Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-15
OFF|C|ALSAT ODDS
|NPLAN TO REMOVE
|NTERURBAN LINE.
Whitehurst and Roberts Dis.
agree on Savings to
. Be Made.
ROAD ENGINEER SAYS
COST WOULD BE SAME
Refuses District Counsels Opinion
That Purchase Of Railway
Would Save Money.

Capt Herbert g. WnitenurSt, OBCtlct
highway engineer, and Assistant Cor
poration Counsel William A.. ROBERTS
Who Is representing the District In the
NEGOTIATIONS looking to the removal Of
the tracks of the Mount Vernon, Alex
andria a. washington Railway, east OF
Fourteenth street, are still at ODDS Is TO
what the District will save II the COM
pany agrees to move all OF It's trackage
from the city limits.
The moving. spirit in the effort to
get rid Of the tracks Is not the District.
but the Federal Government, which
wants to close certain streets south OF
PENNSYLVANIA avenue between Twelftn
and Fourteenth streets in connection
With its building program IN that sec.
ton. As to these tracks, the Olstrlct
has no interest. But the company's
tracks south of water street to the
HIGHWAY Bridge furnish the basis for
the difference between the District ON
Gals.
~. Roberts Plan Shelved.
Mr.. Roberts. during the last session OF
Congress, drafted measure 70 gave the
railway sos, 900 In exchange for its tear
ing up all Of It's tracks In the District
and departing. On motion OF Engineer
Commissioner John c. Gotwals, how
ever. this draft was never sent to Con-
Rress. Mr.. Roberts contends that the
cost to the District Of paving this road
way, including construction Of q grade
separation at the entrance to East Po-
tornac Park, with the railroad tracks
remaining In place. would be so much
greater than the cost If the tracks were
removed that 1t would pay the District
to make the bargain. Capt. White
hurst however, who would be the ON
cial to do the work, said today that the
presence or absence Of the tracks would
not make any difference IN the price.
II the tracks were present the company
would have to pay for the paving be-
tween the tracks.
The question depends to some extent
on the wording Of the act Of Congress
expected to be passed authorizing the
grade separation. Such acts usually
call upon the transportation company
to pay q share Of the cost. II this act
does not require any contribution, then
the cost of the Job with the tracks In
would be about $4,000 greater than
without. Whitehurst said.
Agreement Is Sought.
On request Of the Federal Govern
ment. the District ordered all utilities
In the streets In question removed by
~
an extension until July !. All Of the
utilities except the railroad tracks have
now been removed. -
Protracted conferences have been
held between representatives Of the ran.
way and the Federal Government and
the railway has flled q petition for in
junction to restrain the Government
from interfering with its trackage.
This has never been argued on account
Of the efforts being made to solve the
problem by the company. The Govern
ment cannot undertake to pay for the
concession without an appropriation for
that purpose and no such appropriation
has been made. It Is understood that
the basis of the present negotiations Is
that II the railway will voluntarily
abandon the trackage the Treasury De-
partment will use its influence to Sc
cure passage Of an appropriation act 81
the next session Of Congress.
The railway previously had asked the
Public Utilities Commission to allow il
to bring It's cars across Pennsylvania
avenue at Fourteenth street and then
east on e street, but the commission
that the intersection Of Fourteenth
street and Pennsylvania avenue already
carries too much trafic in rush hours
and that the addition Of the interurban
cars would place too great a burden
on 1t.
Terminal Site Suggested.
At q conference yesterday at the
Treasury Department 1t was suggested
that a terminal be established at Four
tenth street and Constitution avenue
several blocks south Of Pennsylvanis
avenue. r. L. May, owner Of the line
indicated that he wished to get the
views of Alexandria citizens before dis
closing his views on this suggestion.
The people Of Alexandra are anxious
for the line to continue operation as II
furnishes direct service to the center
Of Washington, the cars making faster
also operates under the style Of the
Alexandria Bancroft and Washington
| bus line.
The railway was bought by Mr.. May
at q. receivers sale in March, 1890, fol
S26O. 900. The right-of-way between
Alexandria and Mount Vernon was later
sold to the Federal Government fol
$50 900. -. g.. =
since the time drastic economies have
been put In operation involving ex-
tensiye cuts in schedules and replace
one-man cars. The fare also has been
| increased. F-a.-t
The stretch Of track south Of Water
street to the Highway Bridge has been
reported by engineers OF the Public
Utilities Commission to be in very bad
| shape and to require renewing. An or.
der TO the company TO renew the tracks
was drafted some months ago, but was
never adopted by the commission, owing
| to the fact that negotiations were pend.
ing which might result in the abandon
i nent. Of the'l line.