Evening star., 1934-08-23
BANKERS PROTEST.
FIFTEENTH STREET
TROLLEYPROGRAM
Moran, Galley, Spaid and
Preston Oppose Rerouting
Plan of BeeIer.
INCREASE IN DANGER
AND NOISE FORESEEN
Present Conditions Between H
Street and New York Ave-
nue. Held Intolerable.

luV 44Olu oSASs
Four representative financiers 10
Gated on Washington's wall Street
today filed with the Public Utilities
Commission a determined protest
against the plan for constructing
street car tracks in Fifteenth street
from Pennsylvania avenue to H street
as proposed in some of the many re-
routing plans, arguing that traffic
conditions now bad, would be made
worse.
The protest was made in writing by
Howard Moran, speaking for the
American Security & Trust Co.; H
Prescott Galley, National Savings &
Trust Co.; w. w. Spaid, representing
w. 3. Hibbs & Co., and Ord Preston,
Union Trust Co.
New Element Added.
This objection to the plan fol-
placing tracks in Fifteenth street
adds new element to the rerouting
plans on which mountain of pro-
posals have been filed Literally
scores of suggested changes in routes
Of the Capital Transit Co. have been
made in addition to the numerous
official proposals of experts of the
commission, the company and the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission.
The proposal to run street cal
tracks through the one block of Fiji
teenth street was designed to relieve
congestion on Fourteenth street be-
tween New York avenue and H street
where four sets of tracks now are
used to separate various lines of the
consolidated car company.
John Beeler, consulting engineer of
the commission, and william B. Ben
nett of the transit company both pro-
posed among their plans the build
ing of tracks in the section of Fif-
teenth street for the use of some of
the cars from the Northwest section
which now add to congestion on Four
teenth street A different method of
handling the problem was proposed by
Fred A. Sager, chief engineer of the
Utilities Commission.
The bankers told the commission
that existing congestion of traffic at
Fifteenth street, New York and Penn
sylvania avenues" is well-nigh intoler-
able. - rtts
Menace to Safety Seen.
at is not only a great menace to
the safety of numerous pedestrians
walking on Fifteenth street and both
the avenues. but the noise emanating
from this congestion of traffic makes
the transaction of business most diff
ficult. The routing of additional traf-
nc from H street down Fifteenth street
will not only increase the danger to
pedestrians, but will necessarily in
crease the noise" the group continued.
Under existing conditions it is
practically impossible for any patron
of our institutions to approach the
entrances thereof by motor, or, with
out violating traffic regulations, to
stop long enogh to transact the SIM
plest matter of business. If additional
cars are to be routed down Fifteenth
street 1t would accentuate this situa-
ton to marked degree"
More time for the consideration OF
the complicated street car rerouting
plans will be demanded by Peoples
Counsel William j. Roberts as re-
suit of a meeting last night of repre-
sentatives of citizens associations
called by Mr.. Roberts.
Only One Plan Viewed.
Atthe meeting only of the 10 plans
offered by the rerouting experts to
the Public Utilities Commission was
considered in any detail and it soon
became apparent that it would take a
great deal more time to study the 8
others. The commission holds its next
hearing September 10 and request
for continuation until late october will
be filed by Roberts this afternoon.
Among points stressed by represent
atives of the various citizens asSocia-
tions last night we're objections to
abandoning the street car service in
Takoma, D. c., and on Wisconsin
avenue and Connecticut avenues and
Ninth street. The last proposed aban-
donment was called "a crazy idea" by
William NICK. Clayton of the Fedora
tion of Citizens Associations.
Clayton and James G. Yaden, the
federation president, objected to max
ing the taxpayers of the District pay
for the repaving Of any streets on
which tracks are abandoned by the
company. Yaden also objected to the
construction of any subways anywhere
in the District at any time, saying
that he was sure this could not be
undertaken without increasing the tax
rate above $1.50.
B. E. Shaub, representing the Ar
1ington County Public Utilities Com
mission, said that the bus line from
the District to suburban Virgins
points ought to be permitted to do al
intra-District business. He suggested
that they would be very useful IL
carrying passengers in the rush hour
between Twelfth and G streets ant
the Bureau of Engraving.
Protest Track Removal.
William G. Henderson of the Nortl
Capitol Citizens Association and A
j. Driscou of the Midcity Citizens
Association both objected to the re
moval of track on New York avenu
between Fifth and North Capito
streets.
Many of those present pointed on
that under the No. l plan of JOIN
A. Beeler, SO many lines used FIT
teenth street between Pennsylvani
avenue and F street that these track
would be much overburdened witt
rush hour traffic and would form
a bottle neck making congestion ther
worse than it is now. Some of ther
suooested Use of Thirteenth stree
and some of Twelfth street to reliev
this condition.
Col. A. B. Barber Of the Board c
Trade said he hoped final decisio
on the rerouting would not be mad