Evening star., 1925-11-25
JOINT BUS URGED
BY TRACTION LINE
Capitai Company Asks to
Share With w. R. & E. on
| Rhode Island Ave. Route.

Competition between the various
transportation companies in the held
of motor bus operation again came
10 light today when the Capital Trac-
ton Co. asked the Utilities Commits
sion to make the proposed bus line
of the Washington Railway and Elec-
tric Co, on Rhode Island avenue,
joint project for both companies.
William +. Ham. president of the
Washington Railway and Electric Co,
objected to having the Capital Trac-
ton Co. taken in as joint operator,
but said he was willing to establish
transfer relations between the two bus
lines and Capital Traction car lines,
provided the total cost of fare and
transfer is made 10 cents.
At the close of the hearing, William
Nick. Clayton of the Federation OF
Citizens Associations urged the com
mission not to grant establishment or
any new bus line at this time because
of the possibility of a merger of the
compa nies. Mr.. Clayton also made
the argument that the commission
should begin to consider whether vari-
Gus bus lines were being operated by
the railway companies at the expense
Ge street car -+nerS in cases where the
GUS lines are not remunerative.
Scent Fare in Chevy Chase.
An unexpected development at the
public hearing called to consider four
different bus proposals was an an
nouncement by John II. Hanna that
the Capital Traction Co. plans TO
apply later for a special 5-cent fare
for passengers on the loop bus line
which his company operates through
Chevy Chase. Mr.. Hanna explained
the plan is to sell Communication books
on that bus line of 20 tickets for 81,
with the understanding that no
transfers would be sold. This would
enable residents of Chevy Chase 70
reach different points within their
own community at this special fare.
When the application to extend the
Woodley road bus line from Wiscon-
sin avenue and Newark street north
to Ordway and east to Thirty-fourth
place south to Newark street and
west to Thirty-fifth street. was taken
up property owners on Thirty-fourth
place, represented by Col. G. Fred
Cook, stated they were not opposed
TO the extension, but felt strongly
the busses should go down Thirty
fourth street instead of Thirtyfourth
place. He pointed out that Thirty
fourth place is not a through street
and that the roadway is unimproved,
while Thirty-fourth street runs
through and has a new concrete pave
ment.
Favor Rhode Island Avenue Bus.
The commission also heard testi-
mony on an extension for the MasSa-
chusetts avenue bus line that would
bring it out on Twentieth to h
street, making a loop and returning
land Citizens Association, through
Lee r. Wilson, did not oppose the
new bus line of the Washington Rail
way and Electric from Fourth street
and Central avenue northeast west
ward on Rhode Island avenue to
Vermont avenue and thence to Nine
teenth and II streets northwest. but
argued that the company should i'm
prove street car service to Brookland
by using the tracks on Fourth street
northeast, now utilized only in get
ting cars from the lexington barr
to Brookland. He said the use of
these rails would greatly shorten the
car ride from Brookland downtown.
The North Capitol Citizens Associa-
ton, through William G. Henderson,
1ndorsed the Rhode Island avenue bus
application, but urged that the trans
fer arrangement be simplified.
In requesting that his company be
allowed to join in the operation of this
bus line, Mr.. Hanna pointed out that
the busses would intersect Capital
Traction street cars along Rhode
Island avenue. and that the public
should be given the opportunity to
transfer at all Of these points. When
Mr.. Hanna requested joint operation
William NICK. Clayton asked him If
this request could be regarded as the
first step toward merger. Mr.. Hanna
replied that it is not.