Evening star., 1939-11-14
Trolley Dispute
Is Taken Under
Amusement
Suqer Outlines
Plan for Extending
Butternut Service,

The proposal of the Capital
Transit Co. to abandon street car
service on Butternut street between
Georgia avenue and Fourth and
Cedar streets was taken under ad-
visement today by. the Public Utili-
ties Commission.
At the hours session which con-
cluded hearings at noon today, Fred
A. Sager, chief engineer of the COM
mission, as the only witness out
lined a plan which would give the
same length as the proposed track to
be abandoned and offer a service
similar to that now in operation.
Mr.. Sager proposed an extension
OF the present line north on Fourth
street to Cedar street, east on Cedar
street to Carroll avenue and thence
to Eastern avenue. The line would
run along Eastern avenue to Laurel
avenue, across into Maryland and
then intersect with Carroll avenue
and complete the loop at Fourth
street.
This solution, he said, would give
the same length of service as the
present Butternut line. This revised
service would have street cars spaced
into the schedule to take up anv
slack, and could be expected to
bring additional business, the COM
mission was told.
Better Facilities Seen.
Passengers who transfer from
shuttle service buses at Kennedy
street and Georgia avenue would
then use the revised line and thus
relieve the bus service and offer
better facilities of travel, he pointed
out.
1t is expected that the commission
will spend several weeks in it's
executive meetings considering the
various proposals before giving a
decision. The first executive meet
ing will be held Thursday, but, the
chairman said, no action is expected
to be taken at that time because
OF the many factors to be considered.
He also pointed out the probability
that complete transcriptions of the
record may not be available or COM
pleted In time for the meeting
Thursday.
The outlined proposals would cost
$55,100, Mr.. Sager estimated. He
then offered three other loops as
possible solutions. One would swing
the tracks from the Fourth street
terminus around the block into Fifth
street to rejoin at Butternut. This
would cost $4,000, he said.
One proposed change, costing
$55,000, would have switchbackson
Laurel street at the Maryland line
and the other suggestion would cost
$59,400 and double around the tri-
angle formed by the District line,
Carroll and Laurel streets.
The proposal to abandon streetcar
service on Butternut street encoun-
tered stiff opposition yesterday in a
hearing before the commission.
Representatives of several busi-
ness and civic organizations in the
Takoma Park community asked that
the present line be retained and
that turn-around facilities be pro-
vided to permit the use of cars of
the Presidents Conference Commit
tee type.
Favors Retention.
Wallace Magathon, president of
the Citizens Association OF Takoma,
D. C., called for retention of the
line, but suggested that if the serv-
ice is abandoned a new bus line be
provided.
Bruce E. Anderson, chairman of
the associations Public Utilities
Committee, also opposed discon-
tinuance Of the streetcar service,
but approved the suggested sub
stitute bus line.
Others who opposed the transit
firms application included DR.. Guy
Clinton, chairman of the Public
Utilities Committee of the Takoma
Park Citizens Association; Burt w.
Andrews, vice chairman, and Walter
Trey, secretary of the association;
Donald D. Lamond, representing the
Takoma Park (Md) town council;
James P. Marshall, representing the
Takoma Park Chamber of Com
merce, and Judge Herman G. Heff-
ner of the Community League of
Takoma Park.