Evening star., 1936-11-16
TAKOMA CAR LINE
BY
BUSES IS FOUGHT
Capital Transit Proposal 0p-
posed at Utilities Board
Hearing.
DOUBLE TRACK ORDER
maintenance URGED
Varied Views Presented, How
ever, With Some Property
Owners Favoring Change.

wide variety of views confronted
the Public Utilities Commission today
when it convened hearing on the
Capital Transit Co.'S application to
abandon street car service along Ken
nedy and Third streets and substitute
bus service from Fourteenth street
and Colorado avenue along the same
route to Takoma
For nearly an hour spokesmen for
citizens associations and other groups
raised objections of one kind or an
other to the petition. william NICK.
Clayton, speaking for the Brightwood
Citizens Association, and Arthur z.
Cook of the Sixteenth Street High
lands Association demanded that the
commission maintain its order of last
February ordering double tracks on
Kennedy street.
I'VE want the status quo main
tained," Clayton said, "and object to
any testimony being taken that will
cause the commission to abrogate the
double-tracking order"
Petition From Property Owners.
SOOA JOlIIcu 1llIH III lIle ulOIlOI1
which the commission denied.
Harry Waters, resident of Ken
nedy street, presented a petition for
property owners along that thorough
fare, asking that all tracks be re-
moved and that busses be substituted.
c. Selden, jr., Takoma Park, Md,
attorney, argued that part of the fran
chise rights of that town would be
violated unless direct street car serv-
ice on the Fourteenth street line be
maintained. This was answered, how
ever, by G. T. Dunlop. transit COM
pany counsel, and William A. Rob-
erts. former peoples counsel, repre-
senting Ninth Street. Associated. They
pointed out that the street car merger
act gave to the present consolidated
company the rights Of the Washington
& Maryland Railway Co.. which for.
merly operated the service, and that
the original company no longer exists.
Edward d. Merrill, vice president
and general manager, outlined the
petition of the transit company, and
Waldo L. Schmidt of Takoma Park,
Nd. attempted unsuccessfully to cross
examine him.
Bennett First Witness.
W. B Bennett, assistant to the pres
ident of the Capital Transit Co.. was
the first witness. His testimony was
confined to presentation of a series Of
maps showing the proposed changes
and traffic and passenger studies to
justify the proposals.
Merrill explained that the petition
represented the best findings the COM
pany has been able to make after
many attempts had been made to meet
the desires Of the people in the affect
ed area. No agreement. he said, could
be reached and consequently the COM
pany appealed to the Utilities Com
mission.
The changes outlined by Merrill and
Bennett follow:
Street cars would be discontinued
beyond the loop at Fourteenth street
and Colorado avenue and all-day shut
tie service substituted between the loop
and Takoma either along the present
car route out Third street or along
Fifth street to Van Bnrean street.
Fifth Street Express Service.
Express service all the way down
town would be maintained on Fifth
street, to Grant Circle, along New
Hampshire. Sherman, Florida and
Vermont avenues to Logan Circle,
down Thirteenth street to the Seventh
street loop.
Express service would be main
tanned for Chillum Heights from
North Capitol and Madison streets, to
New Hampshire avenue and along the
Takoma route to the down town loop.
The local busses. however. would 60
out K street, Sixteenth street, Har-
ward street. Thirteenth street and
Park road to New Hampshire avenue.
1t was indicated that several days
will be required to hear all of the in
terested citizens associations and other
groups represented at the opening
session.