Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-05-10
CABIN JOHN LINE
BUSES OPPOSED
Utilities Commission Hears
Transit Firm President
and Residents.

Inc Capital Transit Co. informed
the Public Utilities Commission yes
terday it does not approve at this
time the suggestion that a bus line be
substituted for the Cabin John street
car line.
The subject came up at a hearing
before the commission on the transit
company's petition to abandon street
car service from the Union Station
Plaza to Eighth and F STREETS NE.
The commission itself made the
proposal to substitute buses for street
cars on the Cabin John line some
time ago, but commission officials said
they now We're interested primarily
in getting information on what econ
omy might be effected by the change.
When the subject came up for dis
cussion, E. D. Merrill, president OF the
transit firm. told the commission he
did not feel the change would be
practical at this time J. B. Ecker,
principal assistant engineer of the
transit company, said a study had
been made to determine what economy
might be effected by the shift to
buses, but that the study had been
somewhat modified when it was
learned that the maximum weight
permitted for vehicles on Conduit
road, beyond the District line, is
six tons.
Speed Also Limited.
Mr.. Ecker explained that the small
est bus of the transit company
weighs slightly in excess of six tons
when carrying maximum load He
also pointed out that the District
engineer for the United States Engi-
neer Office had informed him the
maximum speed permitted for We
hicles weighing as much as six tons
is IS miles per hour.
He estimated his company could
effect a, saving Of approximately
s25,0 900 a year by substituting a bus
service that would run from Potomac
and M streets, along Conduit road
through lower Foxhall Village and
on to Potomac Heights and Cabin
John. He pointed out, however, that
this line would not provide direct
service downtown, but would necessi-
tate transferring to street cars.
If a direct bus line downtown were
provided, it would eliminate $4,000
Of the estimated $4,000 saving. he
said. The estimated saving that
would result from use of buses was
based on the assumption there would
be no 15-mile speed limitation.
Mr.. Ecker also estimated the COM
pany would be able to save approx
mately $4,000 annually by use of
one-man cars on the present Cabin
John street car route.
Residents Objections Heard.
A number of residents along the
Cabin John route attended the hear
ing to voice opposition to the pro-
posed change. Only one-Capt. Ellis
r. King, resident Of Potomac
Heights approval.
The commission received a number
of protests from residents and prop
erty owners in Northeast Washington
and others who would be affected by
the proposed abandonment of the rail
line from Union Station to Eighth and
F streets NE
Included among these were B. B.
Burgunder Of Kann's Department
Store; j. F. Broadfort, 632 F street
NE; Henry F. Ash, A. D. Calvert of
the Lincoln Park Citizens Associ-
alton, and Roscoe jenkins, 639 Eighth
street NE.
Mr.. Ecker told the commission
passenger traffic on the line, which
operates between Cabin John and the
Northeast terminal, decreased ap-
proximately So per cent between
March, 1886, and November, 1887.