension
of the transit company buses north
on Sixteenth from where they now
stop at Buchanan to Longfellow
street.
Lines Would Overlap,
The Capital Traction Co. now oper-
ates a bus line on Sixteenth street
from Kennedy street north to Alaska
avenue. The extension sought by the
transit company would overlap the
traction busses for one square from
Kennedy to Longfellow.
John H Hanna, general manager
Of the traction company. said today
more carefully before expressing his
opinion.
The cross-town line asked for by
the bus company would pass through
the densely settled part of the city
now served by both the Capital Trac-
ton and the Washington Railway and
Electric companies.
Holds Same Position.
When informed of the application
OF the transit company, William r.
Ham, president of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company, stated
that his company probably would
take the same position it has taken
on similar occasions in the past,
namely. that If the commission finds
that additional service is necessary,
the railway company stands ready to
furnish such service.
Mr.. Ham said he did not believe it
was fair competition to have a bus
company operating through an area
also served by street cars with the
busses having a higher rate of fare
and not subject to the burdens borne
by the railway company.