Evening star., 1941-01-26

nue. ana Porter street NV, at RAJ r
road and Fourteenth street NV.
and at Park road and Georgia ave-
nue. NV, and would intersect more
streetcar and bus lines than the
other.
They also point out that the route
of their choice will save Is minutes
in travel on an average for any one
living north of the Bureau of Stand
ards who wants to get to any point
on the East Side north of Park road.
They argue further that the line
through Rock Greek Park Will not
attract enough patrons to pay fer
itself. that loaded buses will be
unable 10 climb the steep hills Of
the park area under certain weather
conditions and that certain curves
along the upper route are TOO
hazardous for safety.
Transit Company Viewpoint.
Then there is the transit COM
pany's side of the question-will
there be an increase of patronage
sufficient to warrant the new line?
This has not been answered. The
company also opposes the line, par
ticularly that nearest the downtown
area, on the ground that it will
overlap some of its present lines.
This, 1t argues, would be wasted
expense.
WaShingtons wrangle over son2e
kind Of mass transportation ser
between the TWO areas separated
Rock Greek Park IS not new. Il 7
gone on for years and there ha
beer other hearings.
An active campaign was Iaunchct
in 1898. Wrote one patron VINO z -
parentiy favored The upper route:
II seems a shame that a beat
tltul city Ike Washington, one which
has grown tremendously during the
last 10 years, should be handicapped
by a transportation system which
lacks a vital link. I am referring,
OF course, TO the lack of a cross
| town bus. For those people living
| on either side of Rock Creek Park
above P street NV. and wishing
TO get across the park, it means a
bus ride Of, on the average, not
less than IS minutes, if one makes
good transfers"
The 1888 campaign ended in a
hearing in which the Capital Transit
Co. informed the Public Utilities
Commission that it could not oper-
ate prohtably a crosstown bus line.
Annual cost was estimated at $751;
600, as compared TO $4,000 for TWO
other lines then IN operation in the
area. The result Of the years effort
was the inauguration of bus service
from WeStmoreland Circle to the
Bureau OF Standards, suggested then
as possible link to a complete line
at some later date.
Again in 1899 the move was
! launched without results. Since
| then, spurred by the national de-
tense program, growth of the north
ern outskirts Of the city has been
rapid and the demands have been
renewed with vigor. Proponents
added the new argument that much
rush-hour congestion would be
avoided by eliminating the neces-
slty for transferring in midtown.
Friendship Group Acts.
Last November the Friendship
Citizens Association fred the first
gun Of the season, setting off an
other drive that has resulted so far
IN the hearing scheduled by tie
Public Utilities Commission. This
time. perhaps due to the mushroom
growth. sentiment has been strong
er than ever in the past. Petitions
have been circulated and have end
ed up at the commission Office with
thousands of signatures.
Citizens groups steadily have
carried the Spearhead OF the fight.
The Cleveland Park Business Mems
Association sent letters to various
organizations to stimulate their in
terest. In addition to the Associq-
tion of Oldest Inhabitants. among
groups which already have an
nounced their support, are the Md
City, Friendship. Brightwood. West
End. Metropolis View, Northeast
Conference, National Gateway,
Park View, Michigan Park, Ameri-
can University Park. Sixteenth
Street Heights, Lincoln Park, Colum-
bia Heights Forum, Petworth, Glover
Park. Arkansas Avenue. Southeast
and Forest Hills Citizens Associa-
tions.
During the past week, the Mid
City Citizens Association called
representatives from the various
groups together to discuss their
plans. A steering organization was
set up with Nathan NJ. Lubar as its
permanent chairman. Looking
toward the Utilities Commission
hearing on February II, committees
were appointed to investigate two
proposed routes, one of which will
be given concerted support and the
other will be used as an alternate.