Evening star., 1936-08-23
Subway Possibilities
And Proposed Survey.


DEOPLE'S COUNSEL WILLIAM
A. ROBERTS continues to
advocate subways as solution OF
the local transportation problem.
In the re-routing hearings be-
fore the Public Utility Commission
last year, spokesmen for several
civic bodies urged consideration Of
,. improved transportation through
the building of subways. The only
tangible result was the introduce
ton in the 74th Congress by Rep
resentative Mary T. Norton of New
Jersey Of bill authorizing the ap-
preparation of SIS, 900 to cover the
cost of such survey.
Since the recent renewal Of
agitation on this subject by Rob-
erts,. Commissioner Hazen has
announced himself as favoring
such a survey. If he Is joined
by the other Commissioners in this
opinion, subway authorization
may be included as an item of
the Commissioners legislative pro-
gram.
. The peoples counsel has been
making a very close study of the
possibilities of a subway system
for the District. His experience
with the Boston subway system
prior to coming to Washington
has thoroughly saturated him with
both the desirability and the feasi-
bility of the idea here.
A most interesting preliminary
discussion of the situation in the
District of Columbia relevant to
the possibility of the need of sub
ways for mass transportation un-
der existing and future conditions
was submitted to Roberts last
January by c. E. Myers, Phila-
delphia consulting engineer. This
discussion was the result of study
and a preliminary survey made
in Washington during December
of last year. In the course of this
discussion it is stated that "all
indications are to the effect that
the type of subway adaptable to
the situation in Washington in its
present stage of development, is
the surface-car type of subway"
Such type of short subway
would be for the purpose of by
passing central congestion. rather
than for long high-speed runs.
However" continues the dis
cussion, lit is, Of course, necessary
to keep in mind the possible needs
of the more distant future, when
the city shall have developed to
the point where longer lines of the
high-speed type may be necessary.
Therefore, an initial surface-car
subway system should be adaptable
to conversion into a high-speed
subway plan if, and when, neces-
sary."
Space does not permit a more
complete consideration of this dis
cussion. It contains considerable
matter of civic interest and its
"a thorough study of the situation
at this time would certainly be a
forward step toward the solution
of the general problem and would
undoubtedly help to crystalline the
opinions of officials and citizens as
to what improvements must be
made"
He believes that such study, in
addition to a complete analysis Of
the present transportation and
traffic conditions, should include
recommendations for the proper
solution Of the problem-including
q detailed investigation of the
possibilities of and justification
for the construction of q subway
system. together with estimated
costs, carrying charges, benefits to
be derived, etc.
In civic circles there continues
a marked difference of opinion re-
garding the present need for such
a survey. The question of the cost
and who is to pay the bill looms
very large in this as in all local
projects of magnitude. There are
strong indications that this prob
lem will be live issue in the civic
organizations during the coming
Winter.
Board Of Public Welfare Estimates
Show . Marked Increase.
ESTIMATES Of the Board OF
Public Welfare for the fiscal
year 1898 aggregate $I1.3S1, ,7s3, or
an increase of about 40 per cent
above the 1887 appropriat ton.
These estimates Of the board ap.
parently overlook entirely the econ-
ouy pleas Of the District Couuis-