Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-29
UTILITIES LEADERS
ADDRESS CITIZENS
Georgetown Progressive AS
ISOLATION Hears Discussion
of Varied Subjects.

A meeting given over to the discus
sion of public utility matters was held
by the Progressive Georgetown Citizens
Association last night in the Curtis
Hyde School, Thirty-third and Potomac
streets. Among the subjects presented
were the telephone, transportation,
electric power and traffic problems, each
discussed by a representative OF the
utility mentioned.
Melvin c. Sharp of the Potomac Elec-
trio Power Co. emphasized the impor-
lance of electricity in the life of the
community, outlining plans for the
Identification of the city, including the
operations in connection with the clear
ing of the plaza between Union Station
and the Capitol when, he said, all OBJ
jectionable features would be removed
and street car traffic would be under
ground, and he emphasized the point
that Al per cent reduction had been
made in the rates for electric current
IN the past four years.
Complete installation of the automatic
dialing telephone system in the Main
and Franklin exchanges by 1890 was
predicted by Walter B. Clarkson of the
Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co.
Economy was not considered as a prime
factor in this move, he said, the princi-
pal reason being the problem of OBJ
tanning sufficient female operators to
handle the calls in another Is to 20
years. This system, he said. was re-
SponSible for New York City being able
to maintain service during the war be-
cause of the operators being called to
other fields.
Discusses Personal Merger.
ED. Merrill. president of the wash
ington Rapid Transit Co., spoke of the
proposed merger. stating that it would
surely mean better service at lower cost.
AS for the rate of fare, he voiced the
belief that S62 ,000,0 900 would be nearer
to the real valuation of the traction
lines and that the $50,000,000 now so
much spoken of, If allowed, would
almost guarantee maintaining the pres
ent rate.
William A. Roberts. former vice chair
man of the public utilities committee
of the federation, was invited to con-
duct question period and propounded
numerous queries for each of the speak
ers. He brought forward the one-meter
question of the electric power company,
which Mr.. Sharpe denied, and asked the
telephone representative why the same
rate was applied to the connecting up
Of a phone already in position but dis
connected when the house is vacated
as that charged for complete install
lation.
Lieut.. Benjamin Lamb of the TRAFFIC
Bureau stressed the value of the present
left-hand-turn rule in the District, de-
claring that confusion and increased
accidents would result with a reversion
to the old system. He also supported
parallel parking as against angle park
ing. which, he said, has been shown by
traffic engineers to be obsolete, unSatis-
factory and dangerous. Importance
was attached to the crossing of inter-
sections by pedestrians on the green
signal lights. Walter I. Swanton. for
mer president of Columbia Heights
Citizens Association, addressed the
meeting briefly
Park Retention Urged.
Resolutions were adopted urging the
retention intact of Palisades Park, on
the upper Potomac, and the establish
ment of a park from the Key Bridge
to Great Falls. In accordance with
action Of the executive committe. the
association went on record favoring the
improving and identifying OF the ap-
proaches to Key Bridge, for a driveway
up the Potomac from Key Bridge tc
Chain Bridge, for the improvement OF
the general lighting conditions OF
Georgetown, to replace all cobblestone
streets by concrete, more public park:
and squares in the community. opening
of M Street Bridge or the building Of Z
new one, and for the creation OF .
recreation pier of the remaining portion
of the old Acqueduct Bridge.
Mrs Fred Dubois, president, presided