Evening star., 1941-10-15

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the question.
Earlier during the hearing today.
Representative Schultz declared if
traffic conditions are to be improved
mass transportation service will
have to be stepped up to attract
persons who now drive their cars
to and from work. He gave his ap-
proval to proposal that railroads
provide a commuter service from
nearby Maryland and Virginia. to
the heart of the Federal triangle
area.
II am strong for that train idea"
declared Mr.. Schultz, after DR..
Waldo Schmitt of Takoma Park,
attached to the staff of the National
Museum, reviewed briefly plan he
outlined Monday to the full District
Committee fors a commuter service
over the belt line railroads sur
rounding the city, connecting with
underground shuttle trains running
through the Mall area in the vi
cinity of many Government build
ings.
Mr.. Schmitt originally proposed
tunnel under Twelfth street from
Virginia avenue S.W. to Constitu-
ton avenue and west through Rock
Creek Parkway connecting with the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroads freight
belt line in Georgetown at one
end and existing rail lines in
the Southwest section. Today, how
ever, he modified his suggestion for
a tunnel and said an open cut,
which could be covered over after
the national emergency, would ex-
pedite the project.
Although railroad officials have
expressed an opinion that the pro-
posed commuter service might not
be profitable, Mr.. Schmitt declared
there is sufficient population in
nearby Maryland and Virginia to
assure the railroads a fair return
from the commuters.
Army Engineers Aid Urged.
you can't tell me-" said Mr..
Schmitt, that the people are going
to pass up a smoother, less smelly
and a cleaner ride to come into town
on buses if they have adequate and
fast train service"
He suggested that the subcom-
mittee ask the United States Army
Engineer Corps or some other
suitable" Government agency to in
vestigate the practicability of his
railroad shuttle service plan.
IF it's going to be a gamble" he
declared. lets gamble on it. If the
railroads don't use the subway, con-
vert it into an automobile parking
space or bombprof shelter"
Mr.. Schmitt frowned on the fringe
parking lot idea. IF you are going
into the fringe parking lot business,
he said. you might as well go into
the banking business. And unless
the streetcar company guarantees a
cheaper fare to carry passengers to
and from the parking lots 1 don't
see success in the plan
Mr.. Schultz said as a result OF his
interest in the railroad commuter
service proposal, he telephoned an
official of the Illinois Central Rail-
road and learned from him the car
rier transports 100000 commuters
into the business section of Chicago
each day.
THE commuter service is a good
thought he declared. What We
are trying to do is to convince peo-
pie they ought to leave their cars
home, but We have got to assure
them that of they do they won't
have to walk very far"
Representative Schultz warned
Robert T. Mitchell of the Alexan-
dria, Bancroft & Washington Bus
Co. that "the time is coming" when
the concern would be required to
provide off-street terminal facilities
here for its interurban buses.
Pointing out that the buses now
use Tenth street near D street NV.
as a terminal. Mr.. Schultz asked:
wouldn't it be more convenient
to load in some other spot?"
IF you fail to bring passengers
into the central part of the city the
service would be less attractive" Mr..
Mitchell replied.
More Buses Ordered.
c. E. Corcoran of the washington.
Maryland & Virginia Bus Co., which
has terminal on the east side of
Eleventh street between E and F
streets NV, told the subcommittee
the buses operated by his concern
never lay over there for more than
two and one-halt minutes. More
over. he pointed out Eleventh street
at that point is wide.
Buses are no more of a menace
to traffic than the private car" he
declared
Mr.. Corcoran said buses operated
by his line make 9,218 trips into the
District each year, and because of
the unprecedented growth of Ar
lington County, which it serves,
more equipment had to be ordered.
Twenty new buses are under con-
struction in Allentown, Pa, he ex-
planned, but their delivery has been