Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-19
PLANNING TO SAVE
VIRGINIA TR0LLEyS
Washington Virginia Co. In
terests Suggest Agreement
With w. r. & {. Co.

Overtures are being made by inter.
ests connected with the Washington.
Virginia Railway Co. to reach some
agreement. whereby the Washington
Railway & Electric Co. would take
over the operation of the Virginia
trolley lines recently sold at auction
under receiverShip.
President William F. Ham Of the
Washington Railway & Electric Co.
stated yesterday that interests con-
nected with both the Alexandria
Mount Vernon and the Falls Church
Fairfax divisions had brought the mat
ter to the attention of his company's
officials. Up to the present time, how
ever, negotiations have not been car
ried far enough to form the basis of
extended discussions, he said.
The prime movers behind the ne
gotiations, which opened Thursday,
are M. E. Church Of Falls Church and
Thomas r. Keith of Fairfax. who
hold an option on the Falls Church
Fairfax division of the road. Citizens
of Arlington and Fairfax Counties,
rather than see operation suspended
as threatened, have subscribed virtu-
ally the full amount of the 100000
required as a down" payment on the
purchase price of 100000. including
equipment and rolling stock.
Option Extended.
Extension of the option was granted
by the Philadelphia owner of the divi-
sion pending confirmation of the sale
by the District Court in Alexandria.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Keith and Mr.. Church
have interested "A New York and Phil
adelphia noteholders' committee, rep
rcGenting the Alexandria Mount Yer
non division, to enter also into nego-
tiations with the Washington Rail-
way & Electric Co. for acquisition
of the entire system.
Failure of these negotiations, Mr..
Church explained last night, would
not jeopardiZe the option held for citi-
ZenS of the two counties served by
the Falls Church-Fairfax division.
Enough pledges of subscriptions have
been received, it was said, to remove
any anxiety on that score.
But other elements entering into
the situation make it preferable that
some sort of agreement be reached
with the local traction company
whereby it would operate not only
the Falls Church Fairfax division, but
the line to Mount Vernon as WELL
Hope was expressed by the interests
involved that a satisfactory arrange
ment eventually would be worked out.
Owns Terminal.
In the first place, the Alexandria.
Mount Vernon division owns not only
the terminal at Twelfth street and
Pennsylvania avenue, but also the
tracks of the Virginia Co..
In the District of Columbia outright,
int
Washington Railway & Electric Co.
Loss of this terminal by the Falls
Church-Fairfax division undoubtedly
would be a serious blow to users of
that line, 80 per cent of whom, 1t is
estimated, come into Washington via
the Twelfth street station.
Mr.. Church explained that unless
use Of this terminal was obtained, the
division would have to use Rosslyn,
at the Virginia end of Key Bridge, as
q terminal. The advantages of the
Twelfth street terminal, he said, could
readily be seen.
The negotiations are complicated
still further, 1t is understood, by rea-
son that acquisition of the suburban
lines by the Washington Railway &
Electric Co. would entail an estimated
expenditure of $780, 900 or $500, 900 for
the District Of Columbia.
Tracks Are Involved.
1t is understood that one proposal
involve the taking over of all tracks
in the District by the local traction
company, which could then levy q
carrying tariff against the two III.
visions of the Virginia company.
Extensive rehabilitation of these
tracks will be necessary Ion on High.
way Bridge. it was said, for which the
Washington Railway & Electric Co.
would have to pay 40 per cent of the
surfacing charge. The tracks over tn.
filled ground at the Washington end
of the bridge also would require &
considerable amount to be put and
maintained In first.class condition.
Officials Of the Washington Rail-
way & Electric Co. have given no
intimation as to their attitude toward
acquisition of the Virginia lines.
Would Prevent Closing
Whatever the result of pending ne
gotiations the, two option holders of
the Falls Church. Fairfax division are
determined not to permit the road
to close down through any default on
the part Of the citizens of Arlington
and Fairfax Counties.
Suspension. as threatened by it's
Philadelphia owners unless the pur.
chase price is fully met, would en-.
tail great inconvenience to users
OF the line. The fact that the $780,
900 necessary for a down" payment
has practically been raised is regarded
as an indication of their desire to keen
the line In ODeratiOn