Evening star., 1938-10-13
CROSS-TOWN BUS
SERVICE STUDIED
Utilities Board Is Asked to
Provide New Line.
Firms Object.

Detailed studies of the possibilities
of establishment of cross-town bus
line, running from Westmoreland Cir
road and South Dakota avenue NE,
were begun today by engineers OF the
Public Utilities Commission.
Demands for such a service. filed
with the commission at public hear
ing yesterday by spokesmen for some
10000 petitioners were countered by
objections from the Capital Transit
Co. that the route would probably re-
suit in an annual loss of about $13l 900.
The company offered a suggested
route for consideration. but some civic
spokesmen objected to the plan and
discussion revolved around various
different plans and how the suggested
line would affect existing bus services
in several communities
Commission officials indicated con-
siderable time would be required before
all details of the plan could be ana
lyzed accurately by their engineers and
accountants.
Carruthers' Contention.
l.. A. Carruthers, president of the
Federation of Citizens Associations, de-
clared the company is under an obliga-
ton to operate necessary service even
though all of its routes may not prove
self-sustaining or profitable. He pre-
dicted a well-planned cross-town bus
line would prove self-sustaining, at
least within a few years.
A bulky petition for such service,
containing the names of about 10000
persons, was presented to the COM
mission by Barnum Levitan, chair
man of a special committee of the
Columbia Heights Business Mems As
sociation. Members of various citizens
and business groups co-operated i'll the
campaign for the route.
Among groups registered as in favor
Of the general plan were the Fedora
ton of Citizens Associations, the
American University Park, the Bur-
roughs, Bladensburg Road, Columbia
Heights Citizens Associations. the Co.
lumbia Heights Business Mems Associ-
alton and spokesmen for the Sacred
Heart Church and the Mount Pleasant
Congregational Church.
Mount Pleasant Request.
Spokesman for the Mount Pleasant
Citizens Association favored the plan
provided the route did not disrupt
present transportation service to and
from the community. 1t offered OBJ
lection that the route proposed by the
company would have that effect.
Dean J. Locke. staff engineer Of
the transit company, presented map
illustrating the route which he said
the company deemed would be the
"least worst The route would be
from Westmoreland Circle east along
Yuma street to pick up portion Of
the route of the Bureau of Standards
bus line. then via Tilden street through
Rock Greek Park, to take over
portion of the Park road or Nineteenth
! street loop line, skirting the Soldiers
Home grounds, then over Michigan
avenue, Monroe street and South Da-
kota avenue to Bladensburg road NE.
One counter suggestion was the use
of Brandywine street instead of Yuma
and some speakers urged that the
buses be routed down Reno road and
into Rock Greek Park by way OF Porter
street instead of via Tilden street.
Under the company's suggestion 4
portion of the Bureau of Standards
line would be abandoned and the Rock
Greek Church road branch of the
Park road line also would be aban-
| doned.