Evening star., 1935-12-19
SUBWAyS URGED
TO UNITE TRAFFIC
ANDLOWERR RENTS
A. F. G. E. Man Tells Hear
ing Tunnels Would Relieve
District Congestion.
PROPOSAL OPPOSED
BY ANOTHER WITNESS
Philadelphia's Cost of 81, 100000
Per Mile and New York's
$5,O00,00O Cited.

81, American Federation of Govern
ment Employees. as a basic remedy for
the present mass transportation ills.
HutchingS opened the fourth day
of the commissions public hearings
on complaints against the Capital
Transit Co. rail and bus service, and
his suggestion appeared to make an
impression on both Chairman Riley
E. Elgen and Vice Chairman Rich
mond B. Keech.
Speed, efficiency and safety, the
three fundamental principles of a
modern mass transportation system,
are now sadly lacking" in Washing
ton, Hutchings declared. He said that
only with subway system would serv-
ice be made satisfactory and attract
back to the transit lines the thousands
now using some other transportation.
Urges Federal Subsidy.
He expressed the opinion the sub
way system should serve the area
from the Taft Bridge, through the
congested section and thence to the
Southeast. In addition, he declared
there should be branch diagonally
from the downtown section toward
Takoma Park.
If an adequate transportation sys-
TEN cannot be made self f-liquidating
Hutchings said, it should be subsidized
by the Federal Government, since it
Is responsible for the congestion. He
expressed belief, however, that the
Federal Government might have to
contribute only to the original cost of
the subways because the increased
business on the transit lines would not
make its aid in maintenance neces-
Sary.
Hutchings also pointed out that the
existing unsatisfactory transportation
system has forced thousands of Gov
eminent employees to live near their
place of employment, thus freezing"
rents at a high peak. He said a sub
way system would relieve that situa-
tion.
Wants Transportation Test.
Later, Hutchings said he did not be-
heve the existing mass transportation
system is adequate to handle all of the
passengers that would ride on the
transit company's busseS and street
cars if service was satisfactory, and
suggested that test be made to find
out. He explained that could be done
by setting aside a certain day and urg-
ing all employed persons in the Dis
trict to ride bus or street car to work
Hutching's subway proposal, how
ever, was not given a favorable re-
ception by the next witness, H. M.
Fulton, representing the Logan
Thomas Circle Citizens Association.
He said the District could get along
very well without a subway system
i. since the congested area is small, and
suggested that perhaps engineers
might develop a better plan in the
near future.
Fulton also praised the new P street
bus line and said he was pleased to
learn its patronage had increased.
Roberts Favors Subway.
A subway system is one Of the
favorite proposals of William A.
Roberts, peoples counsel, before the
commission. Some time ago, when he
advocated such a plan, c. r. Whyte,
engineer of bridges of the District,
prepared report showing the North
Broad street subway in Philadelphia
cost an average of $8,598,000 a mile
and that the average cost of the
Eighth avenue Washington Heights
subway in New York was $3.50, TOO a
mile.
After Hutchings' suggestion, Roberts
and members of the commission en-
gagged in brief discussion of the
plan. Although Hutchings said he
believed a subway in Washington's
downtown section would eliminate the
need of surface cars, Roberts expressed
belief they could not be discarded i'm
mediately.
The subway proposal bobbed up sew
eral years ago when Mali. Gen. Mason
M. Patrick was chairman of the
Utilities Commission. He had study
made at that time which showed that
construction of a subway under Penn
sylvania avenue between Washington
Circle and the Capitol would cost
~NSSV NAiSSSJSSO q
Citizens AssaiI Company.
Another group of civic representa-
tives heaped criticism on the company
ct yesterday afternoons session.
w. H. Seaquist of the Manor Park
Citizens Association summarized the
condition Of Washington's mass trans
portation system with this descrip-
ton:
1.-The patient is sick and needs some
attention"
Fifth Street Line ASSailed.
Seaquist, the tenth on the list Of
$50 civic representatives who asked
for time to unburden their feelings
with respect to the transit service,
complained particularly about over
crowding on the new Fifth street bus
line, which serves the Manor Park
area. His protest was amplified by
p. w. Buckley, also Of Manor Park,
who not only complained of over
crowded husses, but criticized severe
ly the management Of the transit COM
pany.
Buckley related how he and some
of his neighbors waited for bus one
morning recently and five passed
loaded to the doors. he said the sixth
bus also was crowded, but the group
managed to jam into it.
BIames MANAGEMENT.
Then he declared: "If you call that
management, I don't. believe If the
management was right we would have
service with the equipment we've got. |
Everybody In Manor Park thinks the
same way"
John II. Hanna, president Of the |