Evening star., 1926-05-19
CHANGES OPPOSED
BY TROLLEY LINES
Georgia Avenue Underground
Conduit, New Bus Routes
and Other Projects Fought.

The Washington Railway and Eiec
tric co. Vigorously opposed the pro
poSal 70 change the present overhead
trolley system To the underground
conduit system on Georgia avenue he
tween Florida avenue ana the District
line at Il public hearing today before
the Public Utilities Commission.
The change has long been advocated
by all the civic organizations in the
northwest whose boundaries touch the
Georgia avenue line and by the Fed
GRAFTON of Citizens Associa tions.
:. X. Bowen, counsel for the trac-
tion company, told the commission
that the expense of installing the un
derground conduit system is prohibi
tive and would reflect seriously in the
already low rate of return on its
Georgia avenue line Mr.. Bowen
showed that the project would cost ap-
proXimately 81 533 ,00G. Since 1921
the company, he said. has spent S5ho,'
600 in improving the Georgia avenue
line, and this year : budget Tor tnat
work will raise the total To S44 900.
William Mex. Clayton. chairman OF
the utilities committee of the fedora
tion. made an eloquent plea FOR IN
Stallation of the underErC und system
and offered as a compromise to agree
80 the transfer OF the center trolley
poles to the side of the street as has
been done by the capital Traction
company on Connecticut avenue. lie
pointed to the Improvement made on
Connecticut avenue 10y the removal OF
the center poles. J. Clinton Hiatt OF
the Columbia Citizens Association
also appeared before the commission
10 give verbal support to the orgdnlZa-
tons stand in opposition 70 the cen
ter poles.
New Bus Route Opposed.
The Washington Railway and Elec-
tric co. and the Capital Traction Co.
both objected to the proposal of the
Washington Rapid Transit Co. to es-
tabliSh a new circuitouS bus line from
the Lincoln Memorial to the down
town shopping center. The former
company said the projected route
would come within the vicinity of its
car lines. while the Capital Traction
GO, indicated that it should be allow
ed to operate such a bus line if
needed
The Washington Railway and Elec-
triC co. also objected to a petition
Of the Burlelth Citizens Association
urging the extension of the Burlelth
DliS line from Its downtown terminal
at Tenth and +, streets TO the Union
Station. Capitol. Senate and House
Office Buildings and The Library of
Congress. To give the extended
service. Mr.. Brown told the commits
sion, the company would be required
to operate busseS over 294 additional
miles a day with an increased cost
of operation of SO u day. An in
crease of 80 per cent in bus patron
age. he said. would be necessary TO
offset the additional expense.
r. NJ. Heth, president OF the Bur
leith Association, and j. y. Thames.
chairman Of its utility committee
explained that the present terminus
at Tenth and L streets does not give
the people OF the northwest section
adequate service under the increased
fare recently put into effect on the
Burleith line.
J. Grant lefty, president of the
Washington chapter. American Asso-
citation of Engineers, supported
petition Of the Federation of Citizens
Associations recommending that the