GIFT OF 
 
y.s: 
 
 LAWS RELATING TO 
 
 Gas, Electric Light, Telegraph t and Telephone 
 
 Companies and the Electric Equipment 
 
 of Street Railway Companies in 
 
 the District of Columbia 
 
 Compiled by WALTER C ALLEN, Electrical Engineer, D. C 
 
 PRINTED FOR USE OF THE COMMITTEE 
 
 ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
 
 WASHINGTON 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
 1908 
 
o 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 American Railway Appliance Exhibition: Page. 
 Resolution granting temporary occupancy of part of Government Reserva- 
 tion for, and the use of steam and electric power 54 
 
 Anacostia Bridge: 
 
 Act for reconstruction of, and reciprocal trackage 52 
 
 Act relative to method of crossing, by Anacostia and Potomac River Rail- 
 road Company 64 
 
 Lamps, relative to cost and candlepower 64 
 
 Anacostia and Potomac River Railroad Company: 
 
 Act for reconstruction of Anacostia Bridge and reciprocal trackage 52 
 
 Act relative to method of crossing Anacostia Bridge 64 
 
 Anacostia, Surrattsville and Brandywine Electric Railway Company: 
 
 Act authorizing extension in the District of Columbia 58 
 
 Aqueduct Bridge: 
 
 Act authorizing connection with wires by Postal Telegraph Company 39 
 
 Authorizing single track across 48 
 
 Baltimore and Washington Transit Company : 
 
 Extract from act incorporating Method of operating 32 
 
 Pipes, liability for damage to 32 
 
 Belt Railway Company: 
 
 Underground system authorized 37 
 
 Brightwood Railway Company: 
 
 Extract from act incorporating Method of operation 17 
 
 Extract from act amending charter Method of operating 25 
 
 Act amending charter of, permitting use of overhead wires 23 
 
 Cables: 
 
 For removing of lines from roof of Treasury Department 65 
 
 Capitol Building: 
 
 Limiting cost of heating, lighting, and power plant 66 
 
 Capital Railway Company: 
 
 To maintain lights along line of, but overhead wires not permitted within 
 
 city limits 29 
 
 Method of operation 29 
 
 Authorizing underground system 30 
 
 Navy-yard Bridge, method of operating across 30 
 
 Authorized to install underground system 36 
 
 Navy-yard Bridge, authority to install double overhead system 36 
 
 Chain Bridge: 
 
 To be lighted by Washington and Great Falls Railway Company 24 
 
 Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company: 
 
 Authorize temporary extension of overhead wires for American Railway 
 
 Appliance Exhibition 54 
 
 City and Suburban Railway Company: 
 
 Resolution to promote relocation of certain tracks of ". . 41 
 
 Conduits: 
 
 Act legalizing house connections in city houses 39 
 
 Act authorizing permits, reservation of ducts, and rates chargeable to con- 
 sumers 41 
 
 Plans to be submitted with applications ' 44 
 
 Subject to regulations 45 
 
 Penalty for tampering, etc., with f 46 
 
 Act permitting Potomac Electric Power Company to connect with Wash- 
 ington Railway and Electric Company 51 
 
 329266 
 
IV 
 
 Conduits, private: Page. 
 
 Act regulating permits for 41 
 
 Authorize laying of, by S. Kann's Sons Co 57 
 
 Authorize laying of, by Washington Market Company 58 
 
 Congressional Library building: 
 
 Limiting cost of heating, lighting, and power plant 66 
 
 Convention Hall: 
 
 Authorizing temporary electric-light wires in existing conduits 43 
 
 Discounts on bills: 
 
 Authority to Washington Gas Light Company to increase rate of (sec. 10). . 9 
 
 District of Columbia: 
 
 To be furnished with gas (sec. 12) 13 
 
 District of Columbia and Suburban Railway Company: 
 
 Authorizing underground construction 22 
 
 East Washington Heights Traction Railroad Company: 
 
 Authority to erect and maintain buildings for operative purposes 37 
 
 Methods of operating 37 
 
 Eckington and Soldiers' Home Railway Company: 
 
 Extract from act incorporating method of operation 15 
 
 Authorized underground service on New York avenue, Fifth to Fifteenth 
 
 streets 18 
 
 Authorizing underground electric construction 22, 38 
 
 Termination of construction of 19 
 
 Authorized overhead wires on North Capitol street branch 18 
 
 Act amending charter relative to use of overhead wires 25 
 
 Cost of underground construction to be borne by railway company 33 
 
 Electric companies: 
 
 Annual report required 43 
 
 Electric lighting: 
 
 Extract from act for, in one or more principal streets (1888) 15 
 
 Authorized on principal thoroughfares of city (1889) 15 
 
 Authorized on principal streets and avenues (1890) 18 
 
 Authorized on principal streets and avenues (1891) 19 
 
 Authorized on principal streets and avenues for three years from July 1, 
 
 1891 21 
 
 Authorized on principal streets (1893) 
 
 Authorized on principal streets and avenues (1894) 26 
 
 Authorized on principal streets and avenues (1895) 28 
 
 Authorized on principal streets and avenues (1896) 29 
 
 Authorized on principal streets and avenues (1897) 34 
 
 Electric lighting wires west of Rock Creek : 
 
 Authorizing permits for extension of overhead wires outside fire limits and 
 west of Rock Creek 40 
 
 Electric arc lighting: 
 
 Extract from act relative to service (1896) 33 
 
 . Extract from act relative to service (1899) 38 
 
 Extract from act relative to service (1900) 39 
 
 Extract from act relative to service (1902) 47 
 
 Executive Mansion: 
 
 For electric lamps and wires 
 
 Electric lights, grounds south of 34 
 
 Fire-alarm telegraph: 
 
 Extension of, authorized. 35 
 
 Franklin Park: 
 
 Electric lights in. . . . .- 34 
 
 Gas: 
 
 Regulating standard of 10 
 
 Test of, companies furnishing, may be represented (sec. 4) 11 
 
 Inspections of, to be reported (sec. 11) 11 
 
 Illuminating power to be stated on bills (sec. 6) 
 
 Price for furnishing, to be uniform (sec. 16) .* 13 
 
 Act relating to sale of, and regulating price by Washington Gaslight Com- 
 pany 30 
 
 Act relating to sale of, and regulating price by Georgetown Gaslight Com- 
 pany 
 
 Act relating to illuminating power of 31 
 
 Establishing candlepower of 47, 48 
 
 Act regulating candlepower of 51 
 
Gas or oil lighting: 
 
 Authority as to duration of contracts 65, 67 
 
 Gas bills: 
 
 Rate of discount (sec. 11) 12 
 
 Rate of increase due to price of coal (sec. 11) 12 
 
 Gas companies: 
 
 Penalties for injuring or defrauding (sec. 15) 13 
 
 Annual report required 43 
 
 Gas laboratory: 
 
 For inspector to be provided by Washington Gaslight Company (sec. 3) ... 10 
 How paid for (sec. 3) 11 
 
 Gas works: 
 
 Act regulating 10 
 
 Congress may alter, amend, or repeal act regulating (sec. 14) 13 
 
 Authorizing additional testing laboratories by the Washington Gaslight 
 
 Company 26 
 
 Authorizing testing laboratory by the Georgetown Gas Light Company 26 
 
 Georgetown Barge, Dock, Elevator and Railway Company: 
 
 Extract from act incorporating Method of operation 17 
 
 Georgetown Gas Light Company: 
 
 Act incorporating (1854) (sec. 1) .' 5 
 
 Capital stock (sec. 2) 6 
 
 Officers and directors, term (sec. 3) 6 
 
 Capital stock, officers and directors authorized to manage (sec. 3) 6 
 
 Directors of, of office, and method of election (sec. 4) 6 
 
 Directors of, failure to elect on day specified (sec. 5) 6 
 
 Capital stock, payments of subscription (sec. 6) 
 
 Gas, authority to make and sell (sec. 7) 7 
 
 Gas to be made from various substances (sec. 7) 7 
 
 Gas pipes, authority to lay in streets, avenues, and alleys (sec. 7) 7 
 
 Buildings, authority to erect (sec. 7) 7 
 
 Appurtenances, penalty for damage to (sec. 8) 7 
 
 Congress may alter, amend, or repeal act (sec. 9) 7 
 
 Gas, authority to others to engage in manufacture and sale (sec. 9) 7 
 
 Money, not authorized to issue promises to pay, and penalty for procedure 
 
 (sec 10) 7 
 
 Stockholders' liability (sec. 11) 7 
 
 Act incorporating (1848) Washington Gas Light Company To lay pipes 
 
 in Georgetown repealed (sec. 12) 8 
 
 Act extending works of 10 
 
 Authorize testing laboratory 26 
 
 Act relating to sale and price of gas 31 
 
 Limitation of issue of stock 32 
 
 Georgetown and Tenallytown Railway Company: 
 
 Extract from act incorporating Method of operation 16 
 
 Government electric plants: 
 
 Authorize report of cost of electric light and power produced 50 
 
 Grand Army of the Republic: 
 
 Authority for erection of overhead system during encampment 23 
 
 Authority to permit wires to be stretched for purposes of illumination of 
 
 parks or reservations 46 
 
 Heating, lighting, and power plant: 
 
 Limiting cost of, for House of Representatives building, Capitol building, 
 Congressional Library building, and United States Senate building 65 
 
 House connections with conduits: 
 
 Authorizing permits issued 35 
 
 House of Representatives: 
 
 Authority to string wires to Government Printing Office 36 
 
 Act relating to construction of heating, lighting, and power plant for 52 
 
 Limiting cost of heating, lighting, and power plant 66 
 
 Inaugural ceremonies: 
 
 Authority to Western Union Telegraph Company and United States Elec- 
 tric Lighting Company to extend overhead wires to Pension building 25 
 
 Inspector of gas and meters: 
 
 Authorized (sec. 2) - 10 
 
 Bonds of (sec. 10) 12 
 
 Internal-revenue tax: 
 
 Washington Gas Light Company not relieved from (sec. 5) 9 
 
VI 
 
 Judiciary Park: 
 
 Electric lights in 34 
 
 S. Kami's Sons & Co.: 
 
 Authorize laying of conduit , . . 57 
 
 Laboratory: 
 
 Cost of maintaining, to be paid for by Washington Gas Light Company. . . 33 
 Lafayette Park: 
 
 Electric lights in 34 
 
 Lamps: 
 
 To be lighted by Washington Gas Light Company, and price for same 14 
 
 Lamp posts with lamps: 
 
 Authority to Commissioners to erect light and maintain, outside city 
 
 limits 14 
 
 Lamps and lamp-posts: 
 
 For lighting, extinguishing, repairing, etc, on avenues, streets, etc., price 
 
 not to exceed $20.00 per annum per lamp 14 
 
 Lamps and wires: 
 
 In Executive Mansion 21 
 
 Lighting: . 
 
 Act making appropriations for, fiscal year 1907 66 
 
 Act making appropriations for, fiscal year 1908 67 
 
 Lighting Potomac Park driveway: 
 
 Act making appropriations for, fiscal year June 30, 1907 67 
 
 Lincoln Park: 
 
 Electric lights in 34 
 
 Long Bridge: 
 
 Authorizing underground construction across, by Washington, Alexandria 
 
 and Mount Vernon Railway Company 43 
 
 Manholes: 
 
 Subject to regulations 45 
 
 Maryland and Washington Railway Company: 
 
 Extract from act incorporating Method of operating 24 
 
 Gas and meters: 
 
 Inspector of, authorized (sec. 2) 10 
 
 Gas meters: 
 
 Testing of (sec. 7) 
 
 Testing of, on request of consumer and payment of fee (sec. 8) 
 
 To be brought to laboratory by company (sec. 9) 
 
 Authorize inspections of 
 
 Penalty for placing those not inspected 31 
 
 Metropolitan Railroad Company: 
 
 Act extending time for changing motive power 
 
 Authorized to change motive power 28 
 
 Municipal authorities: 
 
 Resolution relative to failure to light streets 
 
 Authorized to levy and collect tax for street lighting (sec. 1) 
 
 Authorize contract with Washington Gaslight Company for street light- 
 ing (sec. 2) m 
 
 Street lamps, authority to increase number of 
 
 Secretary of the Interior authorized, upon failure of municipal authorities, 
 
 to levy and collect tax (sec. 4) 9 
 
 Navy- Yard Bridge: 
 
 Method of operating across, by Capital Railway Company 
 
 Authority to Capital Railway Company to install double overhead system. 36 
 Pension building: 
 
 Authority to Western Union Telegraph Company and United States Elec- 
 tric Light Company to extend wires for inaugural ceremonies 25 
 
 Permission to string overhead wires by Western Union Telegraph Com- 
 pany and Postal Telegraph Company 57 
 
 Pipes: 
 
 To be laid or replaced in streets to be improved 
 
 Liability for damage to, by W T ashington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon 
 Railway Company 
 
 Liability for damages to, Baltimore and Washington Transit Company 32 
 
 Poles in alleys: 
 
 Authorizing erection and maintenance of 
 
 Poles and wires in alleys: 
 
 Authority to maintain, with repairs and renewals as may be necessary 45 
 
Vll 
 
 Poles and wires: Page. 
 
 Penalty for nonremoyal of 44 
 
 Poles and wires, elimination of grade crossings: 
 
 Act authorizing permits for the erection and stringing of 4& 
 
 Postal Telegraph Company: 
 
 Act authorizing connection with wires on Aqueduct Bridge 39 
 
 Authorize temporary extension of overhead wires for American Railway 
 Appliance Exhibition 54 
 
 Grant permission to extend wires to Pension building 57 
 
 Potomac Electric Power Company: 
 
 Limitation of overhead wires 3& 
 
 Act permitting conduit connections with Washington Railway and Elec- 
 tric Company 51 
 
 Potomac Park driveway: 
 
 Act making appropriation for lighting, fiscal year June 30, 1907 67 
 
 Power house for public buildings: 
 
 Act relating to preparation of plane and estimates for a power house, with 
 
 distributing mains for heat, steam, and electric power 53 
 
 President of United States: 
 
 To appoint board relative to underground constructions 19 
 
 Public Printer: 
 
 Authorized one 6-pin arm on each of 11 poles, North Capitol between G and 
 
 B streets, and to string wires 36> 
 
 Rock Creek Railway Company: 
 
 Extract from act incorporating method of operation 15 
 
 Use of overhead wires not authorized within city limits 19 
 
 Railroad companies, steam: 
 
 To provide for lighting of streets, etc. , where tracks are laid 14 
 
 Shall pay District of Columbia for lighting streets, etc., where tracks are 
 
 laid 14 
 
 Railroad companies: 
 
 May sell stock to amount necessary to cover cost of change of motive power. 20 
 
 To forfeit franchise for failure to change motive power within two years 21 
 
 Extract from act compelling removal of tracks 37 
 
 Secretary of the Interior: 
 
 Authorized upon failure of municipal authorities to levy and collect tax. . 9-4 
 
 To be furnished with copies of coal contracts (sec. 11) 12: 
 
 Authorized to grant permit for use of Pension building for inaugural 1 
 
 ceremonies 55- 
 
 Secretary of Treasury: 
 
 To pass on cost of electric currents for executive or municipal buildings 7ft 
 
 Secretary of War: 
 
 Authorized to grant permits for use of parks and reservations 55- 
 
 Subways: 
 
 Subject to regulations. 45- 
 
 Subway system: 
 
 For construction of, to connect Senate building with Capitol 6& 
 
 Taxation on personal property: 
 
 Rates of taxation to corporations 47 
 
 Telephones: 
 
 Authorize report relative to charges for use of 34 
 
 Act regulating rate for use of . . . 39 
 
 Act regulating rates for service 51 
 
 Telegraph and telephone service: 
 
 Authorized underground construction, 1888 Ifr 
 
 Authorized on streets, alleys, etc. , 1889 18. 
 
 The President of United States to appoint board relative to underground 
 constructions 19> 
 
 Authorized on streets, alleys, etc. , 1890 19 
 
 Act relative to length of conduits 22. 
 
 Authorize erection of, on streets, etc., 1894 2& 
 
 Telephone wires: 
 
 Act regulating use and removal in certain sections of city 43; 
 
 Tracks, railroad: 
 
 Extract from act compelling removal of 37 
 
 Treasury Department building: 
 
 For removing cables of lines from roof of . . .' 5$ 
 
VIII 
 
 United States Electric Company. Page- 
 Authority to extend overhead wires to Pension building for inaugural cere- 
 monies 25 
 
 Authority to extend underground conduits and wires 34 
 
 Underground construction: 
 
 President of United States to appoint board relative to 19 
 
 Underground electric system: 
 
 Authorizing extension to street railroad companies to install underground 
 systems 40 
 
 United States Senate: 
 
 Authority to string wires to Government Printing Office 36 
 
 United States Senate building: 
 
 Subway system, construction of, connecting with Capitol 66 
 
 Limiting cost of heating, lighting, and power plant 66 
 
 Washington and Arlington Railway Company: 
 
 Extract from act incorporating Method of operation 21 
 
 Washington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon Railway Company: 
 
 ' Authorize underground construction 28 
 
 Pipes, liability for damage to, and other underground constructions 28 
 
 Overhead wires in city limits not authorized 29 
 
 Authorizing underground construction across Long Bridge 43 
 
 Washington Gas Light Company: 
 
 Act incorporating (1848) 
 
 Capital stock 3-2 
 
 Term of officers and election of (sec. 3) \ 3 
 
 Directors of (sec. 4) 4 
 
 Directors, failure to elect on day specified (sec. 5) 4 
 
 . Capital stock, payment of subscriptions (sec. 6) 4 
 
 Gas, authority to make and sell (sec. 7) 4 
 
 Gas, to be made from various substances (sec. 7) 
 
 Gas pipes, authority to lay, in streets, avenues, and alleys (sec. 7) 4 
 
 Buildings, authority to erect (sec. 7) 4 
 
 Appurtenances, penalty for damages to (sec. 8) 4 
 
 Act amending charter, embracing territory of Georgetown (sec. 1) 5 
 
 Money, not authorized to issue promises to pay, and penalty for such pro- 
 cedure (sec. 9) 5 
 
 Congress may alter, amend, or repeal act to engage in manufacture and sale 
 
 (sec. 9)..! 5 
 
 Stockholders, liabilities of (sec. 11) 5 
 
 Capital stock, act authorizing increase of (1855) (sec. 1) 
 
 Act amending charter relative to annual meeting (sec. 1) 
 
 Capital stock, act authorizing increase of $500,000 (sec. 2) 
 
 Capital stock in shares of $20 (sec. 2) 
 
 Act increasing capital stock and extending works (sec. 1) 9 
 
 Capital stock, act increasing and extending works (sec. 1) 9 
 
 Municipal authorities, authorized to make contract for street lights (sec. 2) . 
 
 Internal-revenue tax, not relieved from (sec. 5) 
 
 Discounts for prompt payments, authority to increase rate of (sec. 10) 
 
 Gas laboratory for inspector to be provided (sec. 3) 10 
 
 Gas, rate for furnishing United States Government and individual con- 
 sumers (sec. 11) 
 
 Furnish Secretary of the Interior with copies of coal contracts (sec. 11) ... 
 
 Gas to be furnished, District of Columbia (sec. 12) 
 
 Maintain street lamps and price (sec. 12) 
 
 Gas, may stop supply to consumers for nonpayment of bills (sec. 13) 
 
 Congress may alter, amend, or repeal act regulating gas works (sec. 14) 
 
 To light city lamps and price 
 
 Authorize additional testing laboratories by 
 
 Act relating to sale and price of gas ." 
 
 Limitation of issue of stock 
 
 Laboratory, cost of maintaining, to be paid for by 33 
 
 Washington Home for Incurables: 
 
 Act providing for lighting and power purposes 70 
 
 Washington and Gettysburg Railway Company: 
 
 Authorizing motive power - 40 
 
 Telegraph and telephone lines, authority to install, along line of 41 
 
IX 
 
 Washington and Glen Echo Railroad Company: Page. 
 
 Authorizing changing of motive power 36 
 
 Washington and Great Falls Railway Company: 
 
 Electric lights, shall operate and maintain along route 24 
 
 Electric lights on Cham Bridge 24 
 
 Act authorizing use of overhead lines 24 
 
 Amending act relative to method of operating lines 30 
 
 Washington Market Company: 
 
 Authorize laying of conduit for 58 
 
 Washington and Marlboro Electric Railroad Company: 
 
 Authorizing method of operation 29 
 
 To maintain lights along line of, but overhead wires not permitted within 
 city limits 29 
 
 Washington Railway and Electric Company: 
 
 A.ct permitting conduit connections with Potomac Electric Power Company 51 
 
 Washington and University Railroad Company: 
 
 Authorizing motive power for 39 
 
 Washington, Spa Spring and Gretta Railroad Company: 
 
 Act authorizing extension of street railway into District of Columbia 70 
 
 Telegraph and telephone lines, authority to construct, along lines Wash- 
 ington, Spa Spring and Gretta Railroad 72 
 
 Western Union Telegraph Company: 
 
 Authority to extend overhead wires to Pension building for inaugural cere- 
 monies 25 
 
 Authorize temporary extension of overhead wires for American Railway 
 
 Appliance Exhibition 54 
 
 Grant permission to extend wires to Pension building 57 
 
 Wires, overhead: 
 
 Use of, not permitted in city limits 21 
 
 Act legalizing house connections outside fire limits 39 
 
 Subject to regulations 45 
 
 Grant permission to extend to Pension building 56 
 
 Temporary use of, in connection with elimination of grade crossings 48 
 
 Wires, Telegraph: 
 
 Act regulating use of 62 
 
 Wiring, electric: 
 
 Act to regulate 49 
 
AN ACT To incorporate the Washington Gas-light Company, approved July 8, 
 
 1848. 
 
 Be it enacted ~by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That John F. Cal- 
 lan, Jacob Bigelow, B. B. French, W. H. Harover, M. P. Callan, W. 
 A. Bradley, and W. H. English, and their present and future asso- 
 ciates, are hereby declared to be a body politic and corporate, by the 
 name and style of the " Washington Gas-light Company", and by the 
 same name shall have perpetual succession and shall be able to sue 
 and be sued, plead and be impleaded, in all courts of law and equity 
 in the District of Columbia and elsewhere; and to make and have a 
 common seal, and the same to break, alter and renew at pleasure ; to 
 ordain and establish such by-laws, ordinances and regulations, and 
 generally to do every act and thing necessary to carry into effect this 
 act, or to promote the objects and design of this corporation. 
 
 SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the capital stock of this 
 corporation shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars; that a share in the 
 same shall be twenty dollars; and books of subscription to the said 
 capital stock, or to such portions thereof as from time to time may, by 
 the directors for the time being, be deemed proper and necessary, shall 
 be opened by the appointment or under the direction of the directors 
 hereinafter named, subject to such rules, limitations and conditions 
 as by them shall be prescribed ; and the stock of the said corporation 
 shall be deemed personal property. 
 
 SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the stock, property and 
 affairs of the said corporation shall be managed and conducted by or 
 under the direction of five directors, being stockholders ; that the said 
 directors shall hold their offices for one year from the second Monday, 
 and shall be elected on the first Monday in January, in each year, at 
 such time and place in the cit}^ of Washington as a majority of the 
 directors for the time being shall appoint; and that notice of such 
 election shall be published in at least two of the public newspapers 
 printed in the city of Washington, at least fourteen days previous to 
 the time of holding such election ; and every such election shall be by 
 ballot, and by such of the stockholders who shall attend for that pur- 
 pose, either in person or by proxy; and each stockholder shall be 
 entitled to one vote for each share of the stock which he or she may 
 have held in his or her own name for at least fourteen days before the 
 time of voting; and the persons having the greatest number of votes 
 shall be the directors: and if it shall happen that two or more persons 
 have an equal number of votes, the directors in office at the time of 
 such election shall, by a plurality of votes, given by ballot, determine 
 which of the persons so having an equal number of votes shall be 
 director or directors, so as to complete the whole number to be chosen ; 
 24717 (3) 
 
and the directors so chosen shall, as soon as may be thereafter, pro- 
 ceed by ballot to elect one of their number for their president; and 
 whenever any vacancy shall happen, the same shall be filled up by 
 the remaining directors, by plurality of votes, until the next annual 
 election. 
 
 SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That John F. Callan, Jacob 
 Bigelow, B. B. French, W. H. Harover, M. P. Callan, and W. A. 
 Bradley, shall be the first directors of the said company, who shall 
 hold their offices until the second Monday of January, in the year of 
 our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, and until others 
 are chosen in their places ; and they shall proceed to choose their presi- 
 dent at such time and place as they, or a majority of them, shall 
 determine. 
 
 SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That in case it shall at any time 
 happen that an election for directors shall not take place on the day 
 appointed by this act for that purpose, the said corporation shall not, 
 for that cause, or for any nonuser, be deemed to be dissolved, but it 
 shall and may be lawful to hold an election for directors on any other 
 day, in such manner as shall be provided for by the by-laws of the 
 said corporation. 
 
 SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful 
 for the directors, or a majority of them, to require payment of the 
 subscription to the capital stock of the said corporation, at such times 
 and in such proportions as they, or a majority of them, shall deem fit, 
 under the penalty of forfeiting all previous payment or payments 
 thereon; and that previous notice of .the instalments required to be 
 paid shall be published at least fourteen days in two of the public 
 newspapers printed in the city of Washington. 
 
 SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That the president and directors 
 shall have full power and authority to manufacture, make and sell 
 gas, to be made of coal, oil, tar, peat, pitch or turpentine, or other 
 material, and to be used for the purpose of lighting the city of Wash- 
 ington, or the streets thereof, and any buildings, manufactories or 
 houses therein contained and situate, and to lay pipes for the purpose 
 of conducting gas in any of the streets, avenues and alleys of the said 
 city; and also, that the said company will so conduct the manufac- 
 tories of gas as not to injure private property or create a nuisance: 
 
 prescribe: And provided 
 further, That the right to erect or put up any buildings, works or 
 apparatus for the manufacture of gas shall be subject to such terms, 
 conditions, restrictions, and regulations as the said corporation of 
 Washington may or shall, from time to time, prescribe or direct. 
 
 SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That if any person or persons 
 shall wilfully do, or cause to be done, any act or acts whatever, 
 whereby the works of said corporation, or any pipe, conduit, plug, 
 cock, reservoir, or any engine, machine, or structure, or any matter or 
 thing appertaining to the same, shall be stopped, obstructed, impaired, 
 weakened, injured or destroyed, the person or persons so offending 
 shall forfeit and pay to the said corporation double the amount of the 
 damage sustained by means ef such offence or injury, to be recovered 
 
 24757 
 
in the name of the said corporation, with costs of suit, in any action 
 of debt, to be brought in any court having cognizance thereof. 
 
 SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That nothing in this act shall be 
 construed to prevent any person or persons, nor any incorporated 
 company hereafter to be created by Congress for that purpose, from 
 engaging in and pursuing the business specified in the seventh section 
 of this act ; and that it shall be lawful for Congress, at any time here- 
 after, to alter, amend, or repeal this act. 
 
 SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That nothing in this act con- 
 tained shall be construed to authorize the said Washington Gas-light 
 Company, to make, issue, or put in circulation any bill, draft, check, 
 order, promissory note, change ticket, or anything else promising or 
 agreeing to pay money, intended to circulate as money or the tendency 
 of which shall be to circulate as mone}^ or currency ; and the violation 
 of any one of the provisions of this section shall be a forfeiture of the 
 charter herein granted, and a fine of fifty dollars against each of the 
 directors voting for the same. 
 
 SEC. 11. And be it further enacted, That each of the stockholders in 
 the Washington Gas-light Company shall be held liable in his or her 
 individual capacity for all the debts and liabilities of the said com- 
 pany, however contracted or incurred, to be recovered by suit as other 
 debts or liabilities, before the court or tribunal having jurisdiction of 
 the case. 
 
 AN ACT To amend an act entitled "An act to incorporate the Washington Gas- 
 light Company ", approved July -eighth, eighteen hundred and forty-eight. 
 Approved August 2, 1852 (10 Stats., p. 734). 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That the act enti- 
 tled "An act to incorporate the Washington Gas-light Company," 
 approved July eighth, eighteen hundred and forty-eight, be, and the 
 same is hereby amended by inserting in the second section, immedi- 
 ately before the word "fifty," the words "three hundred and "; and 
 in the seventh section, wherever the word " Washington " occurs, by 
 inserting immediately thereafter the words " and Georgetown ". 
 
 AN ACT To incorporate the Georgetown Gas-light Company. Approved July 20, 
 1854. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That David Eng- 
 lish, Robert P. Dodge, Richard Cruikshank, William M. Fitzhugh, 
 Richard Pettit, William F. Seymour, Adolphus H. Pickrell and Wil- 
 liam Bucknell, and their present and future associates, are hereby 
 declared to be a body politic and corporate, by the name and style of 
 " The Georgetown Gas-light Company ", and by the same name shall 
 have perpetual succession and shall be able to sue and be sued, plead 
 and be impleaded, in all Courts of law and equity in the District of 
 Columbia, and elsewhere ; to make and have a common seal, and the 
 same to break, alter, and renew, at pleasure; to ordain and establish 
 by-laws, ordinances and regulations, and generally to do every act 
 and thing necessary to carry into effect this act, or to promote the 
 objects and design of this corporation. 
 
 24757 
 
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the capital stock of this 
 corporation shall not exceed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ; 
 that a share in the same shall be twenty-five dollars, and books of sub- 
 scription to the said capital stock, or to such portions thereof as, from 
 time to time may by the directors, for the time being, be deemed 
 proper and necessary, shall be opened by the appointment, or under 
 the direction of the directors hereinafter 'named, subject to such rules, 
 limitations, and conditions as by them shall be prescribed, and the 
 stock of the said company shall be deemed personal property. 
 
 SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the stock, property and 
 affairs of the said company shall be managed and conducted by and 
 under the direction of a president and seven directors, being stock- 
 holders; that the said directors shall be elected on the first Monday 
 of June, in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-four, and on the same 
 day in each succeeding year thereafter, and shall hold their offices 
 for one year from the day of their election, and until other directors 
 shall be elected in their place; that such elections shall be held in 
 Georgetown aforesaid, at such time and place as a majority of the 
 directors for the time being shall appoint, and notice of such time and 
 place of election shall be given by advertisement in one or more news- 
 papers printed and published in the said town, at least fourteen days 
 before Hie day of holding such election, and every such election shall 
 be by ballot, and by such of the stockholders as shall attend for that 
 purpose, either in person or by proxy, and each stockholder shall be 
 entitled to one vote for each share of the stock which he or she may 
 have held, and may continue to hold in his or her own name, for at 
 least fourteen days before the time of voting; and the persons having 
 the greatest number of votes shall be the directors; and if it shall 
 happen that two or more persons shall have an equal number of votes, 
 the directors in office at the time of such election shall, by a plurality 
 of votes, given by ballot, determine which of the persons so having an 
 equal number of votes shall be director or directors, so as to complete 
 the whole number to be chosen ; and the directors so chosen shall, as 
 soon as may be thereafter, proceed to elect by ballot, one of their own 
 number, or one of the shareholders., to be their president ; and when- 
 ever any vacancy shall happen in the said board, of president and 
 directors, the same shall be filled up by the remaining directors by 
 plurality of votes, until the next annual election: Provided always, 
 That the president of the said company, and at least six of the direc- 
 tors, shall be inhabitants of the said town. 
 
 SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That David English, Robert P. 
 Dodge, Richard Cruikshank, William M. Fitzhugh, Richard Pettit, 
 William F. Seymour, Adolphus H. Pickrell and William Bucknell, 
 shall be the first directors of the said company; the first named of 
 whom shall be their president, and shall hold their offices until the 
 first Monday in June, in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-four, 
 and until others are chosen in their places. * 
 
 SEC. 5. And be -it further enacted, That in case it shall happen at 
 any time that an election for directors shall not take place on the day 
 appointed by this act for that purpose, the said corporation shall not 
 for that cause, or for any non-user, be deemed to be dissolved, but it 
 shall and may be lawful to hold an election for directors on anv other 
 
 24757 
 
day, in such manner as shall be provided for by the by-laws of the 
 said corporation. 
 
 SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful 
 for the directors or a majority of them, to require payment of the sub- 
 scriptions to the capital stock of the said corporation at such times 
 and in such proportions as they, or a majority of them, shall deem fit, 
 under the penalty of forfeiting any or all previous payment or pay- 
 ments thereon: Provided, Notice of the instalment required to be 
 paid shall have been published at least fourteen days in one or more 
 of the newspapers printed and published in the said town, before the 
 day appointed for the payment thereof. 
 
 SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That the President and Direc- 
 tors, shall have full power and authority to manufacture, make and 
 sell gas, to be made of coal, oil, tar, peat, pitch, turpentine, or other 
 material, and to be used for the purpose of lighting the City of 
 Georgetown, or the streets thereof, and any buildings, manufactories, 
 or houses therein contained and situate : and to lay pipes for the pur- 
 pose of conducting gas in any of the streets, lanes or alleys of the said 
 city: Provided, however, That the said company shall so conduct 
 the manufacture of gas as not to injure private property, or create a 
 nuisance ; and that the said pipes shall be laid, subject to such condi- 
 tions, and in compliance with such regulations, as the Corporation of 
 Georgetown, aforesaid, may from time to time prescribe: And pro- 
 vided further, That the right to erect and put up any buildings, 
 works, or apparatus, for the manufacture of gas, shall be subject to 
 such terms, conditions, restrictions and regulations as the said Corpo- 
 tion of Georgetown may, from time to time, prescribe or direct. 
 
 SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That if any person or persons, 
 shall wilfully do, or cause to be done, any act or acts whatsoever, 
 whereby the works of the said company, or any pipe, conduit, plug, 
 cork, reservoir, or any engine, machine or structure, or any matter or 
 thing appertaining to the same shall be stopped, obstructed, impaired, 
 weakened, injured, or destroyed, the person or persons so offending 
 shall forfeit and pay to the said corporation double the amount of the 
 damage sustained by means of such offence or injury, to be recovered 
 in the name of said corporation, with cost of suit in any action of 
 debt, or on the case, to be brought in any court having cognizance 
 thereof. 
 
 SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That nothing in this act shall be 
 construed to prevent any person or persons, nor any incorporated 
 company, hereafter to be created by Congress for that purpose, from 
 engaging in and pursuing the business specified in the seventh sec- 
 tion of this act ; and that it shall be lawful for Congress at any time 
 hereafter, to alter, amend, or repeal this act. 
 
 SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That nothing in this act con- 
 tained shall be construed to authorize the said Georgetown Gas-light 
 Company to make, issue or put in circulation, any bill, draft, check, 
 order, promissory note, change ticket, or any thing else promising or 
 agreeing to pay money, intended to circulate as money, or the ten- 
 dency of which shall be to circulate as money or currency, and the 
 violation of anyone of the provisions of this section shall be a for- 
 feiture of the charter hereby given, and shall subject each of the 
 directors voting for the same, to a fine of fifty dollars. 
 
 24757 
 
8 
 
 SEC. 11. And ~be it further enacted, That each of the stockholders 
 in the Georgetown Gas-light Company shall be held liable in his or 
 her individual capacity for all the debts and liabilities of the said 
 company, however contracted or incurred, to be recovered by suit, as 
 other debts or liabilities, before the court or tribunal having juris- 
 diction of the case. 
 
 SEC. 12. And ~be it further enacted, That all right granted to the 
 Washington Gas-light Company by an act entitled "An act to amend 
 an act entitled 'An act to incorporate the Washington Gas-light Com- 
 pany, approved July eight, eighteen hundred and forty-eight', ap- 
 proved August second, eighteen hundred and forty-two," to lay gas 
 mains or pipes in the City of Georgetown, be and the same is hereby 
 repealed. 
 
 AN ACT Authorizing the Washington Gas-light Company to increase the capital 
 stock of said company, approved January 3, 1855, (10 Stats., p. 835). 
 
 Be it enacted ~by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Washing- 
 ton Gas-light Company be, and the same hereby is. authorized to in- 
 crease the capital stock thereof one hundred and fifty thousand dol- 
 lars. 
 
 SEC. 2. And ~be it further enacted, That the said stock shall be sub- 
 scribed in the books of said company in shares of twenty dollars, and 
 the holders of the said increased certificates of stock shall be held 
 subject to the same liability as is provided in the eleventh section of 
 the original act of incorporation, approved July eighth, eighteen 
 hundred and forty-eight. 
 
 AN ACT To amend the charter of the Washington Gas-light Company. 
 Approved May 24, 1866 (14 Stats., p. 53). 
 
 Be it enacted ~by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That the charter 
 of the Washington Gas-light Company be, and the same is hereby, 
 amended in the third section by substituting the word " February " 
 for the word " January." 
 
 SEC. 2. And ~be it further enacted, That the capital stock of said 
 company be, and the same is hereby, increased five hundred thousand 
 dollars, subject to the same liability as is provided in the eleventh 
 section of the original act of incorporation, approved July eighth, 
 eighteen hundred and forty-eight. 
 
 A RESOLUTION relative to lighting the streets of Washington City, District 
 of Columbia, approved July 27, 1868; 
 
 Whereas, the municipal authorities of the city of Washington 
 have failed to carry out the arrangements for lighting the streets of 
 said city, in accordance with the provisions of an act entitled "An 
 act making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the govern- 
 ment," approved July twenty-eight, eighteen hundred and sixty- 
 six: Therefore, 
 
 Be it resolved ~by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That the mayor 
 and city councils of the city of Washington be, and they are hereby, 
 authorized and directed to levy and collect a tax from the property- 
 
 24757 
 
holders of the city of Washington sufficient to defray the expenses 
 of lighting the avenue and street lamps of said city with six-feet 
 burners, twenty-one nights in each month, from dark until day light r 
 and keep said lamps so lighted each year. 
 
 SEC. 2. And T)e it further resolved, that the mayor and city coun- 
 cils of the city of Washington be and they are hereby, authorized to 
 contract with the Washington Gas-light Company for the term of 
 one year, and so from year to year until otherwise provided by law, 
 at such rates as may be agreed upon not exceeding the maximum 
 now fixed by law for all the illuminating gas required for the 
 avenue and street lamps and public offices of the city and public 
 grounds under the control of said city. 
 
 . SEC. 3. And be it further resolved, That the mayor and city coun- 
 cils of the city of Washington be, and they are hereby, authorized 
 and directed to increase from time to time, as the public good may 
 require, the number of street lamps on any of the streets, lanes, 
 alleys, public ways and grounds, in the city of Washington, and to 
 do any and all things pertaining to the well lighting of the city, 
 and to levy and collect a tax from the property-holders therefor. 
 
 SEC. 4. And ~be it further resolved, That in the event of the failure 
 of the mayor and city councils to levy and collect the tax herein 
 authorized, or to light the said city as herein directed, then the Sec- 
 retary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed 
 to levy a tax upon the property of said city, and to collect the same, 
 sufficient to light said city for the current year, and so from year to 
 year, in case of such failure of said mayor and city councils to light 
 as herein directed and to fully execute the provisions of this joint 
 resolution in the place and stead of the said mayor and city 
 councils. 
 
 SEC. 5. And be it further resolved, That nothing herein contained 
 shall be construed to relieve the said Washington Gas-light Company 
 from paying the internal revenue tax imposed by law. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations to supply deficiencies in appropria- 
 tions, etc., approved April 10, 1869. (16 Stats., p. 13.) 
 
 SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That the Washington Gas- 
 light Company be, and they are hereby, required to increase their 
 rate of discount for prompt payment to eighteen and three- fourths 
 percent from and after the first clay of Xovember next. 
 
 AN ACT To increase the capital stock and to extend the works of the Washing- 
 ton Gas-light Company, approved May 29, 1872. (17 Stats., p. 192.) 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That the capital 
 stock of the Washington Gas-light Company be, and the same is here- 
 by, increased two hundred thousand dollars, with the privilege of 
 increasing it not exceeding one million dollars, as the same may be 
 required from time to time, for extending their works in the District 
 of Columbia, east of Rock Creek: Provided, however, That said in- 
 crease of capital stock shall not be made from undivided profits of 
 said company which have already accrued, or may hereafter accrue, 
 but from capital stock actually paid in: Provided, also, That said 
 increased capital stock shall be subject to all the conditions of the 
 charter of said Washington Gas-light Company. 
 
 24757082 
 
10 
 
 AN ACT To extend the works of the Georgetown Gas-light Company, approved 
 March 3, 1873. (17 Stats., p. 629.) 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That the rights and 
 privileges granted by the act approved July 20, 1854, entitled, "An 
 ;act to incorporate the Georgetown Gas-light Company," be, and the 
 same are hereby, so extended as to cover all the territory within the 
 limits of the District of Columbia, lying on the western side of Rock 
 Creek. 
 
 AN ACT Regulating gas-works, approved June 23, 1874 (18 Stats., p. 277). 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after 
 the thirtieth day of June, eighteen hundred and seventy -four, the 
 illuminating 'power of the gas furnished by any gas-light company, 
 person, or persons, in the District of Columbia, shall be equal to six- 
 teen candles by the Bunsen photometer, using the English parlia- 
 mentary standard Argand-burner, having fifteen holes and a seven- 
 inch chimney, consuming five cubic feet of gas per hour, and such gas 
 shall not contain more than twenty grains of sulphur in any form in 
 one hundred cubic feet, nor more than five grains of ammonia in any 
 form in one hundred cubic feet. When the illuminating gas supplied 
 by any company, person, or persons in the District of Columbia, shall 
 at any one time be of less illuminating power or of less purity than 
 according to the standard just heretofore given, it shall be so reported 
 by the inspector of gas and meters to the company, person, or persons 
 supplying the same, who shall be subject to a penalty of one hundred 
 dollars., to be recovered before the proper tribunal and paid into the 
 treasury of the District of Columbia aforesaid, for each and every day 
 during which such violation shall continue : Pro vided, howe ver, That 
 if it shall appear that such deviation from the above-named standards 
 could not have been prevented by ordinary care and prudence, but 
 was occasioned by some unavoidable cause, then the said penalty shall 
 not be enforced. 
 
 SEC. 2. That a suitable and impartial person, competent as a chem- 
 ist, who is not a stockholder or employee in any gas-works, shall be 
 appointed by the President of the United States, by and with the 
 advice and consent of the Senate, to be designated and known as in- 
 spector of gas and meters, whose compensation shall be a salary of 
 two thousand dollars per annum, and whose duties shall be to test and 
 determine the illuminating power and purity of the gas furnished by 
 ;any company, person, or persons in the District of Columbia ; and to 
 test, prove, and seal all meters that may be hereafter used by them; 
 and that a suitable person, who shall be a gas-fitter by trade, shall be 
 appointed by the President, as aforesaid, on the recommendation of 
 the inspector of gas and meters, as an assistant inspector, at a salary 
 of one thousand dollars per annum, who shall assist in the duties 
 specified under the direction of the inspector of gas and meters. 
 
 SEC. 8. That a laboratory shall be provided and fitted up by the 
 Washington Gas-Light Company, subject to the approval of the 
 inspector, in the central part of the city of Washington, at a distance 
 as near as may be, of two thousand feet from any gas-works, and fur- 
 nished with suitable apparatus for the transaction of the business 
 
 24757 
 
11 
 
 of the inspector and assistant inspector, for which it is intended, and 
 the laboratory shall be kept open on all business-days between the 
 hours of eight o'clock in the forenoon and five o'clock in the after- 
 noon : Provided, That the cost of fitting up said laboratory shall be 
 paid for by each Gas Company in the District of Columbia in pro- 
 portion to their sale of gas for the year eighteen hundred and seventy- 
 three. 
 
 SEC. 4. That the company, person or persons furnishing the gas 
 may, if they see fit, 011 each occasion of the testing of the gas by the 
 inspector or assistant inspector, be represented by some officer, but 
 such officer shall not interfere in the testing. 
 
 SEC. 5. That daily inspections, Sundays excepted, shall be made in 
 conformity to the intent of this act between the hours of five and 
 eleven o'clock in the .afternoon, and a record shall be kept of each 
 inspection, giving the illuminating power and purity, which shall be 
 open to the public, and a copy of the daily inspection shall be fur-, 
 nished the following day to the company, person, or persons furnish- 
 ing the gas, Saturday's inspection to be furnished on Monday, and 
 a full report for the month to be furnished, upon request, to 
 any daily paper printed in the city of Washington on the day of their 
 publication, next after the twenty-fourth day of each month, to in- 
 clude each day's test from the date of previous publication, and 
 giving the average illuminating power for the month. 
 
 SEC. 6. That all bills for gas furnished by any company, person, or 
 persons shall state the average illuminating power for "the month; 
 and if the same shall fall below sixteen candles, as in this act pre- 
 scribed, then the amount of the bill shall be reduced pro rata. 
 
 SEC. 7. That in testing meters, the inspector or assistant inspector 
 shall ascertain whether the meter is of proper construction, and re- 
 quires only the pressure of a column of water indicated by the water- 
 gauge, commonly used for such tests, of one-fourth of an inch high to 
 work it, and whether it works regularly and correctly, and registers 
 exactly the amount of gas passing through it, first, at the rate the 
 meter is marked to supply ; secondly, at one-third its rate ; thirdly, 
 at twice its rate. The standard foot shall be one cubic foot, contain- 
 ing sixty-two and three hundred and twenty-one one-thousandths 
 pounds, avoirdupois weight, of distilled water" at the temperature of 
 sixty-two degrees Fahrenheit, and with a barometrical pressure of 
 thirty inches; and meters registering within two per centum either 
 way of the exact number of such feet passing through them at the 
 first-named rate, and within three per centum at the second and third 
 rates, and no others shall be deemed accurate and be stamped by the 
 inspector. The inspector shall keep at the laboratory a correct record 
 of all meters inspected by him, with their proof at the time of in- 
 spection, which record shall be open at all times to the public for any 
 reasonable examination by any company, person, or persons having 
 any interest therein. 
 
 SEC. 8. That any gas-meters now in use shall be proved and tested 
 on the written request of the consumer of gas on whose premises it 
 may be, and in his presence, if he requires, upon the payment in ad- 
 vance to the inspector or assistant inspector of fifty cents" for each and 
 every meter inspected, proved, and sealed, and if any such meter, on 
 being tested, shall be found to register inaccurately to the injury of 
 
 24757 
 
12 
 
 the consumer to an extent exceeding two per centum, the fee of fifty 
 cents shall be returned to the person applying for said inspection and 
 be paid to the inspector by the company, person, or persons supplying 
 the gas; and every such meter shall be considered correct, and sealed 
 accordingly, which shall register quantities varying from the true 
 standard measure of gas of not more than two per centum, and a 
 record shall be kept of the same and of all fees so collected. And all 
 meters hereafter used by any gas-company, person, or persons shall be 
 first inspected, proved, and sealed at the laboratory provided for by 
 this act; and for such inspection, proving, and sealing the company, 
 in the first instance, and thereafter the company, person, or persons 
 applying to have the meter inspected, shall pay fifty cents for each 
 meter, a record of which shall be kept and of the fees so collected : 
 and all fees shall be applied to the payment of the expenses for main- 
 taining and keeping in good order and repair the laboratory and 
 apparatus. 
 
 SEC. 9. That each company, person, or persons manufacturing illu- 
 minating gas in the District of Columbia, shall, when required, in 
 writing, by the inspector of gas and meters, bring to the laboratory 
 any meter that may have been required to be inspected, proved, and 
 sealed, and to return the same to its proper place after such inspec- 
 tion; and it shall not be lawful for any other party or person to 
 remove and return meters. 
 
 SEC. 10. That the inspector and assistant inspector of gas and 
 meters shall each give bonds to the extent of double his annual salary, 
 and shall each take an oath or affirmation, before some officer legally 
 qualified to administer the same, that he will faithfully, diligently, 
 and impartially discharge the duties of his office. 
 
 SEC. 11. That the Washington Gas- Light Company shall be author- 
 ized, on and after the passage of this act, to charge and receive 
 for illuminating gas furnished to and paid for by the Government 
 of the United States, at the rate of two dollars and fifty cents per 
 one thousand cubic feet; and when furnished and paid for by other 
 parties, or by the inhabitants of the -city of Washington, at the rate of 
 two dollars and seventy-five cents per one thousand cubic feet : Pro- 
 vided, That if the party or inhabitants so furnished shall pay 
 monthly any bill within seven days after the same shall have been 
 presented, said party shall be entitled to a discount upon the amount 
 of such bill at the rate of twenty-five cents per one thousand cubic 
 feet. And all laws authorizing any higher rates are hereby repealed : 
 Provided, That when the price of gas coals delivered at the works of 
 the Washington Gas-Light Company shall advance to eight dollars 
 and fifty cents per ton, the price of gas to consumers may be advanced 
 ten cents per thousand cubic feet and an additional ten cents per thou- 
 sand feet for each additional dollar per ton that gas coals may 
 advance in price and in like manner a reduction of ten cents per 
 thousand feet shall be made for each and every dollar per ton that 
 gas coals may fall in price below seven dollars per ton. And for that 
 purpose the Washington Gas-Light Company shall in the month of 
 May in each year furnish the Secretary of the Interior with a state- 
 ment of all their coal contracts or purchases for the ensuing year 
 excepting the Ritchie mineral and the Richmond coal, the cost of 
 which shall not enter into any calculation in making an average, 
 
 24757 
 
13 
 
 which statement shall be sworn to before a Justice of the Peace by 
 their Engineer and Secretary, and the advance or reduction of price 
 shall take place on the first of July ensuing. 
 
 SEC. 12. That the Washington Gas-light Company shall be author- 
 ized and required to furnish illuminating gas to the government* of 
 the District of Columbia within the distance of fifty yards from any 
 of their mains, on the same terms as to the Government of the United 
 States, and in case of the non-payment of any monthly bills by the 
 said District beyond the period of ten days from the time of presenta- 
 tion, the company shall be entitled to demand and receive interest 
 thereon from date until paid. And the said company shall light, 
 extinguish, keep clean, and repair the Washington City street-lamps 
 at the uniform price of forty dollars for each lamp per annum, to 
 burn two thousand two hundred hours per annum, with a six-foot 
 burner on each lamp, subject to any regulation that may be prescribed 
 by the city authorities as to the time of lighting and extinguishing 
 the same, and any extra number of hours to be charged and paid for 
 at the same rate: Provided, That the city of Washington shall fur- 
 nish, when necessary, new lanterns to replace old ones, and shall fur- 
 nish and pay for the reasonable expense of erecting new lamp-posts 
 to replace such as are old, damaged, and unfit for use. 
 
 SEC. 13. That if any person or persons, supplied with gas, neglect 
 or refuse to pay the amount due for the same, such company may stop 
 the gas from entering the premises of such person or persons. In no 
 case shall the officers, servants, or workmen of the company remove a 
 meter from premises supplied by the company, unless by consent of 
 the consumer, without first giving forty-eight hours' notice in writing 
 by leaving the same at the premises of the consumer; and said 
 removal shall take place only between the hours of eight o'clock in 
 the forenoon and two o'clock in the afternoon. 
 
 SEC. 14. That it shall be lawful for Congress at any time hereafter 
 to alter, amend, or repeal this act, and all acts and parts of acts incon- 
 sistent herewith are hereby repealed. 
 
 SEC. 15. That any person who, Avith intent to injure or defraud any 
 gas company in the District of Columbia, shall make or cause to be 
 made any pipe, tube or other instrument or contrivance, or connect 
 the same, or cause it to be connected with any main service pipe or 
 other pipe for conducting or supplying illuminating gas in such man- 
 ner as to connect with and be calculated to supply illuminating gas to 
 any burner or orifice by which illuminating gas is consumed, around 
 or without passing through the meter provided for the measuring 
 and registering of the quantity of gas there consumed, shall be deemed 
 guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by 
 imprisonment not exceeding six months or by fine not exceeding tw< 
 hundred and fifty dollars. 
 
 SEC. 16. That the price which may be charged for gas by any Gas- 
 Light Company in the District of Columbia shall be uniform and the 
 same to all consumers and any reduction made in the price or cost to 
 any person or persons, except to officers of the company, shall furnish 
 a legal right on the part of any other person or persons to demand gas 
 at the same cost or price. 
 
 Approved, June 23, 1874. 
 
 24757 
 
14 
 
 Extracts from an act providing a permanent form of government for the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia, approved June 11, 1878. (20 Stats., pp. 104 and 107.) 
 
 Said Commissioners shall have power to erect, light and maintain 
 lamp-posts, with lamps, outside of the city limits, when, in their 
 judgment, it shall be deemed proper or necessary. 
 
 (Page 107:) It shall be the duty of the Commissioners of the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia to see that all water and gas mains, service pipes, 
 and sewer connections are laid upon any street or avenue proposed 
 to be paved or otherwise improved before any such pavement or other 
 permanent works are put down ; and the Washington Gas-light Com- 
 pany, under the direction of said Commissioners, shall, at its own 
 expense, take up, lay and replace all gas mains on any street or ave- 
 nue to be paved, at such time and place as said Commissioners shall 
 direct. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the 
 Government, approved June 20, 1878. (20 Stats., p. 208.) 
 
 And the said Commissioners are hereby authorized * * * to 
 require the Washington Gas-light Company to light the city lamps at 
 such price as shall to the said Commissioners appear to be just and 
 reasonable. And all expenses heretofore incurred by the general gov- 
 ernment for the board of health, for the metropolitan police, and for 
 gas inspection, shall hereafter be a charge upon the government of 
 the District. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for expenses of the District of 
 Columbia, approved July 1, 1882. (22 Stats., p. 139.) 
 
 And hereafter all railroad companies using engines propelled by 
 steam shall provide for the lighting of the streets, avenues, alleys, and 
 grounds through which their tracks may be laid, under the direc- 
 tion and control of the Commissioners. 
 
 m 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for expenses of the District of 
 Columbia, approved March 3, 1883. '(22 Stats., p. 466.) 
 
 And hereafter all railroad companies using engines propelled by 
 steam shall pay to the District for the lighting of the streets, avenues, 
 alleys and grounds through which their tracks may be laid, under 
 the direction and control of the Commissioners; and in case of 
 default of payment of such bills, actions at law may be maintained 
 by the District of Columbia against said railroad company therefor. 
 
 Extract from act making appropriations for expenses of the District of Colum- 
 bia, approved July 9, 1886. (24 Stats., p. 134.) 
 
 For street lamps : For illuminating material and lighting, extin- 
 guishing, repairing, and cleaning lamps on avenues, streets, and 
 alleys, and for purchasing and erecting new lamp-posts, and to re- 
 place such as are old, damaged, and unfit for use, one hundred thou- 
 sand dollars : Provided, That no more than twenty dollars per annum 
 per lamp for each street lamp shall be paid for gas, lighting, extin- 
 guishing, repairing, and cleaning under any expenditure provided 
 for in this act; and said lamps shall not burn less than two thousand 
 six hundred hours per annum; and the Commissioners are authorized, 
 in their discretion, to substitute other illuminating material at the 
 
 24757 
 
15 
 
 same or less price, and to use so much of the sum hereby appropriated 
 as may be necessary for that purpose ; but not exceeding ten thousand 
 dollars of the above amount may be used in providing electric lights 
 on one or more of the principal thoroughfares of the city, without 
 regard to this limitation : Provided further. That the Commissioners 
 of the District of Columbia shall not be authorized to make any con- 
 tract for gas or other illuminating material, in accordance with the 
 provisions of this paragraph, for any longer period than one year. 
 
 Extract from act making appropriations for expenses of the District of Colum- 
 bia, approved March 3, 1887. (24 Stats., p. 574.) 
 
 * * * but not exceeding twenty thousand dollars of the above 
 amount may be used in providing electric lights 011 one or more of 
 the principal thoroughfares of the city, without regard to this limi- 
 tation, but at the lowest reasonable price obtainable. * * * 
 
 Extract from an act to incorporate the Eckiugton and Soldiers' Home Railway 
 Company of the District of Columbia, approved June 19, 1888 (25 Stats.,, 
 p. 190). 
 
 Be it enacted ~by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled. That Edward F. 
 Beale, Edward C. Dean, A. L. Barbour, George Truesclell. James L. 
 Barbour, George E. Moore, Charles C. Duncanson, Michael Connor,, 
 and Joseph Paul, of the District of Columbia, and their associates, 
 successors, and assigns, be, and they are hereby, created a body cor- 
 porate under the name of the Eckington and Soldier's Home Rail- 
 way Company cf the District of Columbia, with authority to con- 
 struct and lay down a single or double-track railway, with the 
 necessary switches, turn-outs, "and other mechanical devices and 
 sewer connections necessary to operate the same by horse, cable, or 
 electric power, *, also with the privilege of extending said 
 
 main line along New York avenue to Ivy City, within one year after 
 said avenue is opened and graded to Ivy City, with the right to run 
 public carriages thereon propelled by horse, electric, or cable power. 
 
 Extract from an act to incorporate the Rock Creek Railway Company of the 
 District of Columbia (now the Capital Traction Company), approved June 
 23, 1888 (25 Stats., p. 199). 
 
 It shall be lawful for said corporation, its successors or assigns, to> 
 operate its said road by horse, cable, or electric power. 
 
 Extract from act making appropriations for expenses of the District of Colum- 
 bia, approved July 18, 1888 (25 Stats., pp. 320 and 323). 
 
 For electric lighting, including necessary expenses of inspection, on 
 one or more of the principal streets of the cities of Washington and 
 Georgetown, thirty thousand dollars: Provided* That no more than 
 fifty cents shall be paid for each light per night burning from sunset 
 to sunrise, and each light shall be of not less than one thousand actual 
 candlepower. 
 
 And under the head of " Telegraph and telephone service " the 
 f olloAving : 
 
 The Commissioners of the District of Columbia shall not, after the 
 fifteenth day of September, eighteen hundred and eighty-eight, per- 
 mit or authorize any additional telegraph, telephone, electric lighting 
 
 24757 
 
or other wires to be erected or maintained on or over any of the streets 
 or avenues of the city of Washington, and the said Commissioners are 
 hereby directed to investigate and report to Congress at the beginning 
 of its next session the best method of interring the same under ground, 
 and such legal regulation thereof as may be needed; and they shall 
 report what manner of conduits should be maintained by the city of 
 Washington, if any, and the cost of constructing and maintaining the 
 same, and what charge, if any, should be made by the city for the use 
 of its conduits by the persons or corporations placing wires therein, 
 and upon what terms and conditions the same should be used when 
 required so to do, and for such investigation one thousand dollars is 
 hereby appropriated: Provided, That the Commissioners of the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia may, under such reasonable conditions as they may 
 prescribe, authorize the wires of any existing telegraph, telephone, or 
 electric light company now operating in the District of Columbia to 
 be laid under any street, alley, highway, footway, or sidewalk in the 
 District whenever, in their judgment, the public interest may require 
 the exercise of such authority; such privileges as may be granted 
 hereunder to be revocable at the will of Congress without compensa- 
 tion, and no such authority to be exercised after the termination of 
 the present Congress. 
 
 This Congress, the Fiftieth, expired March 3, 1889. 
 
 Extract from all act to incorporate the Georgetown and Tennallytown Raihvay 
 Company of the District of Columbia, approved August 22, 1S8S (25 Stats., 
 p. 446 )/ 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That John W. 
 Thompson, Richard H. Goldsborough, William J. Thompson, Henry 
 H. Dodge, W. K. Ryan, Osceola C. Green, and Norval W. Burchell, 
 of the District of Columbia ; Arthur E. Bateman, T. W. Pearsall, and 
 Harvey Durand, of the city and State of New York ; and Nathaniel 
 W. Bowe and John A. Coke, of the city of Richmond, State of Vir- 
 ginia, and their associates, successors, and assigns, be, and they are 
 hereby, created a body corporate under the name of the Georgetown 
 and Tennallytown 'Railway Company of the District of Columbia, 
 with authority to construct and lay down a single or double track 
 railway, with necessary switches, turn-outs, and other mechanical 
 devices for operating the same by cable or electric powder for carry- 
 ing passengers in the District of Columbia, from the Potomac River 
 near High street, to, and along High street in Georgetown to the Ten- 
 naltytown road, but wholly outside of the limits of said road, and 
 nlong the side of the said road to the District line ; also the privilege 
 of laying such conduits beneath the surface of Water street for the 
 purpose of conveying or communicating power from any suitable 
 point along said Water street to said High street, as may be found 
 necessary, and subject to the approval of the Commissioners of the 
 District of Columbia : Provided, however, That such conduits shall 
 be laid so as not to impair the surface of said Water street for traffic 
 
 and w^agon travel. 
 
 ******* 
 
 Said corporation is authorized and empowered to propel its cars 
 on such other lines as it shall coincide with by cable power or such 
 
 24757 
 
17 
 
 other motive power as it is authorized to use to propel its own cars 
 over the routes prescribed in this act. 
 
 Extract from an act to incorporate the Georgetown Barge, Dock, Elevator, and 
 Railway Company, approved September 26, 1888 (25 Stats., p. 492). 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That Anthony 
 Hyde, William A. Gordon, Robert B. Tenney, Henry H. Dodge, Mor- 
 ris J. Adler, Edward L. Dent, John A. Baker, John Marbury, and 
 Henry M. Sweeny, their associates and assigns, be, and they are here- 
 by, created a body corporate under the name of the Georgetown 
 Barge, Dock, Elevator, and Railway Company, with authority to build 
 and maintain a dock or docks on the Potomac River west of Rock 
 Creek, and to receive therein, and send therefrom, barges, vessels, 
 cargoes, and railway cars, from and to any points on the Potomac 
 River and its tributaries and coastwise; and to construct and main- 
 tain single or double track railways in the city of Georgetown or 
 West Washington, District of Columbia, through and along Water 
 street * * * and to run cars on said tracks, sidings, switches, 
 turn-outs, and turn-tables, propelled by steam, horse, or electric 
 power. 
 
 Extract from an act to incorporate the l>rightwood Railway Company of the 
 District of Columbia, approved October 18, 1888 (25 Stats., p. 560). 
 
 * * * with authority to construct and lay down a single or 
 with the approval of the Commissioners of the District a double 
 track railway, with the necessary switches, turn-outs, and other me- 
 chanical devices and sewer connections, necessary to operate the same 
 by horse, cable, or electric power, in the District of Columbia, 
 through and along Brightwood avenue, from Boundary street to the 
 boundary-line of the District of Columbia, with the right to run 
 public carriages thereon propelled by horse, electric, or cable power. 
 Said corporation is authorized and empowered to propel 
 its cars on such other lines as it shall coincide with by cable-power, 
 or such other motive power as it shall use to propel its own cars 
 with on the routes prescribed in this act, and may repair and con- 
 struct such proportions of its road as may be upon the line or route 
 or routes of any other road thus used ; and in case of any disagree- 
 ment regarding such construction or repairs, with any company 
 whose line is thus used, such disagreement may be heard and deter- 
 mined summarily upon the application of either road to any court 
 in said District having common-law jurisdiction. Said company 
 shall receive a rate of fare not" exceeding five cents for each passen- 
 ger, for each continuous ride between all points of its line, but shall 
 sell six tickets for twenty-five cents: Provided, If electric wires or 
 cables are used the same shall be placed under ground : * * * it 
 shall also be lawful for said corporation, its successors or assigns, to 
 erect and maintain, at such convenient and suitable points along its 
 lines as may seem most desirable to the board of directors of the said 
 corporation, subject to the approval of the Commissioners of the 
 District, an engine house or houses, boiler house or houses, and all 
 other buildings necessary for the successful operations of an electric 
 or cable-motor railroad. 
 
 24757 
 
18 
 
 Extract from District of Columbia appropriation bill, 1S90, approved March 2, 
 1889 (25 Stats., p. 797). 
 
 ******* 
 
 That any company authorized by law to run cars propelled by 
 horses in the District of Columbia is hereby authorized to substitute 
 for horses electric power by storage or independent electrical batteries 
 or underground wire, or underground cables moved by steam power, 
 on the whole or any portion of its roadway, with authority to pur- 
 chase and use any terminal grounds and facilities necessary for the 
 purpose. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for expenses of the District of 
 Columbia, approved March 2, 1889 (25 Stats., p. 799 and 804). 
 
 For electric lighting, including necessary inspection on one or more 
 of the principal streets of the cities of Washington and Georgetown, 
 including the south side of Pennsylvania avenue, forty thousand dol- 
 lars : Provided, That no more than sixty cents per night shall be paid 
 for any light burning from sunset to sunrise and operated wholly or 
 in part by overhead wires; and each arc light shall be of not less 
 than one thousand actual candlepower, and no part of this appropria- 
 tion shall be used for electric lighting after September thirtieth, 
 eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, by means of wires that may exist 
 on or over any of the streets or avenues of the cities of Washington 
 and Georgetown: Provided further, That the Commissioners of the 
 District of Columbia shall investigate, ascertain, and report to the 
 first session of the Fifty-first Congress what deduction may be made 
 for gas and electric lighting, both for annual and for five-year con- 
 tracts ; and that they be authorized to invite proposals for supplying 
 said light at reduced rates, and in this they are not limited to any 
 one system. 
 
 Same act, under head of " Telegraph and telephone service," pro- 
 vided as follows: 
 
 That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia may hereafter, 
 under such reasonable conditions as they may prescribe, authorize 
 the overhead wires of any telegraph, telephone, or electric light com- 
 pany to be laid under any street, alley, highway, footway, or sidewalk 
 in the District, whenever in their judgment the public interest may 
 require the exercise of such authority, such privileges as may be 
 granted hereunder to be revocable at the will of Congress without 
 compensation, and this authority to continue only until the termina- 
 tion of the Fifty-first Congress. 
 
 The Fifty-first Congress expired March 3, 1891. 
 
 Extract from an. act to amend the charter of the Eckington and Soldiers' Home 
 Railway Company, approved April 30, 1890 (26 Stats., p. 77). 
 
 Provided, That if electric wires or cables are used to propel its cars 
 over said streets from New York avenue and Fifth to Fifteenth street 
 northwest, the same shall be placed underground : 
 
 ******* 
 
 And said company is authorized to use overhead wires on its North 
 Capitol Street Branch. 
 
 ******* 
 
 24757 
 
19 
 
 That the authority of said company by this act or any other act 
 conferred to erect or use overhead wires in its operations within the 
 city of Washington shall absolutely cease and determine on the first 
 day of July, anno Domini eighteen hundred and ninety-three. 
 
 Extract from an act to change the route of the Rock Creek Railway Company, 
 and for other purposes, approved May 28, 1890 (20 Stats., p. 121). 
 
 Provided, That said company shall not operate any part of its 
 road by electric power with overhead wires within the city limits. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for expenses of the District of 
 Columbia, approved August 6, 1890 (2G Stats., pp. 300 and 304). 
 
 For electric lighting, including necessary expenses of inspection, 
 on one or more of the principal streets of the cities of Washington 
 and Georgetown, including the south side of Pennsylvania avenue", 
 and two arc lights for Freedmen's Hospital and Asylum, forty-six 
 thousand dollars: Provided, That no more than sixty cents per night 
 ,-hall be paid for any lights burning from sunset to sunrise, and no 
 more than forty cents per night shall be paid for any light burning 
 from sunset to sunrise and operated wholly or in part by overhead 
 wires; and each arc light shall be of not less than one thousand 
 actual candlepower, and no part of this appropriation shall be used 
 for electric lighting after September thirtieth, eighteen hundred 
 and ninety, by means of wires that may exist on or over any of the 
 streets or avenues of the cities of Washington and Georgetown: 
 Provided further, That the Commissioners of the District of Colum- 
 bia shall investigate, ascertain, and report to the second session of 
 the Fifty-first Congress what deductions may be made for gas and 
 electric lighting, both for annual, five-year, and ten-year contracts, 
 and that they be authorized to invite proposals for supplying said 
 light at reduced rates, and in this they are not limited to any one 
 system. 
 
 The same act, under head of '" Telegraph and telephone service," 
 provided as follows : 
 
 The President of the United States is hereby authorized to appoint 
 a board consisting of three persons, one of whom shall be an army 
 engineer, skilled in electric matters, one a civil engineer of known 
 skill and experience in municipal engineering, and one an expert 
 electrician of high repute : Provided, That not more than one member 
 shall be a resident of the District of Columbia ; and no member shall 
 be in the employ of any electric company, or shall have any interest 
 in the business or securities of such company, or be interested in any 
 patent or any form of conduit or subway, or device pertaining 
 thereto. Said board shall consider the location, arrangement, and 
 operation of electric wires in the District of Columbia, w r hether used, 
 or to be used, for electric lighting, transmission of power, teleg- 
 raphy, telephony, or signalling, with a view to securing, as soon as 
 practicable, the construction of a safe and convenient system of con- 
 duits and subways, the placing therein of all necessary electric wires 
 along the streets, avenues, and other public -spaces, and the removal 
 of all unused overhead wires, and their supports. To this end, the 
 board will, as soon as practicable, and not later than December first, 
 
 24757 
 
20 
 
 eighteen hundred and ninety-one, report to the President, who shall 
 submit the same to the first session of the Fifty-second Congress, as 
 follows : 
 
 First. Recommendations for a complete system of conduits or sub- 
 ways, with all suitable branches, connections, and appurtenances 
 for the safe and efficient operation therein of the necessary cables 
 and conductors. Such recommendations shall be accompanied b} T 
 maps, detailed drawings, and estimates of cost. 
 
 Second. Opinion as to whether the conduits or subways should be 
 built, owned, and operated by private corporations or individuals, 
 subject to public control, or constructed and maintained by public 
 authority and leased to companies or individuals. If the latter, 
 recommendation will be made as to the terms and conditions upon 
 which such leases should be executed. 
 
 Third. Also recommendations concerning the construction, loca- 
 tion, operation, and maintenance of underground cables and conduct- 
 ors, carrying currents of different intensities, with a view to promote 
 the public safety, and to secure the most convenient and efficient use 
 of such cables and conductors, and the appliances connected there- 
 with. 
 
 Fourth. Recommendations as to the restrictions, if any, which 
 should be imposed by law upon the character and intensity of electric 
 currents conve^yed by conductors situated over or under the public 
 streets, avenues, and spaces, and used for electric lighting, transmis- 
 sion of power, telegraphy, telephony, or signalling. 
 
 Fifth. Recommendations respecting the regulation of, the arrange- 
 ment and use of authorized overhead wires. 
 
 To meet the expenses of the said board, there is hereby appro- 
 priated the sum of ten thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may 
 be necessary: Provided, That the officer detailed from the Corps of 
 Engineers shall not receive any salary except that due to his rank. 
 
 Extract from the District appropriation bill, 18!)1. approve! August (', 1890 
 (26 Stats., p. 310). 
 
 ******* 
 
 SEC. 3. That any street railroad company in the District of Colum- 
 bia authorized to run cars drawn by horses, Avhich has changed or may 
 change its motive power on any of its lines now constructed, to cable 
 or electricity, or change its rails in accordance with the provisions of 
 law, shall have the right to issue and sell, at the market price thereof, 
 stock of said company to an amount necessary to cover the cost of 
 making said changes, the cost of said changes and the amount of said 
 stock sold, together with the price per share, to be fully set forth, 
 under the oath of the President of said Company, and filed with the 
 Commissioners of the District. And any company availing itself of 
 the privilges herein granted shall within two years, wholly dispense 
 with horses as motive power on all portions of its line and substitute 
 therefor the power provided for in the act making appropriations for 
 the expenses of the District of Columbia, approved March second, 
 eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, or pneumatic or other modern 
 motive power which shall be approved by the Commissioners of the 
 District of Columbia, but nothing in this act contained shall in any 
 wise authorize the use of overhead appliances: Provided, That if any 
 
 247f>7 
 
21 
 
 such company operating a line or lines of street railroad from George- 
 town or West Washington to and beyond the Capitol grounds shall 
 fail to substitute for horse power the power herein provided for on 
 all its lines within two years from the date of this act, such company 
 shall forfeit its corporate franchise. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the 
 Government, approved August 30, 1890 (26 Stats., p. 31)7). 
 
 For introducing electric lamps and wires into the Executive Man- 
 sion and connecting the same by underground cable with the source 
 of electricity, seven thousand seven hundred dollars; and the sum 
 appropriated for the purchase of gas may be applied to the purchase 
 of gas or electric light. 
 
 , For electric lights for three hundred and sixty-five nights, from 
 seven posts, at^ forty cents per light per night, one thousand and 
 twenty-two dollars. 
 
 Extract from an act to incorporate the Washington and Arlington Railway 
 Company of the District of Columbia, approved February 28, 1891 (26 Stats., 
 p. 798). 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled. That W. H. Han- 
 dle, D. C. Forney, J. S. Lawrence, Beriah Wilkins, C. G. Lee. James 
 L. Barbour, and their associates and assigns, be, and they are hereby, 
 created a body corporate under the name of the Washington and 
 Arlington Railway Company of the District of Columbia, with 
 authority to construct and lay down a single or double track railway, 
 with necessary switches, turn-outs, and other mechanical devices for 
 operating the same, by horse, cable, compressed air or other power to 
 be approved by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, or 
 electric power. 
 
 Provided, That said company shall not operate any part of its line 
 by electric power with overhead wires within the city limits. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for expenses of the District of 
 Columbia, approved March 3, 1891 (26 Stats., pp. 1069 and 1073). 
 
 For electric lighting, including necessary expenses of inspection, 
 on one or more of the principal streets of the cities of Washington 
 and Georgetown, maintaining existing service and necessary ex- 
 tensions, fifty-nine thousand five hundred dollars: Provided, That 
 no more than fifty cents per night shall be paid for any electric arc 
 light burning every night from sunset to sunrise, and operated wholly 
 by means of underground wires, and each arc light shall be of not less 
 than one thousand actual candlepower, and no part of this appropria- 
 tion shall be used for electric lighting by means of wires that may 
 exist on or over any of the streets or avenues of Washington and 
 Georgetown: Provided, That the Commissioners of the District of 
 Columbia are hereby authorized, in their discretion, to enter into con- 
 tract for electric arc lights, which shall fulfill the conditions above 
 specified for a period of three years from July 1st, 1891, at a price 
 not to exceed fifty cents per lamp per night. 
 '24757 
 
22 
 
 Same act, under head of " Telegraph and telephone service/' pro- 
 vides as follows : 
 
 * * * Provided^ That the board appointed under the pro- 
 visions of the District of Columbia appropriation act, approved 
 August sixth, eighteen hundred and ninety, to consider and report 
 upon a system of conduits and subways and kindred matters, shall 
 in addition submit a set of recommendations concerning a safe and 
 efficient wiring of public and private buildings for all electric pur- 
 poses: Provided further, That until action by Congress upon the 
 report of the* board appointed to consider the location, arrangement, 
 and operation of electric wires in the District of Columbia, pursuant 
 to the act approved August sixth, eighteen hundred and ninety, or 
 until April first, eighteen hundred and ninety-two, whichever shall 
 first occur, the Commissioners. of the said District shall not permit 
 the additional construction of more than five miles of conduits or 
 subways in aggregate length for electric lighting purposes, nor more 
 than five miles of conduits or subways in aggregate length for tele- 
 phone service ; this to apply to all permits heretofore granted or here- 
 after granted under existing law, all such permits to be revokable by 
 Congress as heretofore provided, but not to apply to necessary street 
 or house connections for electric service nor to changes of motive 
 power on street railways, in compliance with existing law. 
 
 Extract from an act to amend the charter of the Eckington and Soldiers' Home 
 Railroad Company, approved July 5, 1892 (27 Stats., p. 65). 
 
 Provided, That horse power shall not be used on said line for 
 traction purposes, and that if electric wires or cables are used to 
 propel its cars over any of the routes hereby authoried within the 
 limits of the city of Washington the same shall be placed under- 
 ground. 
 
 Extract from an act to incorporate the District of Columbia Suburoan Railway 
 Company, approved July 5, 1892 (27 tSats., p. 66). 
 
 SEC. 2. That said company may run public carriages, propelled by 
 cable, electric, or other mechanical power : Provided, That if electric 
 wires or cables be used within the limits of the city of Washington, 
 the wires shall be placed underground, and the power used shall be 
 subject to the approval of the said Commissioners; but nothing in 
 this act shall allow the use of steam power or any motor which shall 
 in its operation cause any noise or other disturbance which in the 
 judgment of said Commissioners shall be inimical to the public safety 
 or comfort : Provided 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for expenses of the District of 
 Columbia, approved July 14, 1892 (27 Stats., p. 157). 
 
 For electric lighting, including necessary expenses of inspection, 
 on one or more of the principal streets, in the cities of Washington 
 and Georgetown, maintaining existing service and necessary exten- 
 sions, fifty-nine thousand five hundred dollars: Provided, That not 
 more than fifty cents per night shall be paid for any electric arc 
 light burning every night from sunset to sunrise, and operated 
 wholly by means of underground wires; and each arc light shall be 
 of not less than one thousand actual candlepower, and no part of 
 
 24757 
 
this appropriation shall be used for electric lighting by means of 
 wires that may exist on or over any of the streets or avenues of the 
 cities of Washington and Georgetown. 
 
 Joint resolution, approved July 22, 1892 (27 Stats., p. 399). 
 
 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That the time 
 within which the street railroad companies availing themselves of 
 the privileges granted by the act making appropriations to provide 
 for the government of the District of Columbia, and approved Au- 
 gust sixth, eighteen hundred and ninety, so far as it extends to the 
 Metropolitan Railroad, is hereby extended for one year from the date 
 of the passage of this act: Provided, That so fast as the cars now 
 building are equipped with storage batteries they shall be placed on 
 the road: And provided further, That pending the change the 
 present equipment of the road shall be put, and kept and maintained 
 in good condition; and any failure to comply with any of the fore- 
 going requirements as to equipment shall render the said Metro- 
 politan Railway Company liable to a line of not exceeding twenty- 
 five dollars for each day so in default, to be recovered by the Com- 
 missioners of the District of Columbia, as other fines are recovered 
 in the District of Columbia. 
 
 SEC. 2. Congress reserves the right to alter, amend or repeal this 
 act. 
 
 Extract from an act to amend an act entitled "An act to incorporate the 
 Brightwood Railwav Company of the District of Columbia," approved July 
 26, 1892 (27 Stats., p. 270). 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of Amei4ca in Congress assembled, That j:he charter 
 granted to the Brightwood Railway Company by an act of Congress 
 approved October eighteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-eight, be, 
 and the same is, amended as follows : 
 
 u That within six months from the date of the approval of this 
 act, the said Brightwood Railway Company shall equip and operate 
 its existing line with the overhead trolley system of electric motive 
 
 * * * * * * * 
 
 Said branch line shall be operated by the overhead trolley system 
 
 JOINT RESOLUTION Giving authority for the erection of overhead wires for 
 the illumination of the city of Washington during the encampment of the 
 Grand Army of the Republic, during September, eighteen hundred and ninety- 
 two, approved July 26, 1892 (27 Stat., p. 400). 
 
 Whereas, It is proposed during the approaching reunion of the 
 Grand Army of the Republic to make provision for the suitable illu- 
 mination of the streets, avenues and public grounds, which illumina- 
 tion can not be effected unless additional over-head wires, for electrical 
 purposes, are temporarily strung, and 
 
 Whereas, The Commissioners of the District of Columbia are pro- 
 hibited by existing law from authorizing any overhead wires for 
 electrical purposes to be strung on or over any street or avenue of the 
 said city: Therefore, 
 
 24757 
 
24 
 
 Resolved l>y the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
 States of America in Congress assembled, That the Commissioners of 
 the District of Columbia are hereby authorized to permit the Com- 
 mittee on Illumination of the Citizens' Executive Committee for the 
 Entertainment of the Twenty-sixth National Encampment of the 
 Grand Army of the Republic, to stretch suitable conductors, with 
 sufficient supports, wherever necessary, for the purpose of effecting 
 the said illumination: 
 
 Provided, That the said conductors shall not be used for the convey- 
 ing of electrical currents after September twenty-seventh, eighteen 
 hundred and ninety- two. and shall, with their supports, be fully and 
 entirely removed from the streets and avenues of the said city of 
 Washington on or before November first, eighteen hundred and 
 ninety-two : Provided, further, That the stretching and removing of 
 the said wires shall be urder the supervision of the Commissioners of 
 the District of Columbia, who shall see that the provisions of this 
 resolution are enforced, that all needful precautions are taken for the 
 protection of the public, and that the pavement of any street, avenue 
 or alley disturbed is replaced in as good condition as before entering 
 upon the work herein authorized : 
 
 Provided, further, That no expense or damage on account of, or due 
 to the stretching, operation, or removing of the said temporary over- 
 head conductors shall be incurred by the United States or the District 
 of Columbia. 
 
 Extract from an act to incorporate the Washington and Great Falls Electric 
 Railway Company, approved July 29, 1802 (27 Stats., p. 326). 
 
 That the said corporation shall operate its said road by electric 
 power, and for this purpose it is hereby authorized to erect and main- 
 lain such poles and aerial lines as may be necessary for the proper 
 conduct of said power ; such lines to be built in the most perfect and 
 substantial manner, Provided. That in order to prevent any danger 
 or damage to the United States telephone line between the Great 
 Falls of the Potomac and Washington, belonging to the Washington 
 Aqueduct, or to its instruments, from the electric wires of said rail- 
 way company, the said company shall, at all times and at its own 
 expense remove, change, and protect said telephone line in such man- 
 ner as may be directed by the Secretary of War. 
 
 ******* 
 
 That the said corporation shall, at its own expense, maintain elec- 
 tric lights along the entire length of its railway during the hours 
 tifter nightfall that its cars shall run, and at least until twelve o'clock 
 nnd thirty minutes antemeridian, which lights shall be located so as 
 to light all roads on and across which it shall pass, and shall be placed 
 at such points along the proposed road as the Secretary of War shall 
 direct, and shall also light Chain Bridge in the same manner and dur- 
 ing the same hours. 
 
 Extract from an act to incorporate the Maryland and Washington Railway 
 Company, approved August 1, 1802 (27 Stats., p. 341). 
 
 SEC. 2. That said company may run public carriages propelled by 
 cable, electric, or other mechanical power, subject to the approval of 
 
 24757 
 
25 
 
 the said Commissioners, but nothing in this act shall allow the use of 
 steam power in locomotives. 
 
 Extract from an act to amend the charter of the Eckington and Soldiers' Home 
 Railway Company of the District of Columbia, approved February 13, 1893 
 (27 Stats., p. 444). 
 
 Be it enacted ~by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That the act to 
 amend the charter of the Eckington and Soldier's Home Eailway 
 Company, approved April thirtieth, anno Domini eighteen hundred 
 and ninety, is hereby amended by substituting the word " five " for 
 the word " three " in the last line of said act. 
 
 ******* 
 
 And in the fourth proviso by striking out the word " horse " and 
 inserting in lieu -thereof the word " steam," so that the proviso will 
 read, " Provided, That steam power shall nob be used on said line for 
 traction purposes, and that, if electric wires or cables are used to 
 propel its cars over any of the routes hereby authorized within the 
 limits of the city of Washington, the same shall be placed under 
 ground." 
 
 A JOINT RESOLUTION providing for additional telegraphic and electric-light 
 facilities in the city of Washington during the inaugural ceremonies on the 
 fourth day of March, eighteen hundred and ninety-three. Approved, Febru- 
 ary 15, 1893 (27 Stats., p. 755). 
 
 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
 States of America in Congress assembled, That the Commissioners of 
 the District of Columbia be, and they are hereby, authorized to permit 
 the Western Union Telegraph Company and tne United States Elec- 
 tric Company to extend overhead wires into the Pension building and 
 to such points along the line of parade as shall be deemed by the chief 
 marshal convenient for use in connection with the parade" and other 
 inaugural purposes, the said wires to be taken down within ten days 
 after the conclusion of the ceremonies on the fourth day of March, 
 eighteen hundred and ninety-three. 
 
 Extract from an act to amend the charter of the Brightwood Railway Company 
 of the District of Columbia, approved February 27,^1893 (27 Stats., p. 490). 
 
 Be it enacted ~by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Bright- 
 wood Eailway Company of the District of Columbia is hereby au- 
 thorized to construct, equip, and operate, with the overhead trolley 
 system of electric motive power, a branch line of road and to run its 
 cars thereon through and along the following-named roads or streets 
 in the District of Columbia : 
 
 Beginning at the intersection of the Eock Creek Church road and 
 Eichmond street, in the subdivision of Petworth, and running thence 
 westerly along said Eichmond street to Brightwood avenue; thence 
 Southerly along the present tracks of the said Brightwood Eailway 
 on said Brightwood avenue, to the intersection of Marshall street with 
 said Brightwood avenue; thence westerly along and over said Mar- 
 shall street to Kenyon avenue; thence along said Kenyon avenue 
 westerly to Fourteenth street. 
 
 2475708 3 
 
26 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for the expenses of the District of 
 Columbia, approved March 3, 1893 (27 Stats., p. -544). 
 
 For electric lighting, including necessary expenses of inspection, on 
 one or more of the principal streets in the cities of Washington and 
 Georgetown, maintaining existing service and necessary extensions, 
 fifty-nine thousand five hundred dollars: Provided, That not more 
 than fifty cents per night shall be paid for any electric arc light 
 burning every night from sunset to sunrise, and operated wholly by 
 means of underground wires; .and each arc light shall be of not less 
 than one thousand actual candlepower; and no part of this appro- 
 priation shall be used for electric lighting by means of wires that may 
 exist on or over any of the streets or avenues of the cities of Wash- 
 ington and Georgetown: Provided further, That the Commissioners 
 of the District of Columbia shall investigate, ascertain, and report to 
 the first session of the Ffty-third Congress what deduction may be 
 made for gas and electric lighting both for annual, five-year, and for 
 ten-year contracts, and that they be authorized to invite proposals for 
 supplying said light at reduced rates; and in this they are not lim- 
 ited to any one system or company. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for expenses of the District of 
 Columbia, approved March 3, 1S93 (27 Stat., p. 544). 
 
 That for securing a better fulfillment of the intent of an act entitled 
 "An act regulating gas works," approved June twenty-third, eighteen 
 hundred and seventy-four, two additional laboratories shall be pro- 
 vided and fitted up by the Washington Gas Light Company, subject 
 to the approval of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, 
 and shall be furnished with suitable apparatus, to the satisfaction of 
 the said Commissioners, at a total cost not to exceed one thousand dol- 
 lars, for inspecting and testing the illuminating gas manufactured 
 and distributed by the said Washington Gas Light Company and the 
 gas meters used for measuring the gas supplied to consumers by the 
 said Washington Gas Light Company. One of the said laboratories 
 shall be located in the nortlrvvestern portion of the city of Washington 
 and the other in the southeastern portion of said city, and the cost of 
 providing and fitting up the said laboratories shall be paid for by the 
 said Washington Gas Light Company. And for securing the better 
 fulfillment of the intent of the said act, a laboratory shall be pro- 
 vided and fitted up by the Georgetown Gas Light Company, subject 
 to the approval of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, 
 and shall be furnished with suitable apparatus, to the satisfaction of 
 the said Commissioners at a total cost not to exceed one thousand dol- 
 lars, for inspecting and testing the illuminating gas manufactured 
 and distributed by the said Washington Gas Light Company and the 
 gas meters used for measuring the gas supplied to consumers by the 
 said Georgetown Gas Light Company: Provided, That the cost of 
 providing and fitting up the said laboratory shall be paid by the said 
 Georgetown Gas Light Company, and the said Georgetown Gas Light 
 Company shall be liable for such penalties for departures from the 
 standards of illuminating power and purity of the gas manufactured 
 and distributed by the said Company as are prescribed in the first 
 section of the said act entitled "An act regulating gas Avorks," ap- 
 proved June twenty-third, eighteen hundred and seventy-four : Pro- 
 
 24757 
 
vided further, That the provisions and penalties of the act entitled 
 "An act to authorize the appointment of an inspector of plumbing in 
 the District of Columbia, and for other purposes," approved April 
 twenty-third, eighteen hundred and ninety-two, are hereby extended 
 to include the practice of the business of gas- fitting in the District of 
 Columbia : Provided further, That the Washington Gas Light Com- 
 pany and the Georgetown Gas Light Company shall, at the beginning 
 of each fiscal year, in proportion to their respective receipts from 
 sales of gas for the fiscal year immediately preceding, provide in 
 advance, by depositing Avith the collector of taxes of the District of 
 Columbia, a sum sufficient to pay the salary of an inspector of gas- 
 fitting, to be appointed by the Commissioners of the District of 
 Columbia, at one thousand dollars per annum, and also the necessary 
 additional expenses of maintaining the service of inspecting and test- 
 ing illuminating gas and gas meters, herein provided for, as esti- 
 mated by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, and not to 
 , exceed five hundred dollars per annum for each of the said additional 
 laboratories: Provided further', That the daily inspections prescribed 
 in section five of the act entitled "An act regulating gas works," 
 approved June twenty-third, eighteen hundred and seventy-four, 
 shall hereafter be made at any time after twelve o'clock noon and 
 before twelve o'clock midnight, in the discretion of the inspector of 
 gas and meters: Provided further, That the provisions of sections 
 seven and eight of the act entitled "An act regulating gas works," 
 approved June twenty-third, eighteen hundred and seventy-four, 
 shall hereafter apply to all gas meters from which the heads shall 
 have been removed by any gas company in the District of Columbia 
 for the purpose of examining and repairing the same, and no gas 
 meter from which the head shall have been removed shall be again 
 placed in service by any gas company in the District of Columbia 
 without 'having been duly inspected, approved, and sealed as -pro- 
 vided for in the said act and for such inspection of repaired meters a 
 fee of twenty cents each shall be paid: Provided further, That each 
 gas company in the District of Columbia shall, at its'sole and entire 
 expense, make reasonable extensions of its gas mains whenever the 
 said extensions shall be necessary for maintaining street lamps for 
 the public safety and comfort, and the said Commissioners shall regu- 
 late the location and depth of the said gas mains in the streets, ave- 
 nues, roads, alleys, and spaces of the District of Columbia. Any fail- 
 ure to comply with this provision shall be reported to Congress by 
 the Commissioners. 
 
 For electric lighting, including necessary expenses of inspection, on 
 one or more of the rjrincipal streets in the cities of Washington and 
 Georgetown, maintaining existing service, and necessary extensions, 
 fifty-nine thousand five hundred dollars: Provided, That not more 
 than fifty cents per night shall be paid for any electric arc light burn- 
 ing every night from sunset to sunrise, and operated wholly by means 
 of underground wires; and each arc light shall be of not less than 
 one thousand actual candle power, and no part of this appropriation 
 shall be used for electric lighting by means of wires that may exist on 
 or over any of the streets or avenues of the cities of Washington and 
 Georgetown: Provided further* That the Commissioners of the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia shall investigate, ascertain, and report to the first 
 
 24757 
 
28 
 
 session of the Fifty-third Congress what deduction may be made for 
 gas and electric lighting, both for annual, five-year, and for ten-year 
 contracts, and that they be authorized to invite proposals for supply- 
 ing said light at reduced rates ; and in this they are not limited to any 
 one system or company. 
 
 Extract from an act to authorize the Metropolitan Railroad Company to change 
 its motive power for the propulsion of the cars of said company, approved 
 August 2, 1894 (28 Stats., p. 217). 
 
 SEC. 2. That the said Metropolitan Railroad Company be, and the 
 same is hereby, authorized, empowered, and required to equip and 
 operate the lines of its cars upon and along all the streets and ave- 
 nues of the cities of Washington and Georgetown, within the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia, where the lines of its road or any part thereof are 
 now laid and operated, and as hereinafter provided, with an under- 
 ground electric system for propulsion of such cars: * * * 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for the expenses of the District of 
 Columbia, approved August 7, 1894 (28 Stats., pp. 252 and 256). 
 
 For electric lighting, including necessary expenses of inspection, 
 on one or more of the principal streets in the cities of Washington 
 and Georgetown, maintaining existing service, and necessary exten- 
 sions, forty-seven thousand six hundred dollars: Provided, That not 
 more than forty cents per night shall be paid for any electric arc 
 light burning every night from sunset to sunrise, and operated wholly 
 by means of underground wires; and each arc light shall be of not 
 less than one thousand actual candlepower, and no part of this appro- 
 priation shall be used for electric lighting by means of wires that may 
 exist on or over any of the streets or avenues of the cities of Wash- 
 ington and Georgetown. 
 
 Same act, under head of " Telegraph and Telephone Service," pro- 
 vides as follows: 
 
 Telegraph and telephone service. * * * And the Commis- 
 sioners of the said District are hereby empowered to authorize the 
 erection and use of telephone poles in the public alleys of the city 
 of Washington: Provided, however, That all telephone poles so 
 erected shall be subject to use by the said District for the stringing 
 of wires thereon to be used for fire-alarm and police purposes with- 
 out any charge therefor to the said District, such privileges as may 
 be granted hereunder to be revokable at the will of Congress with- 
 out compensation. 
 
 Extract from an. act to authorize the Washington, Alexandria and Mount Ver- 
 non Electric Railway Company to extend its line of road into and within the 
 District of Columbia, and for other purposes, approved August 23, 1894 (28 
 Stats., p. 494). 
 
 SEC. 11. That the said company shall run street railway cars pro- 
 pelled by underground cable or underground electric power. 
 
 Extract from an act to amend an act entitled "An act to incorporate the Mary- 
 land and Washington Railway Company," approved March 2,1895 (28 Stats., 
 p. 713). 
 
 And the said company shall be liable for any damage to pipes or 
 other underground constructions, caused by the passage of its cars 
 
 24757 
 
29 
 
 over the same or by electric currents used in the propulsion of its 
 cars. 
 
 ******* 
 
 Provided, That nothing in this Act shall operate to authorize the 
 erection of overhead wires within the limits of the city of Wash- 
 ington. 
 
 Extract from an act to authorize the Washington and Marlboro Electric Rail- 
 way Company, of Maryland, to extend its line of road into and within the 
 District of Columbia, approved March 2, 1895 (28 Stats., p. 717). 
 
 SEC. 6. That if the said railway be operated by overhead wires the 
 corporation shall furnish and maintain such lights along its line as 
 the Commissioners of the District of Columbia may direct, without 
 cost to the District of Columbia ; but no overhead wires shall be con- 
 structed or used within the limits of the city of Washington. 
 
 ******* 
 
 SEC. 12. That the said company may run public carriages pro- 
 pelled by cable, electric, or other mechanical power; but nothing in 
 this Act shall allow the use of steam power in locomotives. 
 
 Extract from an act to incorporate the Capital Railway Company, approved 
 March 2, 1895 (28 Stats., p. 721). 
 
 SEC. 6. That if the said railway be operated by overhead wires, the 
 corporation shall furnish and maintain such lights along its line as 
 the Commissioners of the District of Columbia may direct, without 
 cost to the District of Columbia; but no overhead wires shall be 
 constructed or used within the limits of the city of Washington. 
 
 * ****** 
 
 SEC. 12. That the said company may run public carriages propelled 
 by cable, electric, or other mechanical power; but nothing in this Act 
 shall allow the use of steam power in locomotives, or of overhead trol- 
 leys within the limits of the city : Provided, That if electric power by 
 trolley be used, that the said company shall be liable for all damages 
 made thereby to subsurface metal pipes, and to other public and pri- 
 vate property. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for the expenses of the District of 
 Columbia, approved March 2, 1895 (28 Stats., p. 751). 
 
 For electric lighting, including necessary expenses of inspection, on 
 one or more of the principal streets in the cities of Washington and 
 Georgetown, maintaining existing service and necessary extensions, 
 forty-seven thousand six hundred dollars: Provided, That not more 
 than forty cents per night shall be paid for any electric arc light burn- 
 ing every night from sunset to sunrise, and operated Avholty by means 
 of underground wires, and each arc light shall be of not less than one 
 thousand actual candlepower, and no part of this appropriation shall 
 be used for electric lighting by means of wires that may exist on or 
 over any of the streets or avenues of the cities of Washington, and 
 Georgetown. 
 
 24757 
 
30 
 
 Extract from an act to amend an act entitled "An act to incorporate the Capital 
 Railway Company," approved May 28, 1896 (29 Stats., p. 188). 
 
 SEC. 2. That the motive power to be used on the lines in this Act 
 specified shall be the underground electric system within the city of 
 Washington and the overhead trolley system outside the city of 
 Washington. For crossing the Xavy-Yard bridge the said company 
 may, in the discretion of the Commissioners of the District of Co- 
 lumbia, use either horse pow r er or the underground electric system 
 to propel its cars; and the said company shall have the privilege of 
 carrying an electric current across the said Navy- Yard bridge in such 
 manner as the said Commissioners of the District of Columbia shall 
 prescribe. 
 
 Extract from an act to amend an act entitled "An act to incorporate the Wash- 
 ington and Great Falls Electric Railway Company," approved June 3, 1896 
 (29 Stats., p. 248). 
 
 That the said corporation shall operate its said road by electric 
 pow T er, and for this purpose it is hereby authorized to erect and 
 maintain such poles and aerial lines as may be necessary for the 
 proper conduct of said power ; such lines to be built in the most per- 
 fect and substantial manner: Provided, That in order to prevent any 
 danger or damage to the United States telephone line between the 
 Great Falls of the Potomac and Washington, belonging to the Wash- 
 ington Aqueduct, or to its instruments, from the electric wires of 
 said railway company, the said company shall, at all times and 
 at its own expense remove, change, and protect said telephone line 
 in such manner as mav be directed by the Secretary of War. 
 
 That the said corporation shall, at its own expense, maintain 
 electric lights during the hours after nightfall that its cars shall 
 run, and at least until twelve o'clock antemeridian, which lights shall 
 be located so as to light all roads on and across which the railway shall 
 pass and such other points along the proposed route as the Secretary 
 of War shall direct. 
 
 AN ACT Relating to the sale of gas in the District of Columbia, approved June 
 6, 1896 (29 Stats., p. 251). 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Washing- 
 ton Gaslight Company of the District of Columbia is authorized to 
 charge and collect, after the first day of July, eighteen hundred and 
 ninety-six, for illuminating gas furnished to and paid for by private 
 consumers in the District of Columbia, at the rate of not exceeding 
 one dollar ard ten cents per thousand cubic feet, until the first day 
 of July, nineteen hundred and one, after which last-named date the 
 rate shall not exceed one dollar per thousand cubic feet; and that 
 after the first day of July, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, the 
 Washington Gaslight Company of the District of Columbia shall 
 furnish to the United States Government and the District of Colum- 
 bia gas at the rate of one dollar per thousand cubic feet : Provided, 
 That if consumers other than the Government shall not pay monthly 
 any gas bill within ten days after the same shall have been presented, 
 said company may charge and collect from said consumer so failing 
 
 24757 
 
31 
 
 to pay said bill as aforesaid one dollar and twenty-five cents per 
 thousand cubic feet for the gas furnished to said consumer during 
 said mpnth. 
 
 SEC. 2. That the Georgetown Gaslight Company, doing business in 
 that part of the District of Columbia formerly known as George- 
 town, is authorized to charge and collect, after the first day of July, 
 eighteen hundred and ninety-six, for illuminating gas furnished to, 
 and paid for, by private consumers in that part of the District of 
 Columbia, at the rate of not exceeding one dollar and thirty-five cents 
 per thousand cubic feet, until the first day of July, nineteen hundred 
 and one, after which last-named date the rate shall not exceed one 
 dollar and twenty-five cents per thousand cubic feet ; and that after the 
 first day of July, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, the said George- 
 town Gaslight Company shall furnish to the United States Govern- 
 ment and the District of Columbia gas at the rate of one dollar and 
 twenty-five cents per thousand cubic feet: Provided, That if con- 
 sumers, other than the Government, shall not pay monthly any gas 
 bill within ten days after the same shall have been presented, said 
 company may charge and collect from said consumer so failing to pay 
 said bill as aforesaid one dollar and fifty cents per thousand cubic feet 
 for the gas furnished said consumer during said month. 
 
 SEC. 3. That section one of an Act entitled "An Act regulating 
 gas works," approved June twenty -third, eighteen hundred and 
 seventy-four, is amended so as to read as follows : " That from and 
 after the thirtieth day of June, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, the 
 illuminating power of the gas furnished by any gaslight company, 
 person, or persors in the District of Columbia shall be equal to 
 twenty-five candles by the Bunsen photometer, using the Bray slit 
 union burner numbered seven, consuming five cubic feet of gas per 
 hour; and such gas shall not contain more than twenty grains of 
 sulphur in any form in one hundred cubic feet, nor more than five 
 grains of ammonia in any form in one hundred cubic feet, and shall 
 be free of the impurity known as ' sulphureted hydrogen,' said im- 
 purity to be determined by passing the gas through a glass vessel con- 
 taining strips of bibulous paper moistened with a solution of the 
 acetate of lead, and if any discoloration of the test paper is found to 
 have taken place this is to be held conclusive as to the presence of 
 sulphureted hydrogen in the gas. When the illuminating gas sup- 
 plied by any company, person, or persons in the District of Columbia 
 shall at any one time be of less illuminating power or of less purity 
 than according to the standard just heretofore given, it shall be so 
 reported by the inspector of gas and meters to the company, person, 
 or persons supplying the same, who shall be subject to a penalty of 
 one hundred dollars, to be recovered before the proper tribunal and 
 paid into the treasury of the District of Columbia aforesaid for each 
 and every clay during Avhich such violation shall continue : Provided, 
 however. That if it shall appear that such deviation from the above- 
 named standards could not have been prevented by ordinary care and 
 prudence, but was occasioned by some unavoidable causes, then the 
 said penalty shall not be enforced." 
 
 SEC. 4. That any gas company or person placing a gas meter in 
 service in the District .of Columbia that has not been inspected, 
 proved, and sealed, as provided for by the Act of March third, 
 
 24757 
 
32 
 
 eighteen hundred and seventy- three, entitled "4^n Act making ap- 
 propriations for the expenses of the government of the District of 
 Columbia for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred 
 and ninety- four, and for other purposes," for each and every such 
 violation of said Act shall be subject to a penalty of one hundred dol- 
 lars, to be recovered before the proper tribunal of the District of 
 Columbia : Provided, That if the United States Inspector of Gas and 
 Meters is unable through press of business, or any accidental cause, 
 to test and inspect and seal meters, proposed to be set, then the com- 
 pany shall be at liberty to place an unsealed gas meter on any prem- 
 ises, the same to be replaced by a sealed meter as soon as sealed meters 
 can be procured from the inspector, not later than forty-eight hours. 
 
 SEC. 5. That neither the Washington Gaslight Company nor the 
 Georgetown Gaslight Company shall hereafter issue any greater num- 
 ber of shares of stock than shall be equal to the actual cash value of 
 said plants and necessary cost of the construction of future exten- 
 sions or future enlargement of plants, which cash value and cost of 
 extensions shall first be ascertained and authorized upon petition 
 therefor to the supreme court of the District of Columbia, under such 
 regulations as the chief justice and the justices thereof shall pre- 
 scribe ; also if either of the said corporations shall desire hereafter to 
 issue bonds upon their property, secured by mortgage or otherwise, 
 upon petition therefor to said court, setting forth the necessity there- 
 of and the amount of stock issued and outstanding, it may and shall 
 be lawful for said court, or the chief justice and justices thereof, as 
 the case may be, or one of them, upon public notice, to be prescribed 
 by the rules of said court, to permit the issuance of such bonds and 
 mortgage as desired : Provided, That the amount of stock and bonds 
 issued shall not exceed the actual cash value of said plants and the 
 cost of such extensidns or enlargement of plants: And provided fur- 
 ther, That the Washington Gaslight Company is hereby authorized 
 to issue such additional amount of capital stock as will provide for 
 the conversion into such stock of its outstanding certificates of in- 
 debtedness, which conversion of sakl certificates is hereby authorized 
 to an amount not exceeding six hundred thousand dollars. 
 
 SEC. 6. That Congress reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal 
 this Act. 
 
 Extract from an act to authorize the Baltimore and Washington Transit Corn- 
 Pany, of Maryland, to enter the District of Columbia, approved June 8, 
 1896 (29 Stats., p. 264). 
 
 SEC. 4. That the said Baltimore and Washington Transit Company 
 shall be empowered to construct, maintain, equip, and operate a 
 single or double track street railway over the said line, with all 
 necessary buildings, switches, machinery, appliances, appurtenances, 
 and other devices necessary to operate the same by cable, electricity, 
 compressed air, storage battery, or other motive power, to be ap- 
 proved by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia : Provided, 
 That the right of said company to use an overhead single trolley 
 on a street or part of a street shall cease six months after the date of 
 the approval of an Act of Congress appropriating money for or 
 otherwise authorizing the paving of the roadway of such street or 
 part of street, except in connection with continuous track rails: 
 
 24757 
 
33 
 
 And provided further, That the right of said company to use an 
 overhead single trolley in any public space in the District of Co- 
 lumbia, except in connection with continuous track rails, shall in any 
 event cease on July first, eighteen hundred and ninety-nine. * 
 Said company shall be liable for any damage to pipes or other under- 
 ground constructions caused by the passage of its cars over the same, 
 or by electric current used in the propulsion of its cars. 
 
 Extract from an act to extend the routes of the Eckington and Soldiers' Home 
 Railway Company, and of the Belt Railway Company, of the District of 
 Columbia, and for other purposes, approved June 10, 1896 (29 Stats., p. 318). 
 
 In the event that the said compressed-air motors shall not be ap- 
 proved as herein provided for, then within eighteen months from 
 the passage of this Act the said companies, respectively, shall con- 
 struct and put into full operation on all their lines in the city of Wash- 
 ington the underground electric system. * * But whenever 
 such trenches or excavations shall interfere with any sewer, gas, or 
 water pipes, or any subways or conduits, or any public work of the 
 kind which has been ordered by the Commissioners, then the expense 
 necessary to change such underground construction shall be borne 
 by the said railway company making such trench or excavation. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for expenses of the District of 
 Columbia, approved June 11, 1896 (29 Stats., p. 396). 
 
 And provided further, That the whole cost of maintaining and 
 keeping in good order the laboratory and apparatus in the office of 
 the inspector of gas and meters shall hereafter be paid by the Wash- 
 ington Gas-light Company. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for expenses of the District of 
 Columbia, approved June 11, 1896 (29 Stats., p. 406). 
 
 For electric arc lighting, including necessary inspection, in those 
 streets' now lighted with electric arc lights, in the city of Washing- 
 ton, and for necessary extensions of such service, fifty thousand dol- 
 lars: Provided, That not more than thirty cents per night shall be 
 paid for any electric arc light burning from forty-five minutes after 
 sunset to forty-five minutes before sunrise, and operated wholly by 
 means of underground wires; and each arc light shall be of not less 
 than one thousand actual candlepower, and no part of this appropria- 
 tion shall be used for electric lighting by means of wires that may 
 exist on or over any of the streets or avenues of the city of Washing- 
 ton : Provided, That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia 
 may, under such reasonable restrictions as they may prescribe, author- 
 ize any existing electric light company, having overhead wires, to 
 maintain and use for a period of eight months, and no longer, its 
 existing poles and overhead wires west of Rock Creek, in places out- 
 side of the existing fire limits of the city of Washington, and of the 
 District of Columbia, and any such overhead wire system may be 
 extended west of Rock Creek, and outside of said fire limits, to con- 
 tinue only for said period of eight months, and at the end of said 
 period all right or authority hereby conferred shall cease. 
 
 And the said Commissioners may also authorize any such existing 
 electric light company to construct and use, under such regulations 
 
 24757 
 
34 
 
 as the Commissioners may fix, conduits for the reception of existing 
 overhead wires within the territory formerly known as Georgetown, 
 and to extend the same by an aggregate of not more than one and 
 one-fourth miles of conduit in the same territory. And the United 
 States Electric Lighting Company may extend its underground con- 
 duits and wires east of Rock Creek, and within the said fire limits to 
 Mount Pleasant, and Washington, and Columbia Heights, under 
 such regulations as the Commissioners of the District of Columbia 
 may prescribe. 
 
 Same act, under head of " Telephone and Telegraph Service," pro- 
 vides as follows: 
 
 The Commissioners of the District are hereby directed to report 
 to Congress, at its next regular session, what charges are made in the 
 District of Columbia to the public and to the Government for the 
 use of telephones, and the relative charges made for the use of tele- 
 phones in other cities, operated by underground and overhead wires. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for the sundry civil expenses of the 
 Government, approved June 11, 1896 (29 Stats., p. 440). 
 
 For electric lights, for three hundred and sixty-five nights, from 
 seven posts, at twenty cents per light per night, on grounds south of 
 Executive Mansion, five hundred and eleven dollars. 
 
 For electric lights, for three hundred and sixty-five nights, for not 
 exceeding thirty-two posts, in Lafayette, Franklin, Judiciary, and 
 Lincoln parks, at twenty-eight cents per light per night, three thou- 
 sand two hundred and seventy dollars and forty cents: Provided, 
 That all wires shall be placed underground and that the conduits, 
 wires, lampposts complete shall be furnished by the electric light 
 company without expense to the United States, and that twenty- 
 eight cents per lamp per night shall cover the entire cost to the 
 United States of lighting and maintaining, in good order, each elec- 
 tric light in the parks mentioned. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for expenses of the District of 
 Columbia, approved March 3, 1897 (29 Stats., pp. 673 and 678). 
 
 For electric lighting, including necessary inspection, in those streets 
 now lighted with electric arc lights in the city of Washington, fifty- 
 five thousand dollars: Provided, That not more than twenty-five 
 cents per night shall be paid for any electric arc lamp burning from 
 forty-five minutes after sunset to forty-five minutes before sunrise 
 and operated wholly by means of underground wires; and each arc 
 light shall be of not less than one thousand actual candlepower, and 
 no part of this appropriation shall be used for electric lighting by 
 means of wires that may ex^st on or over any of the streets or avenues 
 of the city of Washington. Until Congress shall provide for a con- 
 duit system it shall be unlawful to lay conduits or erect overhead 
 wires for electric lighting purposes in any road, street, avenue, high- 
 way, park, or reservation except as hereafter specially authorized 
 by law: Provided, however, That the Commissioners of the District 
 of Columbia are hereby authorized to issue permits for house connec- 
 tions, with conduits and overhead wires now existing adjacent to the 
 premises with which such connection is to be made, and also permits 
 
 24757 
 
35 
 
 for public-lighting connections with conduits already in the portion 
 of the street proposed to be lighted. And nothing herein contained 
 shall be construed to affect in any way any pending legislation involv- 
 ing the validity or invalidity or legality of the construction of any 
 conduits made since June eighteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety- 
 six, nor to prevent the United States Electric Lighting Company 
 from extending conduits into Columbia Heights, \Vashiiigton, 
 Heights, and Mount Pleasant, within the fire limits, as specifically 
 provided in the act of June eleventh, eighteen hundred and ninety- 
 six, making appropriations for the expenses of the government of the 
 District of Columbia ; and the existing overhead wires of the Potomac 
 Electric Power Company west of Rock Creek and outside of the fire 
 limits are hereby authorized to be maintained for a period of one year 
 from the passage of this act and no longer. 
 
 Same act, under head of " Telegraph and Telephone Service," pro- 
 vides as follows: 
 
 For extension of the fire-alarm telegraph, including new boxes, pur- 
 chase and erection of the necessary poles with cross arms, insulators, 
 pins, and braces, wire for extension of lines, and extra labor for 
 stringing the wire, seven thousand five hundred dollars: Provided '. 
 That wherever there are telegraph or telephone poles, or telephone 
 conduits, available for the use of the said fire alarm telegraph, the 
 Commissioners of the District of Columbia are hereby authorized to 
 make arrangements for the use of such poles or conduits without 
 expense to the said District; and the authority granted to the said 
 Commissioners in the District of Columbia appropriation act, ap- 
 proved August seventh, eighteen hundred and ninety- four, to author- 
 ize the erection and use of telephone poles in the alleys of the city of 
 Washington shall be limited as follows : Hereafter no wire shall be 
 strung on any alley pole at a height of less than fifty feet from the 
 ground at the point of attachment to said pole; temporary permits 
 may be granted by said Commissioners to string wires from cable 
 poles, or from existing overhead trunk lines, to poles in, or to be 
 erected in, alleys, and from alley poles in one square to alley poles, or 
 house-top fixtures, in another square for the purpose of making nec- 
 essary house connections from all cable poles and existing overhead 
 trunk lines within the District^ of Columbia; such house connection 
 to be made from the cable poles or overhead trunk lines nearest the 
 subscriber. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize 
 the erection of any additional pole or poles upon any street, avenue, 
 or public reservation within the said city ; and such privileges as may 
 be granted hereunder to be revokable at the will of Congress without 
 compensation. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the 
 Government, approved June 4, 1897 (30 Stats., p. 41). 
 
 Until Congress shall provide for a conduit system it shall be un- 
 lawful to lay conduits or erect overhead wires for electric lighting 
 purposes in any road, street, avenue, highway, park, or reservation, 
 except as hereafter specifically authorized by law: Provided, how- 
 ever, That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia are hereby 
 authorized to issue permits for house connections with conduits and 
 
 24757 
 
36 
 
 overhead wires now existing adjacent to 'the premises with which 
 such connection is to be made; and also permits for public lighting 
 connections with conduits already in the portion of the street pro- 
 posed to be lighted. And nothing herein contained shall be con- 
 strued to affect in any way any pending litigation involving the 
 validity or invalidity or legality of the construction of any conduits 
 made since June eighteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, nor 
 to prevent the United States Electric Lighting Company from ex- 
 tending conduits into Columbia Heights, Washington Heights, and 
 Mount Pleasant within the fire limits as specifically provided in 
 the act of June eleventh, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, making 
 appropriations for the expenses of the government of the District of 
 Columbia; and the existing overhead wires of the Potomac Electric 
 Power Company west of Rock Creek and outside the fire limits are 
 hereby authorized to be maintained for a period of one year from the 
 passage of this act and no longer. 
 
 JOINT RESOLUTION Authorizing the Public Printer to use certain Govern- 
 ment telegraph poles. Approved March 18, 1898 (30 Stats., p. 736). 
 
 That the Public Printer be, and he is hereby, authorized to place 
 one six-pin arm on each of eleven poles now erected on North 
 Capitol street, between G and B streets, and to string thereon six 
 telephone wires for use between the Government Printing Office and 
 the United States Senate and House of Representatives: Provided, 
 That nothing herein contained shall authorize the erection of any 
 additional pole. 
 
 Extract from an act to authorize the Washington and Glen Echo Railroad Com- 
 pany to obtain a right of way and construct tracks into the District of Co- 
 lumbia six hundred feet, approved May 7, 1898 (30 Stats., p. 390). 
 
 said corporation to use electric motive power in pro- 
 pelling, its cars. 
 
 AN ACT To amend the charter of the Capital Railway Company. Approved, 
 June 15, 1898 (30 Stats., p. 470). 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled. That the Capital 
 Railway Company is hereby authorized to install and use the double 
 overhead trolley system on the Navy- Yard Bridge for the purpose of 
 propelling its cars across the same, the speed on the bridge not to 
 exceed the rate of three and a half miles an hour and the double 
 trolley wires to be protected by a wooden trough and thoroughly 
 insulated from said bridge; details of construction to be subject to 
 the approval of the District Commissioners. 
 
 SEC. 2. That the time granted the 'Capital Railway -Company to 
 construct its road by Act approved May twenty-eighth, eighteen hun- 
 dred and ninety-six, is hereby extended one year from the approval of 
 this Act, and if the underground system now used by the company is 
 finally rejected, it is authorized to install an underground system 
 essentially similar to that used by the Metropolitan Railway Company. 
 
 SEC. 3.* That Congress reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal 
 this Act. 
 
 24757 
 
37 
 
 Extract from an act to incorporate the East Washington Heights Traction 
 Railroad Company in the District of Columbia, approved June IS, 1898 (30 
 Stats., p. 470). 
 
 SEC. 7. That it shall also be lawful for said corporation, its suc- 
 cessors or assigns, to erect and maintain, on private grounds, at such 
 convenient and suitable points along its lines as may seem most de- 
 sirable to the board of directors of the said corporation, and subject 
 to the approval of the said Commissioners, an engine house or 
 houses, boiler house, and all other buildings necessary for the suc- 
 cessful operation of the said -railroad. 
 
 ***** * * 
 
 SEC. 9. That the said company may run its cars by the overhead- 
 trolley electric system, or such other electric or mechanical system as 
 the Commissioners of the District of Columbia may approve. Steam 
 power shall not be used: Provided, That if electric power by trolley 
 be used a return wire similar in capacity and insulation to the feed 
 wire shall be provided, and each car shall be provided with a double 
 trolley, and no pole of any dynamo furnishing power to the railway 
 shall be connected with the earth. 
 
 Extract from an act to define the rights of purchasers of the Belt Railway, and 
 for other purposes, approved June 24, 1898 (30 Stats., p. 488). 
 
 And within one year from the ratification by the court of such 
 sale the existing railroad company purchasing the said Belt Railway, 
 or the corporation created and operating hereunder, shall, under the 
 supervision of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, con- 
 struct and put into full operation on the entire line of said railway 
 as now constructed an underground electric system similar to the one 
 now in use by the Metropolitan Railroad Company, upon plans to 
 be submitted to and approved by the said Commissioners. 
 
 Extract from an act to compel street railway companies in the District of 
 Columbia to remove abandoned tracks, and for other purposes, approved 
 June 25, 1898 (30 Stats., p. 489). 
 
 SEC. 2. That on and after one year from the passage of this Act it 
 shall be unlawful for any street railway company operating its sys- 
 tem or parts of its system over any portion of the underground elec- 
 tric lines owned and operated by another street railway company in 
 the city of Washington to continue such operation or to enter into 
 reciprocal trackage relations with any other company, as provided 
 for under existing law, unless its motive power for the propulsion of 
 its cars shall be the same as that of the company whose tracks are 
 used or to be used. For every violation of this Act the company vio- 
 lating it shall be subject to a fine of ten dollars for every car operated 
 in violation of the provisions of this Act, said 'fine to be collected and 
 applied in the same manner as is provided by existing laws in respect 
 of other fines in the District of Columbia. 
 
 Extract from an act to amend the charter of the Eckington and Soldiers' Home 
 Railway Company of the District of Columbia, the Maryland and Washing- 
 ton Railway Company, and for other purposes, approved June 27, 1898 (30 
 Stats., p. 490). 
 
 SEC. 2. That the said Eckington and Soldiers' Home Railway 
 Company, under the supervision of the Commissioners of the District 
 
 24757 
 
38 
 
 of Columbia, shall fully equip all its lines now owned and operated 
 within the city of Washington and also the North Capitol street line 
 from the intersection of G street north and New Jersey avenue to T 
 street north with an underground electric system essentially similar 
 to the underground system now in use by the Metropolitan Railroad 
 Company in said city, upon plans to be submitted to and approved 
 by the said Commissioners, and shall have its cars regularly running 
 by said system within twelve months from the passage of this Act: 
 Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed as 
 authorizing or permitting said company to use their conduits or 
 cables for electrical conductors of any character whatever for the 
 purpose of electric lighting or power, except such as may be neces- 
 sary for the lighting and propelling of the cars and other machinery 
 of such road and the power house of said company, or other property 
 owned or acquired by said company adjacent to the lines of the road 
 and necessary for the operation of said road: Provided* however, 
 That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia are hereby 
 authorized to permit street railway companies using the underground 
 electric system to construct conduits not exceeding five blocks in 
 length to connect their existing conduits for the purpose of conveying 
 electric current to be used for street railway purposes only : And 
 provided further. That before permits shall be issued to begin such 
 work all taxes and special assessments due and unpaid to the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia, and all indebtedness due the employees for labor, 
 or due others for coal, feed, horseshoes, and other supplies, contracted 
 for by the receiver of the said Eckington and Soldiers' Home Rail- 
 way, duly appointed by the court, and used on behalf and for the 
 benefit of said company, during such receivership, and to be approved 
 by the court appointing such receiver, shall first be paid: Provided, 
 That in case of any lines purchased or leased by said Eckington and 
 Soldiers' Home Railway Company, such lines within the city of 
 Washington shall be fully equipped with said underground electric 
 system within twelve months from the completion of such purchase 
 or lease, and the North Capital street branch shall be completed with 
 the underground s}^stem to the Soldiers' Home within twelve months 
 from the opening and grading of said street. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for expenses of the District of 
 Columbia, approved June 30, 1898 (30 Stats., pp. 532 and 538). 
 
 For electric arc lighting, including necessary inspection, in those 
 streets now lighted with electric arc lights in the city of Washington, 
 and for extensions of such service along the lines of lawful conduits 
 now existing, including conduits authorized by the act, Connecticut 
 avenue, between Farragut square and Florida avenue; Indiana ave- 
 nue and C street from Fourth street northwest to Delaware avenue 
 northwest, and East Capitol street from First to Eleventh streets, not 
 exceeding sixty thousand dollars: Provided, That not more than 
 twenty-five cents per night shall be paid for any electric arc light 
 burning from forty -five minutes after sunset to forty-five minutes be- 
 fore sunrise, and operated wholly by means of underground wire; 
 and each arc light shall be of not less than one thousand actual candle- 
 power, and no part of this appropriation shall be used for electric 
 lighting by means of wires that may exist on or over any of the streets 
 or avenues of the city of Washington. 
 
 24757 
 
39 
 
 Same act, under the head of " Telegraph and Telephone Service," 
 provides as follows: 
 
 That from and after the passage of this act it shall be unlawful for 
 any person or any telephone company doing business in the District 
 of Columbia to charge or receive more than fifty dollars per annum 
 for the use of a telephone on a separate wire ; forty dollars for each 
 telephone, there being not more than two on a wire ; thirty dollars for 
 each telephone, there being not more than three on a wire, and twenty- 
 five dollars for each telephone, there being four or more on the same 
 wire. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations to supply deficiencies in appropri- 
 ations, etc., approved July 7, 1898 (30 Stats., p. (564). 
 
 District of Columbia. Telegraph and telephone service. * * * 
 Provided, That all existing' conduits within the fire limits, and all 
 existing overhead electric light wires without the fire limits in the 
 District of Columbia are hereby legalized until otherwise provided 
 by law, and house connections may be made with such overhead elec- 
 tric light wires outside such fire limits: Provided further, That the 
 cable of the Postal Telegraph Company, now in the ducts of the Po- 
 tomac Electric Power Company, may be connected with the existing 
 wires of said telegraph company on the Aqueduct Bridge by a con- 
 nection not exceeding three hundred feet in length. 
 
 Extract from an act to incorporate the Washington and University Railroad 
 Company of the District of Columbia, approved July 8, 1898 (30 Stats., p. 
 725). 
 
 SEC. 3. That the motive power shall be electricity, and if the trol- 
 ley system is used a return wire of equal capacity to the feed wire, 
 and similarly insulated, must be provided, and each car shall be 
 equipped with a double trolley. No portion of the electrical circuit 
 shall, under any circumstances, be allowed to pass through the earth, 
 and neither pole of any dynamo furnishing power to the line shall be 
 grounded* 
 
 JOINT RESOLUTION Relative to electric-lighting wires west of Rock Creek. 
 Approved July S, 1898 (30 Stats., p. 753). 
 
 That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia are hereby 
 authorized to issue permits to existing electric-light companies in 
 the District of Columbia for the extension of existing overhead elec- 
 tric wires outside the fire limits and west of Rock Creek to be used for 
 lighting purposes only. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for expenses of the District of 
 Columbia, approved March 3, 1899 (30 Stats., p. 1052). 
 
 For 'electric arc lighting, including necessary inspection, in those 
 streets now lighted with electric arc lights in the city of Washington, 
 and for extension of such service along the lines of lawful conduits 
 now existing, not exceeding sixty-three thousand dollars: Provided, 
 That not more than twenty-five cents per night shall be paid for any 
 electric arc light burning from fifteen minutes after sunset to forty- 
 five minutes before sunrise, and operated wholly by means of under- 
 ground wire; and each arc light shall be of not less than one thou- 
 
 24757 
 
40 ; 
 
 sand actual candlepower, and no part of this appropriation shall be 
 used for electric lighting by means of wires that may exist on or over 
 any of the streets or avenues of the city of Washington: Provided 
 further, That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia are 
 hereby authorized to grant permits for the repair, enlargement, and 
 extension, under proper regulations, of existing electric-lighting con- 
 duits, and in every conduit constructed or to be constructed under the 
 provisions of this paragraph, three ducts shall be reserved for the 
 use of the United States and the District of Columbia, and as a con- 
 dition for the right to use conduits heretofore built, or to be built 
 under the provisions of this act, the electric-lighting companies shall be 
 required at all times to furnish to the public and to private consumers 
 in all parts of the District of Columbia standard arc lights of not less 
 than one thousand actual candlepower, at a rate not exceeding seventy- 
 two dollars per annum for each arc light; and on and after the first 
 day of June, eighteen hundred and ninety-nine, the maximum price 
 of electric current sold or furnished to any consumer in the District 
 of Columbia shall be reduced from the present maximum of fifteen 
 cents per Kilo-watt hour to not exceeding ten cents per Kilo-watt 
 hour. That if consumers other than the Government shall not pay 
 monthly electric bills within ten days after the same shall have been 
 presented, said companies may charge and collect from said consumers 
 so failing to pay said bill as aforesaid eleven cents per Kilo-watt hour 
 for the electric current furnished to said consumer during said month : 
 And provided further, The right to amend, modify, or repeal the 
 privileges herein granted, and to further limit the prices herein 
 specified, is hereby expressly reserved; any company charging or 
 collecting an amount in excess of the rates herein prescribed shall be 
 deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall pay to the District of 
 Columbia the sum of fifty, dollars for each and every offense, to be 
 collected as other fines are now collected in the District of Columbia. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations to supply deficiencies, etc., ap- 
 proved March 3, 1899 (30 Stats., p. 1220). 
 
 That in the District of Columbia any street railroad company oper- 
 ating its cars in part over the tracks of another company along a 
 route authorized by Congress shall be allowed until October first, 
 eighteen hundred and ninety-nine, in which to install an underground 
 electric system, and pending such change shall preserve all rights now 
 granted by its charter. 
 
 Extract from an act to authorize the Washington and Gettysburg Railway Com- 
 pany, of Maryland, to extend its line of road into and within the District of 
 Columbia, approved March 3, 1899 (30 Stats., p. 1374.) 
 
 * * * That the motive power shall be cable, electric, compressed 
 air, or other mechanical power, other than steam locomotive* power ; 
 and wherever the trolley system is used, a return wire, similar in 
 capacity, situation, and insulation to the feed wire, shall be provided 
 for the current, and each car shall be provided with a double trolley ; 
 and no dynamo furnishing power to the road, or any portion thereof, 
 shall have either of its poles connected to the earth. 
 
 24757 
 
41 
 
 TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE LINES. 
 
 SEC. 19. That said company is also authorized to construct and op- 
 erate, for its own use only, telegraph and telephone lines along its 
 railway, as herein provided for, subject to the approval of the Com- 
 missioners of the District of Columbia. 
 
 JOINT RESOLUTION To promote the relocation of certain tracks of the City 
 and Suburban Railway Company, of the District of Columbia. Approved, 
 March 3, 1899 (30 Stats., p. 1391). 
 
 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
 States of America in Congress assembled, That the City and Sub- 
 urban Railway Company, of Washington, be, and it is hereby, author- 
 ized and directed to abandon its single track passing around the south 
 side of Stanton Square, and in lieu thereof construct an additional 
 single track on the north side of Stanton Square from the intersection 
 of Fourth and C streets northeast to Sixth and C streets northeast. 
 That the City and Suburban Railway of Washington, be and it is 
 hereby authorized and required within six months after the passage 
 of this Act, to equip with the same underground system of electrical 
 propulsion, as is now being installed on its urban lines the following 
 portion of its suburban route, to wit: 
 
 Beginning at the intersection of Florida avenue and Eckington 
 place, and running thence north through Eckington place to north R 
 street ; thence east on north R street to east Third street ; thence by 
 single track north on east Third street to north T street ; thence still by 
 single track west on north T street to east Second street ; thence south 
 on east Second street to north R street; thence on north R street to 
 Eckington place, and thence to the beginning : 
 
 Providing, upon completion by said City and Suburban Railway of 
 the underground construction hereinbefore provided for, the obliga- 
 tion of the said City and Suburban Railway imposed by section two 
 of the Act approved June twenty-seventh, eighteen hundred' and 
 ninety-eight, in respect to the construction of its line on North Capi- 
 tol street north of T street, shall cease and in lieu of that provision said 
 City and Suburban Railway is required, within six months after 
 North Capitol street shall have been graded, to construct and operate 
 a double-track railway on North Capitol street from T street to Mich- 
 igan avenue; thence on Michigan avenue east, to connect with its 
 present tracks on Bunker Hill road. 
 
 Said railway on North Capitol street north of T street and on 
 Michigan avenue is to be operated by the overhead trolley system; but 
 the right to operate an overhead trolley on North Capitol street shall 
 cease and determine on July first, nineteen hundred and four, or 
 whenever after that date the said street shall be paved ; and the said 
 company shall, on and after said date or paving as aforesaid operate 
 the said portion of its line by the underground electric system. 
 
 AN ACT Regulating permits for private conduits in the District of Columbia. 
 Approved May 26, 1900 (31 Stats., p. 217). 
 
 That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia be, and they 
 are hereby, authorized to grant permission to lay conduits for the 
 transmission of electric power and pipes for the transmission of 
 
 2475708 4 
 
42 
 
 steam in alleys in the District of Columbia, under the following con- 
 ditions, namely : 
 
 The conduits or pipes shall be laid entirely within a square or block, 
 and shall not cross or enter any avenue, street, or highway. 
 
 The conduits and pipes shall be located as directed by said Commis- 
 sioners and be laid under their inspection, and the cost of such inspec- 
 tion, together with the cost of replacing all improved pavements dis- 
 turbed in connection with said work, shall be paid in advance by the 
 party desiring to lay said conduits or steam pipes. 
 
 The conduits or pipes shall be used only to connect the premises 
 owned and operated by the permittee, and no power or steam shall be 
 supplied therefrom for any other purpose than the use of the per- 
 mittee. 
 
 The permittee shall not rent the conduit or pipe or any portion 
 thereof. 
 
 SEC. 2. That on violation of any of the above provisions or restric- 
 tions, the said Commissioners shall require the permittee, after thirty 
 days' notice, to abandon the use of the said conduits or pipes and 
 remove them from the alley or alleys in which they are located, and 
 if said permittee shall neglect or refuse to remove said conduits or 
 pipes and place the surface of the alley in good condition within 
 sixty days after the date of said notice, the said permittee shall be 
 deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be liable to a fine of ten 
 dollars for each and every day that said conduits or pipes are allowed 
 to remain in the alley, or the said alley shall remain out of repair, 
 which fine shall be recovered in the police court of said District, in 
 the name of said District, as other fines and penalties are now recov- 
 ered in said court. 
 
 SEC. 3. That Congress reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal 
 this act. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for expenses of the District of 
 Columbia, approved June 6, 1900 (31 Stats., p. 563). 
 
 Provided further, That hereafter the Commissioners of the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia are hereby authorized to grant permits for the re- 
 pair, enlargement, and extension, under proper regulations, of exist- 
 ing electric-lighting conduits, and in every conduit constructed or to 
 be constructed under the provisions of this paragraph, three ducts 
 shall be reserved for the use of the United States and the District of 
 Columbia, and as a condition for the right to use conduits heretofore 
 built, or to be built under the provisions of this act, the electric-light- 
 ing companies shall be required at all times to furnish to the public 
 and to private consumers in all parts of the District of Columbia 
 standard arc lights of not less than one thousand actual candlepower, 
 at a rate not exceeding seventy-two dollars per annum for each arc 
 light ; and on and after the first day of June, nineteen hundred, the 
 maximum price of. electric current sold or furnished to any consumer 
 in the District of Columbia shall not exceed ten cents per kilowatt 
 hour. That if consumers other than the Government shall not pay 
 monthly electric bills within ten days after the same shall have been 
 presented, said companies may charge and collect from said consumer 
 so failing to pay said bill as aforesaid eleven cents per kilowatt hour 
 for the electric current furnished to said consumer during said 
 
 24757 
 
43 
 
 month: And provided further, That the right to amend, modify, or 
 repeal the privileges herein granted, and to further limit the prices 
 herein specified, is hereby expressly reserved ; any company charging 
 or collecting an amount in excess of the rates herein prescribed shall 
 be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall pay to the District of 
 Columbia the sum of fifty dollars for each and every offense, to be 
 collected as other fines are now collected in the District of Columbia. 
 
 Extract from an act to provide for eliminating certain grade crossings on the 
 line of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company, in the city of Wash- 
 ington, District of Columbia, and requiring said company to depress and ele- 
 vate its tracks, and to enable it to relocate parts of its railroad therein, and 
 for other purposes, approved February 12, 1001 (31 Stats., p. 773). 
 
 Provided, That the Washington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon 
 Railway Company now using the Long Bridge shall be permitted, 
 with the approval of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, 
 to change its location so as to cross the highway bridge herein pro- 
 vided for; all plans for such change to be approved by the Commis- 
 sioners of the District of Columbia and the Chief of Engineers of 
 the United States Army: And provided further, That a standard 
 underground electric system of street car propulsion shall be installed 
 by said company on the park highway leading to said bridge, and 
 no dynamo furnishing power to this portion of the road shall be in 
 any manner connected with the ground. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for expenses of the District of 
 Columbia, approved March 1, 1901 (31 Stats., p. 831). 
 
 Provided further, That the electric and gas light companies of the 
 District of Columbia shall file with the Commissioners of the District 
 of Columbia on the first day of August, nineteen hundred and two, 
 and annually thereafter, a statement showing their receipts aiicl ex- 
 penditures for the previous fiscal year. 
 
 JOINT RESOLUTION To authorize the Commissioners of the District of 
 Columbia to issue certain temporary permits. Approved April 15, 1902 (32 
 Stats., p. 738). 
 
 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
 States of America in Congress assembled, That the Commissioners of 
 the District of Columbia are hereby authorized to permit electric- 
 light wires to be laid in existing conduits and house connections be- 
 tween such conduits and Convention Hall, to be made for the purpose 
 of supplying additional light for the Masonic fair and exposition of 
 nineteen hundred and two: Provided, That all such wires shall be 
 removed on or before May tenth, nineteen hundred and two. 
 
 AN ACT Regulating the use of telephone wires in the District of Columbia. 
 Approved June 20, 1902 (32 Stats., p. 393.) 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That all telephone 
 poles and the wires attached thereto not the property of the United 
 States or the District of Columbia now upon the streets and avenues 
 within the section of the District of Columbia bounded by a line be- 
 ginning at Second and B streets southeast and running thence along B 
 street south, Third street west, Missouri avenue, Sixth street west, B 
 
 24757 
 
44 
 
 street north, Twenty-third street west, Rock Creek, Cincinnati street, 
 Columbia road, Sixteenth street west (extended) , Park street, Whitney 
 avenue, Eleventh street west, R street north, New Jersey avenue, C 
 street north, and Second street east to the point of beginning, except 
 as hereinafter provided, shall from time to time, as may be prescribed 
 by the Commissioners of said District, be taken down and removed. 
 The w r ork of taking down and removing said poles and wires shall be 
 done under the direction of said Commissioners, and it is hereby mad.e 
 the duty of said Commissioners to enforce compliance with the provi- 
 sions of this Act as expeditiously as may be consistent with the public 
 interests; and the said Commissioners are hereby empowered from 
 time to time to authorize any indvidual, company, or corporation now 
 operating and maintaining a telephone plant or system, partly over- 
 head and partly underground, in the District of Columbia, to extend 
 and enlarge its system of underground conduits, subsidiaries, and 
 manholes in or under any or all of the streets, avenues, alleys, lanes, or 
 other public highways in said city and District as may be requisite 
 and necessary for the purposes of this Act and for the reception of 
 such other cables and wires as may be reasonably required in the 
 future by the growth of such individual, company, or corporation or 
 to adequately meet the requirements of the public for telephone 
 service. 
 
 SEC. 2. That upon the approval of this Act, and from time to time 
 thereafter, any individual, company, or corporation now maintaining 
 and operating a telephone plant or system in said District, partly 
 overhead and partly underground, shall prepare and submit to the 
 said Commissioners a plan or plans, or application or applications, in 
 writing, showing the streets, avenues, alleys, lanes, and other public 
 highways in or under which it is proposed^to construct conduits, sub- 
 sidiaries, or manholes, and giving the general dimensions, length, and 
 course thereof, and before any such conduit, subsidiary, or manhole is 
 constructed it shall be necessary to obtain the approval and permis- 
 sion of said Commissioners. Said Commissioners are empowered to 
 require that all proposed conduits, subsidiaries, and manholes shall be 
 constructed in accordance with the approved plan or permit; and 
 upon the approval by said Commissioners of any such plan, or the 
 issuing of any such permit, providing for the construction of under- 
 ground conduits, subsidiaries, or manholes within the section in said 
 District described in section one of this Act the construction therein 
 provided for shall be proceeded with diligently, and upon the comple- 
 tion thereof, or as soon thereafter as may be, without impairing the 
 efficiency of the telephone service in said District', the individual, com- 
 pany, or corporation constructing such conduits, subsidiaries, or 
 manholes shall place its cables and wires therein and take down and 
 remove from the streets and avenues in which such conduits are con- 
 structed all poles and wires except such as said Commissioners may, in 
 accordance with the provisions of this Act, permit to remain for the 
 purpose of distributing wires for house connections. 
 
 SEC. 3. That any individual, company, or corporation owning and 
 
 maintaining such "poles and wires attached thereto on or over any 
 
 street or avenue within the section of the District described in section 
 
 one of this Act who shall willfully neglect or refuse to remove the 
 
 same, as provided in section two hereof, shall be liable to a penalty ot 
 
 24757 
 
45 
 
 not more than twent} r -five dollars for each and every day during 
 which such failure to remove said poles and wires shall continue, 
 which amount may be recovered by the District of Columbia in any 
 court of competent jurisdiction. 
 
 SEC. 4. That said Commissioners be, and they are hereby, empow- 
 ered to authorize the erection and maintenance 'of poles in'the alleys 
 of said city and District and the stringing thereon of telephone con- 
 ductors from alley poles or house-top fixtures in one square to alley 
 poles or house-top fixtures in another square for the purpose of 
 enabling house connections to be made, and also to authorize the erec- 
 tion of telephone poles in the District of Columbia outside the limits 
 of the section of said District described in section one of this Act and 
 the stringing thereon of telephone conductors for house connections or 
 for connection with lines outside the District of Columbia; also to 
 authorize the erection of such poles and the stringing thereon of such 
 wires in the streets and avenues of said city and District in the parts 
 thereof in which there are no public alleys, and in such other places as 
 the public interests do not require that the lines be placed under- 
 ground, or in places where it shall be deemed by said Commissioners 
 impracticable to advantageously place or operate such lines under- 
 ground. During the progress of the work provided for in section one 
 of this Act said Commissioners are also empowered to issue temporary 
 permits for the erection and maintenance of poles and overhead con- 
 ductors in places where the lines are ultimately to be placed under- 
 ground, but where the work can not be immediately done because of 
 the greater urgency of work in other localities, or for other reasons 
 satisfactory to said Commissioners; but in issuing such temporary 
 permits said Commissioners shall bear in mind the purpose and policy 
 of this Act, which is to cause to be removed from the streets and ave- 
 nues within the section of said District described in section one of 
 this Act all poles and wires attached thereto, except as hereinbefore 
 provided, as expeditiously as may be without interfering with or 
 impairing the efficiency of the telephone service in said District and 
 without denying to the public reasonable telephone facilities at all 
 times. 
 
 SEC. 5. That all subways, conduits, manholes, and overhead lines 
 constructed or erected under the provisions of this Act shall be sub- 
 ject to such reasonable regulations as the Commissioners of the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia may from time to time prescribe as to inspection, 
 location, character of conduit construction, and height of poles and 
 wires: Provided, That in all conduits so constructed such space shall 
 be furnished to the District of Columbia as may be necessary for its 
 fire-alarm or police-patrol wires or cables, carrying low potential cur- 
 rents of electricity, free of charge : And provided further, That the 
 number of ducts so reserved in any one conduit shall not be more 
 than three. 
 
 SEC. 6. That the said Commissioners are empowered to authorize 
 any such individual, company, or corporation now owning and oper- 
 ating any lines of street poles and wires and any alley poles or alley- 
 pole line within the District of Columbia and outside of the section 
 described in section one of this Act to continue to maintain the same, 
 with such repairs and renewals as may be necessary to keep them in 
 good order and condition of repair, and to add thereto such poles and 
 
 24757 
 
46 
 
 wires as may be necessary for the purpose of making house connec- 
 tions or for connecting with telephone lines outside the District of 
 Columbia. 
 
 SEC. 7. That Congress reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal 
 this Act. 
 
 Extract from an act to amend an act entitled "An act to establish a code of 
 law for the District of Columbia," approved June 30, 1902 (32 Stats., 
 p. 534). 
 
 SEC. 826 A. OFFENSES AGAINST PROPERTY. Whoever shall knoAv- 
 ingly connect or disconnect any electrical conductor belonging to any 
 company using or engaged in the manufacture and supply of elec- 
 tric current for the purposes of light^ heat, and power, or either of 
 them, or makes any connection with any such electrical conductor 
 for the purpose of using or wasting the electric current, or who in 
 any wise tampers with any meter used to register current consumed, 
 or who interferes with the operating of any dynamo or other elec- 
 trical appliance of such company, or tampers with or interferes with 
 the poles, wires, conduits, or other apparatus used by such com- 
 panies, unless such person or persons shall be duly authorized by or 
 be in the employ of such company, shall be punished by a fine not 
 exceeding one thousand dollars or imprisonment not exceeding one 
 year, or both. 
 
 Extract from a joint resolution giving authority to the Commissioners of the 
 District of Columbia to make special regulations for the occasion of the 
 Thirty-sixth National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, etc., 
 approved June 30, 1902 (32 Stats., p. 748). 
 
 SEC. 2. That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia are 
 hereby authorized to permit the committee on illumination of the 
 citizens' executive committee for the entertainment of the Thirty- 
 sixth National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic to 
 stretch suitable conductors, with sufficient supports wherever neces- 
 sary, for the purpose of effecting the said illumination within the 
 District of Columbia : Provided, That the said conductors shall not be 
 used for the conveying of electrical currents after October fifteenth, 
 nineteen hundred and two, and shall, with their supports, be fully 
 and entirely removed from the streets and avenues of the said city 
 of Washington on or before October twentieth, nineteen hundred and 
 two: Provided further, That the stretching and removing of the 
 said wires shall be under the supervision of the Commissioners of 
 the District of Columbia who shall see that the provisions of this 
 resolution are enforced, that all needful precautions are taken for 
 the protection of the public, and that the pavement of any street, 
 avenue, or alley disturbed is replaced in as good condition as before 
 entering upon the work herein authorized: Provided further, That 
 no expense or damage on account of or due to the stretching, opera- 
 tion, or removing of the said temporary overhead conductors shall 
 be incurred by the United States or the District of Columbia : Pro- 
 vided further, That if it shall be necessary to erect wires for illumi- 
 nation purposes over any park or reservation in the District of 
 Columbia that the work of erection and removal of said wires shall 
 be under the supervision of the official in charge of said park or 
 reservation. 
 
 24757 
 
47 
 
 ^ 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for expenses of the District of 
 Columbia, approved July 1, 1902 (32 Stats., p. 602 and 619). 
 
 And provided further, That during the fiscal year nineteen hun- 
 dred and three the illuminating power of the gas furnished by any 
 gas-lighting company, person, or persons in the District of Columbia 
 shall be equal to twenty-two candles, notwithstanding the require- 
 ments as to candlepower prescribed by section three of the Act regu- 
 lating the sale of gas in the District of Columbia, approved June 
 sixth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six. 
 
 For electric arc lighting, including necessary inspection, and for 
 extensions of such service, not exceeding seventy-six thousand dol- 
 Jars: Provided, That not more that seventy-two dollars per annum 
 shall be paid for any electric arc light burning from fifteen minutes 
 after sunset to forty-five minutes before sunrise, and operated wholly 
 by means of underground wire; and each arc light shall be of not 
 less than one thousand actual candlepower, and no part of this appro- 
 priation shall be 'used for electric lighting by means of wires that 
 may exist on or over any of the streets or avenues of the city of 
 Washington: Provided, That the Commissioners of the District of 
 Columbia are hereby authorized, under conditions and regulations to 
 be prescribed by them, to permit the erection of poles and the string- 
 ing of overhead wires thereon outside of the fire limits and east of 
 Rock Creek for electric lighting purposes only. 
 
 Same act, under head of " Taxation of Personal Property," pro- 
 vides as follows: 
 
 PAR. 5. Each national bank; as the trustee for its stockholders, 
 through its president or cashier, and all other incorporated banks, and 
 trust companies, in the District of Columbia, through their presidents 
 or cashiers, and -all gas, electric lighting, and telephone companies, 
 through their proper officers, shall make affidavit to the board of 
 personal-tax appraisers on or before the first day of August each year 
 as to the amount of its or their gross earnings for the preceding year 
 ending the thirtieth day of June, and shall pay to the collector of 
 taxes of the District of Columbia per a'nnum on such gross earnings 
 as follows: Each national bank, and all other incorporated banks, and 
 trust companies, respectively, six per centum; each gas company, five 
 per centum; each electric lighting, and telephone company, four per 
 centum. And in addition thereto the real estate owned by each 
 national or other incorporated bank, and each trust, gas, electric light- 
 ing and telephone company in the District of Columbia shall be taxed 
 as other real estate in said District: Provided, That street railroad 
 companies shall continue to. pay the four per centum per annum on 
 their gross receipts and other taxes as provided by existing law, and 
 insurance companies shall continue to pay the one and one-half per 
 centum on premium receipts, as provided bv section six hundred and 
 fifty of the Code of the District of Columbia. That so much of the 
 Act approved October first, eighteen hundred and ninety, entitled 
 "An Act to provide for the incorporation of trust, loan, mortgage, 
 and certain other corporations within the District of Columbia " as is 
 inconsistent with the provisions of this section is hereby repealed. 
 
 24757 
 
48 
 
 * 
 
 Extract from an act to provide for laying a single electric street-railway track 
 across the Aqueduct Bridge, in the District of Columbia, and for other pur- 
 poses, approved January 29, 1903 (32 Stats., p. 783). 
 
 SEC. 8. That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia are 
 hereby authorized to permit the cars of said railroad company or 
 companies using said track across said bridge and in M and Thirty- 
 sixth streets to be operated by the underground electric system or by 
 overhead trolly, as they may deem desirable; and in case the over- 
 head trolly is used each car shall be equipped with a double trolly, 
 and a return wire shall be provided for the electric current equal in 
 capacity to the feed system upon this portion of the line and similarly 
 situated, and no pole of any dynamo furnishing power for the opera- 
 tion of said cars shall be in any manner connected with the earth. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations for expenses of the District of Co- 
 lumbia, approved March 3, 1903 (32 Stats., p. 967). 
 
 And provided further, That during the fiscal year nineteen hun- 
 dred and four the illuminating power of the gas furnished by any 
 gas-lighting company, person, or persons in the District of Columbia 
 shall be equal to twenty-two candles, notwithstanding the require- 
 ments as to candlepower prescribed by section three of the Act regu- 
 lating the sale of gas in the District of Columbia, approved June 
 sixth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six. 
 
 [PUBLIC RESOLUTION No. 3.] 
 
 JOINT RESOLUTION Authorizing the Commissioners of the District of Colum- 
 bia to permit the erection of certain poles and overhead wires in connection 
 with the work of eliminating grade crossings in the city of Washington. 
 Approved, January 7, 1904. 
 
 Resolved l)y the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
 States of America in Congress assembled, That the Commissioners of 
 the District of Columbia be, and they are hereby, authorized to permit 
 the temporary erection of poles and the stringing of overhead wires 
 thereon for lighting and power purposes over and along such streets 
 and avenues and alleys in the District of Columbia as in their opinion 
 are necessary and proper for carrying out the provisions of the Acts 
 of Congress providing for the elimination of grade crossings in the 
 qity of Washington and the construction of a union station : Provided, 
 That said poles and wires shall be used only for the work authorized 
 by said Acts and shall be erected under the supervision of the Com- 
 missioners of the District of Columbia and shall be removed when- 
 ever, in the judgment of said Commissioners, they shall no longer be 
 necessary : Provided further, That no expense or damage on account 
 of or due to the erection, operation, or removal of the said temporary 
 poles and wires shall be incurred by the United States or the District 
 of Columbia. 
 
 [PUBLIC RESOLUTION No. 3.] 
 
 JOINT RESOLUTION Authorizing the Commissioners of the District of Colum- 
 bia to permit the erection of certain poles and overhead wires in connection 
 with the work of eliminating grade crossings in the city of Washington. 
 Approved, January 7, 1904 (33 Stats., p. 581). 
 
 Resolved ~by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
 States of America in Congress assembled* That the Commissioners of 
 the District of Columbia be, and they are hereby, authorized to per- 
 
 24757 
 
49 
 
 mit the temporary erection of poles and the stringing of overhead 
 wires thereon for lighting and power purposes over and along such 
 streets and avenues and alleys in the District of Columbia as in their 
 opinion are necessary and proper for carrying out the provisions of 
 the Acts of Congress providing for the elimination of grade crossings 
 in the city of Washington and the construction of a union station: 
 Provided, That said poles and wires shall be used only for the work 
 authorized by said Acts and shall be erected under the supervision of 
 the Commissioners of the District of Columbia and shall be removed 
 whe ever, in the judgment of said Commissioners, they shall no 
 longer be necessary : Provided, further* That no expense or damage 
 on account of or due to the erection, operation, or removal of the said 
 temporary poles and wires shall be incurred by the United States or 
 the District of Columbia. 
 
 [PUBLIC No. 162.] 
 
 AN ACT To regulate electrical wiring in the District of Columbia. Approved 
 April 26, 1904 (33 Stats., p. 306). 
 
 Be it enacted l)y the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Commis- 
 sioners of the District of Columbia shall have power to make from 
 time to time such rules and regulations respecting the production, use. 
 and control of electricity for light, heat, and power purposes in the 
 District of Columbia not inconsistent with existing laws, as in their 
 judgment will afford safet} r and convenience to the public; and the 
 Commissioners of said District are further authorized and empow- 
 ered to prescribe such fees for the examination of the electrical wiring, 
 machinery, and appliances in buildings as they ma}^ deem proper, to 
 be paid to the collector of taxes of the District of Columbia, and any 
 such rules and regulations shall after promulgation have the effect 
 and force of law : Provided, That nothing in this Act contained shall 
 apply to the power plants or buildings of incorporated companies 
 engaged in the production and distribution of electric current for 
 public service or use. 
 
 SEC. 2. That the electrical engineer who shall be chief inspector of 
 electrical work and his assistants are hereby empowered and required, 
 under the direction of the Commissioners, to inspect any building in 
 course of erection and during reasonable hours to enter into and ex- 
 amine any building where electrical current is produced or utilized 
 for lighting, heating, or for power, for the purpose of ascertaining 
 violations of any of the provisions of this Act ; and upon finding any 
 devices aforesaid defective or dangerous shall cause to be delivered a 
 written notice of any violation of any provisions of this Act, or of any 
 regulation of said Commissioners duly adopted, to the constructing 
 contractor, owner, or agent of any building directing him or them to 
 remove or amend the same within a period to be fixed in said notice; 
 and in case of neglect or refusal on the part of the party so notified 
 to remove or amend the same within the time and in the manner pre- 
 scribed by the chief inspector of electrical work, and approved by the 
 Commissioners of the District of Columbia, the party so offending 
 shall pa} 7 a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars for each and 
 every day's failure or neglect to remove or amend the same after being 
 so notified, and in default of payment of such fine such person shall 
 
 24757 
 
50 
 
 be confined in the workhouse of the District of Columbia for a period 
 not exceeding one month; and all prosecutions under this Act shall 
 be in the police court of said District, in the name of the District of 
 Columbia. 
 
 SEC. 3. That in the place of the present electrical engineer now car- 
 ried on the per diem roll there be, and is hereby, established, under 
 the direction of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, the 
 office of electrical engineer, and the Commissioners of said District are 
 hereby authorized and directed to appoint an electrical engineer, at a 
 salary of two thousand five hundred dollars per annum, and said elec- 
 trical engineer shall be an expert electrician, possessing; a thorough 
 knowledge of the most modern methods for the production, use, and 
 control of electricity and electrical appliances, construction, wiring, 
 and insulation, as well as such executive ability and adaptability to 
 office work as is requisite for the efficient management of the said 
 office. And the Commissioners are authorized and directed to appoint 
 two electrical inspectors to assist in the w^ork required by the author- 
 ity of this Act, at a salary of one thousand two hundred dollars per 
 annum each, who shall perform such clerical duties as may be required 
 by the Commissioners. 
 
 SEC. 4. That it shall be unlawful for any person, company, or cor- 
 poration generating current for electric light, heat, or power in the 
 District of Columbia to connect its system and furnish current for 
 electrical purposes to any building or premises, the wiring of which 
 shall not have been inspected and approved by the chief inspector of 
 electrical w r ork. 
 
 Any person, company, or corporation violating the provisions of 
 this section shall, upon written notice from the chief inspector of 
 electrical work to do so, immediately remove said connection and cut 
 off the current, and shall not again supply said current until author- 
 ized by the said inspector. For failure to comply with said notice 
 the offending person, company, or corporation shall be fined not less 
 than five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars for each and every 
 day's failure or neglect to remove said connection and to cut off the 
 current. 
 
 The chief inspector of electrical work is hereby authorized and 
 empowered, with the approval of the Commissioners, to cause said 
 connection to be removed and the current cut off upon such failure 
 of the offending person, company, or corporation, and to refuse to 
 permit said connection to be replaced and the current to be used until 
 the wiring shall be put in proper and safe condition. 
 
 SEC. 5. That this Act shall take effect ninety days from and after 
 the approval thereof. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations to supply deficiencies, etc., approved 
 April 27, 1904 (33 Stats., p. 398). 
 
 District of Columbia: Electrical Department. The head of each 
 of the several Executive Departments at Washington, wherein electric 
 plants are owned by the Government, is hereby authorized and direct- 
 ed to report to Congress at its next session the cost of electric light 
 and power produced by such plants. 
 
 24757 
 
51 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations to provide for the expenses of 
 the Government of the District of Columbia for the fiscal year ending June 
 thirtieth, nineteen hundred and five, and for other purposes, approved April 
 27, 1904 (33 Stats., p. 374). 
 
 Provided, That no part of the money herein appropriated shall be 
 used for payment to any telephone company doing business in the 
 District of Columbia for the use of any telephone within said District, 
 for communicating therefrom, to any other telephone connected to a 
 central office of such company in the District of Columbia at rates 
 in excess of the following: Sixty dollars per annum for a telephone 
 on an individual metallic circuit, forty-eight dollars per annum for 
 each telephone on the same premises, there being not more than two 
 on the same metallic circuit, and no contract shall be made with any 
 telephone company for such use of such telephones in excess of the 
 rates herein specified : Provided, That until the population of the city 
 of Washington shall be three hundred and fifty thousand or over, no 
 more than the above specified rates shall be charged by any telephone 
 company doing business in the District of Columbia for such use of 
 such telephones at private residences within the District of Columbia, 
 and any Acts or parts of Acts heretofore enacted fixing telephone rates 
 for grounded circuits in the District of Columbia are hereby repealed : 
 Provided further, That the refusal of the company to comply with the 
 provisions of this Act shall be a misdemeanor, and such refusal shall 
 subject the company to a fine of not less than one hundred nor more 
 than five hundred dollars for each and every offense. That every 
 telephone company doing business in the District of Columbia shall 
 annually on or before the 15th of January of each year report under 
 oath to the Congress a classified statement of its receipts and expendi- 
 tures for the previous calendar year, dividing them into receipts and 
 expenditures on account of capital as well as income and operation in 
 the District of Columbia, and that such report for the first year shall 
 state the actual cost of their works in the District of Columbia. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations to provide for the expenses of the 
 government of the District of Columbia for the fiscal year ending June 
 thirtieth, nineteen hundred and five, and for other purposes, approved April 
 27, 1904 (33 Stats., p. 375). 
 
 A nd pro vided further, That during the fiscal year- nineteen hundred 
 and five the illuminating power of the gas furnished by any gas- 
 lighting company, person or persons in the District of Columbia shall 
 be equal to twenty-two candles, notwithstanding the requirements as 
 to candlepower prescribed by section three of the Act regulating the 
 sale of gas in the District of Columbia, approved June 6th, eighteeen 
 hundred and ninety-six. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations to provide for the expenses of the 
 government of the District of Columbia for the fiscal year ending June thir- 
 tieth, nineteen hundred and five, and for other purposes, approved April 27, 
 1904 (33 Stats., p. 376). 
 
 Provided, That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia are 
 hereby authorized, in their discretion, to permit the Potomac Electric 
 Power Company to make connections between its conduits and the 
 conduits of the Washington Railway and Electric Company and all 
 other companies controlled by the Washington Railway and Electric 
 
 24757 
 
52' 
 
 Company, for the purpose of furnishing electric current through the 
 said conduits for public and private uses, the use of said railway 
 companies' conduits to be upon such terms as may be agreed upon 
 between the said companies. 
 
 Extract from an act entitled "An act making appropriations to provide for the 
 expenses of the government of the District of Columbia for the fiscal year 
 ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and five, and for other purposes," 
 approved April 27, 1904 (33 Stats., p. 372). 
 
 For the reconstruction of the Anacostia bridge, under direction of 
 the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, one hundred thousand 
 dollars, and the said Commissioners are authorized to enter into a con- 
 tract or contracts for the reconstruction of said bridge, to be com- 
 pleted within two years from July first, nineteen hundred and four, 
 at a cost not to exceed two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, to be 
 paid from time to time as appropriations therefor may be made by 
 law: Provided, That the Anacostia and Potomac River Railroad 
 Company shall pay the entire cost of the pavement between the ex- 
 terior rails of its tracks on said bridge and for a distance of two feet 
 from the said exterior rails of said tracks on each side thereof and the 
 cost of the entire floor system supporting said pavement, to be col- 
 lected in the same manner as the cost of laying pavements between the 
 rails and tracks of street railways as provided for in section five of 
 "An Act providing a permanent form of government for the District 
 of Columbia," approved June eleventh, eighteen hundred and seven- 
 ty-eight and paid into the Treasury one-half to the credit of the 
 United States and one-half to the credit of the District of Columbia : 
 Provided further, That any other railroad company now or hereafter 
 authorized by Congress to use said bridge shall have the right to use 
 the tracks of the Anacostia and Potomac River Railroad Company 
 thereon upon such reciprocal trackage and such compensation as may 
 be mutually agreed upon, and in case of failure to reach such an 
 agreement that the supreme court of the District of Columbia shall, 
 upon petition filed by either party, fix and determine the same. And 
 hereafter one-half of the cost of the maintenance and repairs of this 
 bridge shall be borne by the said railway company or companies, and 
 shall be collected in the same manner as the cost of laying pavements 
 between the rails and tracks of street railways, and paid into the 
 Treasury, as provided for above. 
 
 Extracts from an act entitled "An Act Making appropriations for. sundry civil 
 expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nine- 
 teen hundred and five, and for other purposes," approved April 28, 1904 (33 
 Stats., p. 479). 
 
 Toward the construction of a building for a heating, lighting, and 
 power plant in connection with the office building for the House of 
 Representatives, the installation of necessary machinery, for labor and 
 material, construction of ducts, heating mains, subways, and traction 
 system connecting the Capitol building, and for all other appliances, 
 and for each and every purpose in connection with all of the foregoing, 
 one hundred and thirty thousand dollars: Provided, That said build- 
 ing for heating, lighting, and power plant, when constructed, shall be 
 of sufficient size and capacity to furnish the necessary heat, light, and 
 power for the office building of the House of Representatives, the 
 
 24757 
 
53 
 
 Capitol building, the Congressional Library building, and for such 
 other public buildings which may hereafter be erected on grounds 
 adjacent to the Capitol grounds at the east of the Capitol building 
 and facing the same : Provided further, That when complete and ready 
 for operation for the purpose of supplying heat, light, and power 
 for the Capitol building, office building for the House of Repre- 
 sentatives, and Congressional Library building, the total cost of said 
 heating, lighting, and power plant, including building and all neces- 
 sary apparatus, shall not exceed the sum of seven hundred and fifty- 
 seven thousand eight hundred dollars, and that of the subway system 
 connecting the Capitol building, the sum of one hir.idred and sixty- 
 eight thousand five hundred dollars; and contracts for any part or 
 the whole of the work herein provided for are authorized to be 
 entered into by the Superintendent of the Capitol Building and 
 Grounds, who shall have charge of the construction of said building 
 and equipment and subway system, and the employment of skilled and 
 other services, subject to the direction and supervision of the House 
 Commission appointed to direct and supervise the construction of the 
 office building for the House of Representatives: Provided further, 
 That the said building and its appurtenant constructions shall be 
 located in that portion of reservation seventeen bounded by Virginia 
 avenue as extended through said reservation, South Capitol street, E 
 street south, and New Jersey avenue, and in such manner that the 
 main building shall not project beyond the building lines of any of 
 the streets or avenues named; and a siding from the Philadelphia, 
 Baltimore and Washington Railroad for the use of said building, in 
 accordance with plans approved by the Commissioners of the District 
 of Columbia, is hereby authorized to cross, at grade or otherwise, the 
 proposed extension of Virginia avenue through the reservation : And 
 provided further, That such ducts, heating mains, subways, and appli- 
 ances may be constructed in and across any public street, avenue, alley, 
 or reservation where necessary to carry out the purpose of this pro- 
 vision; and when same shall be constructed in or under any street, 
 avehue, or alley they shall be located under plans approved by the 
 Engineer Commissioner of the District of Columbia. 
 
 ******* 
 
 POWER HOUSE FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS : For the preparation, by the 
 Superintendent of the Library Building and Grounds, of preliminary 
 plans and estimates of cost for the location, construction, and equip- 
 ment of a power house with distributing mains for heat, steam, and 
 electric power to the existing and projected Government buildings on 
 the Mall and in the vicinity of the White House, said Superintendent 
 to report thereon in full to Congress at its next session, five thousand 
 
 dollars. 
 
 [PUBLIC RESOLUTION No. 2.] 
 
 JOINT RESOLUTION Granting the temporary occupancy of a part of the 
 Government reservation in Washington, District of Columbia, for the Amer- 
 ican Railway Appliance Exhibition. Approved January 12, 1905 (33 Stats., 
 
 fiesolved l>y the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
 States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War 
 is hereby authorized to grant permits, under such restrictions as he 
 may deem necessary, to the general committee of arrangements of the 
 
 24757 
 
54 
 
 American Railway Appliance Exhibition, to be given in connection 
 with the meeting of the International Railway Congress, for the use 
 of such portion of the public reservation fronting on the south side 
 of B street, between Fourteenth street and the Sixteenth street road- 
 way northwest, being a part of the unimproved portion of the Monu- 
 ment Grounds in the city of Washington, which, in his opinion, 
 will inflict no serious or permanent injuries upon said reservation, 
 to continue from March twentieth to May twenty-fifth, nineteen 
 hundred and five, 'inclusive: Provided, however, That all stands, 
 platforms, or other temporary structures that may be erected on the 
 space aforesaid shall be under the supervision of said general com- 
 mittee of arrangements and in accordance with plans to be approved 
 by the officer in charge of public buildings and grounds. 
 
 SEC. 2. That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia be, 
 and are hereby, authorized to permit said general committee of 
 arrangements for the American Railway Appliance Exhibition to 
 convey to such reservation, through suitable conductors, wherever 
 necessary, and in the nearest practicable connection with the present 
 supply thereof, gas, steam, and electricity for power, heat, and light, 
 necessary for such exhibition: Provided, That said conductors shall 
 not be used for the conducting of steam or electric current after May 
 fifteenth, nineteen hundred and five, and shall, with their supports, 
 be fully and entirely removed from the streets and avenues of the said 
 city of Washington on or before May twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred 
 and five : 'Provided further, That the work of conveying such con- 
 ductors to the reservation and removing of said conductors shall be 
 in accordance with plans to be approved by and under the super- 
 vision of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, who shall 
 see that the provisions of this resolution are enforced, and that all 
 needful precautions are taken for the protection of the public, and 
 that the pavement of any street, avenue, or alley disturbed is replaced 
 in as good condition as before entering upon the work herein author- 
 ized: Provided further, That no expense or damage on account of 
 or due to the conveying, operation, or removal of the said temporary 
 conductors shall be incurred by the United States or the District of 
 Columbia. 
 
 'SEC. 3. That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia be, and 
 are hereby, authorized to permit said general committee of arrange- 
 ments to temporarily occupy parts of streets with tracks and switches 
 for the accommodation of the exhibitors attending said exhibition; 
 provided that such temporary occupation shall not exceed the period 
 of sixty days, and shall be subject to conditions prescribed by said 
 Commissioners. 
 
 SEC. 4. That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia be, and 
 are hereby, authorized to permit the Western Union Telegraph Com- 
 pany, the Postal Telegraph Company, and the Chesapeake and Poto- 
 mac Telephone Company to extend overhead wires to said reservation 
 and to such points thereon as shall be deemed necessary and conven- 
 ient by said general committee of arrangements, the said wires to be 
 taken down within ten days after the conclusion of the meeting of the 
 International Railway Congress on the fourteenth day of May, nine- 
 teen hundred and five. 
 
 24757 
 
00 
 
 SEC. 5. That said general committee of arrangements, prior to the 
 issuance of the permits hereinbefore authorized, shall make such 
 necessary deposits with the collector of taxes, District of Columbia, 
 as may be required by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, 
 to guarantee the removal of any of the appurtenances placed in 
 public space and the restoration of public works disturbed by such 
 occupation, and said general committee shall also by proper bond, 
 approved by said Commissioners, save the District of Columbia harm- 
 less from any claim for damages arising in any manner from their 
 occupation of public space under this Act. 
 
 [PUBLIC RESOLUTION No. 3.] 
 
 JOINT RESOLUTION Authorizing the granting of permits to the committee 
 on inaugural ceremonies on the occasion of the inauguration of the President- 
 elect on March fourth, nineteen hundred and five, and so forth. Approved 
 January 17, 1905 (33 Stats., p. 1276). 
 
 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Ignited 
 States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the 
 Interior is hereby authorized and directed to grant a permit to the 
 committee on inaugural ceremonies for the use of the Pension Build- 
 ing in the city of Washington on the occasion of the inauguration of 
 the President-elect on the fourth day of March, nineteen hundred and 
 five, subject to such restrictions and regulations as the said Secretary 
 may prescribe in respect of the period and manner of such use, includ- 
 ing all necessary safeguards against fire arid for the extinguishing of 
 fire. 
 
 SEC. 2. That the Secretary of War is hereby authorized to grant 
 permits, under such restrictions as he may deem necessary, to the com- 
 mittee on inaugural ceremonies for the use of any reservations or 
 other public spaces in the city of Washington on the occasion of the 
 inauguration of the President-elect on the fourth day of March, nine- 
 teen hundred and five, which, in his opinion, will inflict no serious or 
 permanent injuries upon such reservations or public spaces or statuary 
 thereon, and the Commissioners of the District of Columbia may 
 designate for such and other purposes on the occasion aforesaid such 
 streets, avenues, and sidewalks in said city of Washington as they 
 may deem proper and necessary: Provided, however, That all stands 
 or platforms that may be erected on the public spaces aforesaid shall 
 be under the supervision of the said inaugural committee and in 
 accordance with the plans and designs to be approved by the Engineer 
 Commissioner of the District of Columbia, the officer in charge of 
 public buildings and grounds, and the Superintendent of the United 
 States Capitol Building and Grounds: And provided further, That 
 the reservations or public spaces occupied by the stands or other 
 structures shall be restored to their original condition before such 
 occupation, and that the inaugural committee shall indemnify the 
 War Department for any damage to structures of any kind whatso- 
 ever upon such reservation or spaces. 
 
 SEC. 3. That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia are 
 hereby authorized to permit the committee on illumination of the 
 inaugural committee for the inaugural ceremonies, March, nineteen 
 hundred and five, to stretch suitable overhead conductors, with suffi- 
 cient supports wherever necessary and in the nearest practicable con- 
 
 24757 
 
56 
 
 nection with the present supply of light, for the purpose of effecting 
 the said illumination : Pro vided. That if it shall be necessary to erect 
 wires for illumination purposes over any park or reservation in the 
 District of Columbia, the work of erection and removal of said wires 
 shall be under the supervision of the official in charge of said park or 
 reservation: Provided further. That the said conductors shall not be 
 used for the conveying of electrical currents after March seventh, 
 nineteen hundred and five, and shall, with their supports, be fully and 
 entirely removed from the streets and avenues of the said city of 
 Washington on or before March fifteenth, nineteen hundred and 'five: 
 Provided further, That the stretching and removing of the said wires 
 shall be under the supervision of the Commissioners of the District of 
 Columbia, who shall see that the provisions of this resolution are 
 enforced ; that all needful precautions are taken for the protection of 
 the public, and that the pavement of any street, avenue, or alley dis- 
 turbed is replaced in as good condition as before entering upon the 
 work herein authorized: Provided further, That no expense or da*m- 
 age on account of or due to the stretching, operation, or removing of 
 the said temporary overhead conductors shall be incurred by the 
 United States or the District of Columbia. 
 
 SEC. 4. That eighteen thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may 
 be necessary, payable from any money in the Treasury not otherwise 
 appropriated and from the revenues of the District of Columbia in 
 equal parts, is hereby appropriated to enable the Commissioners of 
 the District of Columbia to maintain public order and protect life and 
 property in said District from the twenty-eighth of February to the 
 tenth of March, nineteen hundred and five, both inclusive. Said 
 Commissioners are hereby authorized and directed to make all reason- 
 able regulations necessary to secure such preservation of public order 
 and protection of life and property and fixing fares by public con- 
 veyance and to make special regulations respecting the standing, 
 movements, and operating of vehicles of whatsoever character or kind 
 during said period. Such regulations shall be in force one week prior 
 to said inauguration, during said inauguration, and one week subse- 
 quent thereto, and shall be published in one or more of the daily 
 newspapers published in the District of Columbia; and no penalty 
 prescribed for the violation of any of such regulations shall be en- 
 forced until five days after such publication. Any person violating 
 any of such regulations shall be liable for each such offense to a fine 
 not to exceed one hundred dollars, in the police court of said District, 
 and in default of payment thereof to imprisonment in the workhouse 
 of said District for not longer than sixty days. And the sum of two 
 thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby 
 likewise appropriated, to be expended by the Commissioners of the 
 District of Columbia for the construction, maintenance, and expenses 
 incident to the operation of temporary public-comfort stations ami 
 information booths during the period aforesaid. 
 
 SEC. 5. That the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy 
 be, and they are hereby, authorized to loan to the committee on inau- 
 gural ceremonies such ensigns, flags, and so forth, belonging to the 
 Government of the United States (except battle flags), that are not 
 now in use and may be suitable and proper for decoration and may, in 
 their judgment, be spared without detriment to the public service, 
 
 24757 
 
57 
 
 such flags to be used in connection with said ceremonies by said com- 
 mittee under such regulations and restrictions as may be prescribed by 
 the said Secretaries, or either of them, in decorating the fronts of 
 public buildings and other places on the line of march between the 
 Capitol and the Executive Mansion and the interior of the reception 
 hall: Provided, That the loan of the said ensigns, flags, signal num- 
 bers, and so forth, to said chairman shall not take place prior to the 
 twenty-fourth day of February, and they shall be returned by him by 
 the tenth day of March, nineteen hundred and five: Provided further. 
 That the said committee shall indemnify the said Departments, or 
 either of them, for any loss or damage to such flags not necessarily 
 incident to such use. That the Secretary of War is hereby author- 
 ized to loan to the inaugural committee, for the purpose of caring 
 for the sick, injured, and infirm 011 the occasion of the inauguration 
 of the President of the United States, March fourth, nineteen hun- 
 dred and five, such hospital tents and camp appliances and other 
 necessaries, hospital furniture, and utensils of all descriptions, ambu- 
 lances, horses, drivers, stretchers, and Red Cross flags and poles 
 belonging to the Government of the United States as in* his judgment 
 may be spared and are not in use by the Government at the time of 
 the inauguration: Provided, That the inaugural committee shall 
 indemnify the War Department for any loss or damage to such hospi- 
 tal tents and appliances as aforesaid not necessarily incident to such 
 use: And provided further, That the said inaugural committee shall 
 give bond, with security satisfactory to the Secretary of War, to do 
 the same. 
 
 SEC. 6. That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia be, 
 and they are hereby, authorized to permit the Western Union Tele- 
 graph Company and the Postal Telegraph Company to extend 
 overhead wires into the Pension Building and to such points along 
 the line of parade as shall be deemed by the chief marshal convenient 
 for use in connection with the parade and other inaugural purposes, 
 the said wires to be taken down within ten days after the conclusion 
 of the ceremonies on the fourth day of March, nineteen hundred and 
 five. 
 
 SEC. 7. That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia are 
 hereby authorized to issue to steam railroad companies in said Dis- 
 trict permits to temporarily occupy additional parts of the streets 
 for the purpose of accommodating the traveling public attending- the 
 inaugural ceremonies in March, nineteen hundred and five: Provided, 
 That such temporary occupation shall not exceed the period of fif- 
 teen days and shall be subject to conditions prescribed by said Com- 
 missioners : Provided further, That no temporary tracks shall be 
 laid upon or over any of the parks of the city. 
 
 [PUBLIC No. 75.] 
 
 AN ACT For the construction of a private conduit across I) street northwest. 
 Approved, February 17, 1905 (33 Stats., p. 719). 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Commis- 
 sioners of the District of Columbia be, and they are hereby, author- 
 ized to grant permission to S. Kann, Sons and Company to lay a 
 conduit for the transmission of electric power and a pipe for the 
 
 2475708 5 
 
58 
 
 transmission of steam power from their store building in square four 
 hundred and thirty-two to their store building in square four hun- 
 dred and thirty-one across D street, between Seventh and Eighth 
 streets northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, under the regu- 
 lations and subject to the limitations prescribed in the Act entitled 
 "An Act regulating permits for private conduits in the District of 
 Columbia," approved May twenty-sixth, nineteen hundred. 
 
 SEC. 2. Congress reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal this 
 Act. 
 
 [PUBLIC No. 94.] 
 
 AN ACT Permitting the Washington Market Company to lay a conduit across 
 Seventh street west. Approved, February 23, 1905 (33 Stats., p. 741). 
 
 Be it enacted l>y the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That fhe Washing- 
 ton Market Company is hereby authorized to lay a conduit and pipes 
 from Center Market eastward across and under Seventh street west, 
 for refrigerating purposes, under the following conditions, namely: 
 The conduit and pipes therein shall be laid in a straight direction, at 
 a right angle to the building lines of said Seventh street, to the west 
 building line of square numbered four hundred and sixty-one of the 
 city of Washington. They shall be located as directed by the Com- 
 missioners of the District of Columbia and be laid under their inspec- 
 tion; and the cost of such inspection, together with the cost of 
 replacing the pavement, curbs, and sidewalks disturbed in connection 
 with said work, shall be paid in advance by the Washington Market 
 Company. The conduit and pipes shall be used for no other purpose 
 than refrigeration for the use of persons engaged in said square num- 
 bered four hundred and sixty-one in the traffic in meat and other 
 articles of market produce; and the said company shall not rent or 
 sell the said conduit or pipes, or any part thereof, but may sell for a 
 time, not to exceed twelve months at any one sale, the use of the fluid 
 transmitted. 
 
 SEC. 2. That on violation of any of the above provisions or restric- 
 tions the said Commissioners shall require the permittee, after thirty 
 days' notice, to abandon the use of said conduit and pipes and remove 
 them from said Seventh street, and if said permittee shall neglect or 
 refuse to remove said conduit and pipes and place the surface of Sev- 
 enth street, including the sidewalks, in good condition within sixty 
 days after the date of said notice, the said permittee shall be deemed 
 guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be liable to a fine of ten dollars for 
 each and every day that the said conduit and pipes, or any of them, 
 are allowed to remain in said Seventh street, or the said street shall 
 remain out of repair, which fine shall be recovered in the police court 
 of the said District, in the name of said District, as other fines and 
 penalties are now recovered in said court. 
 
 SEC. 3. That Congress reserves the right to amend, alter, or repeal 
 this Act. 
 
 [PUBLIC No. 145.] 
 
 AN ACT To authorize the Anacostia, Surrattsville and Brandy wine Electric 
 Railway Company to extend its street railway in the District of Columbia. 
 Approved March 3, 1905 (33 Stats., p. 980). 
 
 Be it enacted ~by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Anacostia, 
 
 24757 
 
59 
 
 Surrattsville and Brandywine Electric Railway Company, a body 
 incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland, be, and it is 
 hereby, authorized to extend its line of street railway within the 
 District of Columbia, with single or double tracks, equip and operate 
 the same for the carrying of passengers, parcels, milk, garden truck, 
 and other small freight, with the necessary switches, turn-outs, build- 
 ings, and necessary mechanical deAdces, along the following-named 
 route : Beginning where the Walker road intersects the line dividing 
 the District of Columbia and Prince George County, State of Mary- 
 land, designated on the map of the District of Columbia ; thence along 
 said Walker road northwesterly to Goodhope, District of Columbia; 
 thence westerly along Goodhope road as designated on the map of 
 the District of Columbia to its intersection with Harrison street, Ana- 
 costia, District of Columbia; thence westerly along Harrison street 
 to its intersection with Monroe street, Anacostia, District of Colum- 
 bia, to a junction with the street railway of the Anacostia and Poto- 
 mac River Railroad Company: Provided. That the said company 
 shall acquire hereby no right to extend its said railway over, along, 
 or upon any portion of the aforementioned route which is not now 
 a dedicated road or street of the said District until it shall have 
 obtained the written consent of the owners of the real property 
 covered thereby, or acquire said right of way by condemnation : Pro- 
 vided, That when the route described coincides with that of a county 
 road of less width than sixty feet the railway shall be constructed 
 entirely outside the road: And provided further^ That whenever 
 said road shall be widened the Commissioners of the District of 
 Columbia are authorized to require that the tracks of said railway 
 company shall be located in the center of the road as widened : Pro- 
 vided, That if at any time in the future any part of the right of way 
 of the company shall be included within the lines of public highways, 
 such part of the said right of way shall be dedicated to the public 
 without expense to the District of Columbia. 
 
 SEC. 2. That the Anacostia. Surrattsville and Brandywine Electric 
 Railway Company and the Anacostia and Potomac River Railroad 
 Company shall have the power to make any contracts that they may 
 deem necessary to enable the said companies to run passenger cars of 
 each over the tracks of the other company, and also to contract for 
 and use the power of each or either company to propel the cars of the 
 other company. That in case of failure to reach an agreement upon 
 terms mutually agreeable to each of said companies, then the supreme 
 court of the District of' Columbia is hereby authorized and directed to 
 give hearings to the interested parties and fix the terms of joint 
 trackage. Payments for the use of the tracks shall be made monthly, 
 in advance; default in such payments shall suspend the right of the 
 company to use the tracks until such payments are made; that the 
 motive power shall be cable, electric, compressed air, or mechanical 
 power other than steam locomotive power; and wherever the trolley 
 system is used a return wire, similar in capacity, situation, and insula- 
 tion to the feed wire, shall be provided for the current, and each car 
 shall be provided with a double trolley; and no dynamo furnishing 
 power to the road, or any portion thereof, shall have either of its 
 poles connected with the earth. 
 
 24757 
 
60 
 
 SEC. 3. That all plans of location and construction shall be sub- 
 jected to the approval of the Commissioners of the District of 
 Columbia. 
 
 SEC. 4. That excavations in the highways shall be made only under 
 permits from the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, and sub- 
 ject to regulations prescribed by them. 
 
 SEC. 5. That the said railway and its appurtenances shall be con- 
 structed in a substantial and durable manner, subject to inspection by 
 the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. All changes to 
 existing structures in public space shall be made at the expense of 
 the company. 
 
 SEC. G. That the said company shall deposit such sums as the Com- 
 missioners of the District of Columbia may require to cover the cost 
 of inspection and the cost of changes to public works in the streets 
 caused by the construction of said railway. 
 
 SEC. 7. That the company shall keep the space between its rails and 
 tracks and two feet exterior thereto in good condition, to the satisfac- 
 tion of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. The pave- 
 ment of these spaces shall be at least as good as that of the contiguous 
 roadway. The proper authorities shall have the right to make 
 changes of grade and other improvements which they may deem nec- 
 essary, and when any highway occupied by the company is improved 
 the company shall bear the entire expense of improving said spaces 
 to correspond with the remainder of the roadway. The requirements 
 of this section shall be enforceable under the provisions of section 
 five of the Act providing a permanent form of government for the 
 District of Columbia, approved June eleventh, eighteen hundred and 
 seventy-eight. 
 
 SEC. 8. That the cars shall be first-class and shall be kept in good 
 condition, to the satisfaction of the Commissioners of the District of 
 Columbia. 
 
 SEC. 9. That the cars shall be run as often as public convenience 
 requires, on a time-table satisfactory to the Commissioners of the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia. 
 
 SEC. 10. That the speed of the cars shall be subject to the police 
 regulations of the District of Columbia. 
 
 SEC. 11. That persons drunk, disorderly, contagiously diseased, or 
 refusing to pay the legal fare may be ejected from the cars by the 
 officers in charge thereof. 
 
 SEC. 12. That as far as possible articles left in the cars shall be 
 cared for by the company, to the end that they may be returned to the 
 rightful owner. 
 
 SEC. 13. That the rate of fare which may be charged for the trans- 
 portation of passengers over the line of said company within the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia shall not exceed five cents per passenger, and six 
 tickets shall be sold for twenty-five cents. 
 
 SEC. 14. That the company is authorized to erect and maintain the 
 buildings necessary to the operation of this road, subject to the build- 
 ing regulations of the District of Columbia. The company shall erect 
 and maintain passenger rooms and transfer stations as required by the 
 Commissioners of the District of Columbia. All passenger rooms and 
 transfer stations shall be provided with such conveniences for the 
 public as said Commissioners may direct. 
 
 24757 
 
61 
 
 SEC. 15. That the said company, through its proper officers, shall 
 annually, on or before August first, make return under oath to the 
 board of personal tax appraisers of the District of Columbia of the 
 amount of its gross receipts in the District of Columbia during the 
 preceding year ending June thirtieth, and shall pay to the collector of 
 taxes of the District of Columbia, at the same time and in the same 
 manner as other personal taxes are paid, an amount equal to four per 
 centum per annum thereon in lieu of other personal taxes; that the 
 real estate of the said company in the District of Columbia shall be 
 assessed and taxed as is other real estate in said District. 
 
 SEC. 16. That nothing in this Act shall prevent the District of Co- 
 lumbia, at any time, at its option, from altering the grade of any ave- 
 nue, street, or highway occupied by said railway, or from altering 
 and improving streets, avenues, highways, and the sewerage thereof; 
 and the company shall change its railway construction and pavements 
 so as to conform to such grades and improvements as may have been 
 or may be established. 
 
 SEC. 17. That said company is authorized to construct and operate, 
 for its own use only, telegraph and telephone lines along its railway, 
 as herein provided for, subject to the approval of the Commissioners 
 of the District of Columbia. 
 
 SEC. 18. That the construction of said extension on the lines of said 
 railway company within the District of Columbia shall be commenced 
 within one year of the passage of this Act, and be completed and cars 
 running thereupon for passenger traffic within two years from the 
 passage of this Act, in default of which this Act shall be void and of 
 no effect. 
 
 SEC. 19. That all the conditions, requirements, and obligations 
 imposed by this Act shall be complied with by any of the successors 
 to and assigns of said company within said District. 
 
 SEC. 20. That within sixty days from the approval of this Act, the 
 company shall deposit one thousand dollars with the collector of taxes 
 of the District of Columbia, to guarantee the construction of this rail- 
 road within the prescribed time, and if this sum is not so deposited 
 this Act shall be null and void. If the sum is so deposited, and the 
 road is not in operation as herein prescribed, said one thousand dol- 
 lars shall be forfeited to the District of Columbia, and this Act shall 
 be void. 
 
 SEC. 21. That the construction, adoption of motive power, erection 
 of buildings, regulation of schedule and speed of running shall be at 
 all times under the supervision and control of the Commissioners of 
 the District of Columbia. 
 
 SEC. 22. That each and every violation of the requirements of this 
 Act, or of the regulations of the Commissioners of the District of 
 Columbia made under the authority thereof, shall be punishable by a 
 fine of from twenty-five to one thousand dollars, in the discretion of 
 the court, such fines to be collectible in any court of competent juris- 
 diction as other fines and penalties are collected in the District of 
 Columbia. 
 
 SEC. 23. That the Anacostia, Surra ttsville and Brandy wine Elec- 
 tric Railway Company shall have the right of way across such other 
 railways as are now in operation within the limits of the lines granted 
 by this Act, and is hereby authorized to construct its said road across 
 
 24757 
 
62 
 
 such other railways: Provided, That it shall not interrupt the travel 
 of such other railways in such construction. 
 
 SEC. 24. That the company shall, on or before the first day of Feb- 
 ruary in each year, make a report to each the Senate and House of 
 Representatives, as prescribed in section ten of the Act of June tenth, 
 eighteen hundred and ninety-six, entitled "An Act to extend the routes 
 of the Eckington and Soldiers' Home Railway Company, and of the 
 Belt Railway Company of the District of Columbia, and for other 
 purposes." 
 
 SEC. 25. That Congress reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal 
 this Act. 
 
 L PUBLIC No. 148.] 
 
 AN ACT Regulating the use of telegraph wires in the District of Columbia. 
 Approved March 3, 1905 (S3 Stats., p. 984). 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled, That all telegraph 
 poles and the wires attached thereto, not the property of the United 
 States or the District of Columbia, now upon the streets, avenues, and 
 alleys within the fire limits of the District of Columbia, except as 
 hereinafter provided, shall from time to time, as may be prescribed by 
 the Commissioners of said District, be taken down and removed. 
 The work of taking down and removing said poles and wires shall be 
 done under the direction of said Commissioners, and it is hereby made 
 the duty of said Commissioners to enforce compliance with the provi- 
 sions of this Act as expeditiously as may be consistent with the public 
 interests; and the said Commissioners are hereby empowered, from 
 time to time, to authorize any company or corporation now or here- 
 after operating and maintaining a telegraph plant or system in the 
 District of Columbia to locate and construct a system of underground 
 conduits, subsidiaries, and manholes in or under any or all of the 
 streets, avenues, alleys, lanes, or other public highways in said Dis- 
 trict, as may be requisite and necessary for the purpose of this Act 
 and for the reception of .such other conduits, cables, and wires may 
 be reasonably required in the future by the growth of such company 
 or corporation or its assigns, or to adequately meet the requirements 
 of the public for telegraph service. 
 
 SEC. 2. That upon the approval of this Act, and from time to time 
 thereafter, any company or corporation, or its assigns, now or here- 
 after maintaining and operating a telegraph plant or system in said 
 District, shall prepare and submit to the said Commissioners a plan or 
 plans or application or applications, in writing, showing the streets, 
 avenues, alleys, lanes, and other public highways in or under which 
 it is proposed to construct conduits, subsidiaries, or manholes, and 
 giving the general dimensions, length, and course thereof ; and before 
 any such conduit, subsidiary, or manhole is constructed it shall be 
 necessary to obtain the approval and permission of said Commission- 
 ers. Said Commissioners are empowered to require that all proposed 
 conduits, subsidiaries, and manholes shall be constructed in accord- 
 ance with the approved plan or permit; and upon the approval by 
 said Commissioners of any such plan, or the issuing of any such per- 
 mit, providing for the construction of underground conduits, subsid- 
 iaries, or manholes within the said limits described in section one of 
 
 24757 
 
63 
 
 this Act, or in such part thereof as said Commissioners shall require 
 and direct, the construction therein provided for shall be proceeded 
 with diligently, and upon the completion thereof, or as soon thereafter 
 as may be without impairing the efficiency of the telegraph service in 
 said District, the company or corporation constructing such conduits, 
 subsidiaries, or manholes shall place its cables and wires therein and 
 take down and remove from the streets and avenues in which such 
 conduits are constructed all poles and the wires thereon, except such 
 as said Commissioners may, in accordance with the provisions of this 
 Act, permit to remain for the purpose of distributing wires for house 
 or other connections. 
 
 SEC. 3. That any company or corporation now or hereafter owning 
 and maintaining such poles and wires attached thereto on or over any 
 street or avenue within the said limits described in section one of this 
 Act, which shall willfully neglect or refuse to remove the same, as 
 provided in section two hereof, shall be liable to a penalty of not more 
 than twenty-five dollars for each and every day during which such 
 failure to remove said poles and wires shall continue, which amount 
 may be recovered by the District of Columbia in any court of com- 
 petent jurisdiction. 
 
 SEC. 4. That said Commissioners be, and they are hereby, empow- 
 ered to authorize the erection and maintenance of poles in the alleys 
 of said District, and the stringing thereon of wires or conductors for 
 telegraph purposes from alley poles or house-top fixtures in one 
 square to alley poles or house-top fixtures in another square for the 
 purpose of enabling house connections to be made, and to authorize 
 the erection of poles and the stringing thereon of wires on and upon 
 the streets and avenues of said District in the parts thereof in which 
 there are no public alleys and in such places as the public interests do 
 not require that the lines be placed underground, or in places wher^ it 
 shall be deemed by said Commissioners impracticable to advanta- 
 geously place or operate such lines underground. During the prog- 
 ress of the work provided for in section one of this Act said Commis- 
 sioners are also empowered to issue temporary permits for the erection 
 and maintenance of poles and overhead conductors in places w T here 
 the lines are ultimately to be placed underground, where the work can 
 not be immediately done because of the greater urgency of work in 
 other localities, or for other reasons satisfactory to said Commis- 
 sioners; but in issuing such temporary permits said Commissioners 
 shall bear in mind the purpose and policy of this Act, which is to 
 cause to be removed from the streets and avenues within the said 
 limits described in section one of this Act all poles and wires attached 
 thereto, except as hereinbefore provided, as expeditiously as may be 
 without interfering with or impairing the efficiency of the telegraph 
 service in said District and without denying to the public reasonable 
 telegraph facilities. 
 
 SEC. 4a. That any officer of the United States Government charged 
 with the care, maintenance, and supervision of any public park or res- 
 ervation may grant permission to any company or corporation now or 
 hereafter maintaining and operating a telegraph plant or system in 
 said District, upon application being made therefor, to contract con- 
 duits, subsidiaries, or manholes in said park or reservation, under such 
 reasonable regulations as said officer may prescribe, unless, in the 
 
 24757 
 
64 
 
 judgment of said officer, said construction will result in injury to the 
 United States or its properties. 
 
 SEC. 5. That all subways, conduits, manholes, and overhead lines 
 constructed or erected under the provisions of this Act shall be subject 
 to such reasonable regulations as the Commissioners of the District of 
 Columbia may from time to time prescribe as to inspection, location, 
 character of conduit construction, and height of poles and wires : Pro- 
 vided^ That in all underground conduits so constructed such space 
 shall be furnished to the said District of Columbia and the United 
 States as may be necessary for their telegraph, fire alarm, and police- 
 patrol wires or cables carrying low potential currents of electricity, 
 free of charge: And provided further, That the number of ducts so 
 reserved in any one conduit shall not be more than two. 
 
 SEC. 6. That the said Commissioners are empowered to authorize 
 any such company or corporation now or hereafter owning and oper- 
 ating lines of street poles and wires, and any alley poles or alley-pole 
 line or house-top wires within the said District and outside of the 
 limits described in section one of this Act to continue to maintain the 
 same, with such repairs and renewals as may be necessary to keep 
 them in good order and condition of repair, and to add thereto such 
 poles and wires as may be necessary for their telegraphic purposes. 
 
 SEC. 7. That Congress reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal 
 this Act, but nothing herein shall abridge or lessen the rights granted 
 telegraph companies under title sixty-five, section fifty-two hundred 
 and sixty-three and the following, United States Revised Statutes. 
 
 SEC. 8. That if at any time the District of Columbia or the National 
 Government shall acquire, by purchase, condemnation proceedings, or 
 otherwise, the property of any telegraph company in the District of 
 Columbia, nothing shall then be paid for the rights accorded under 
 this bill to build and lay such conduits. 
 
 Extracts from an Act entitled "An Act making appropriations to provide for 
 the expenses of the government of the District of Columbia for the fiscal 
 year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and six, and for other purposes," 
 approved March 3, 1905 (33 Stats., p. 893). 
 
 Provided, That the time within which said bridge shall be con- 
 structed is extended to July first, nineteen hundred and seven : And 
 provided further, That in addition to the requirements heretofore 
 made as to the payment for a portion of said work upon said bridge 
 by the Anacostia a-nd Potomas River Railroad Company, said com- 
 pany shall, when directed by the said Commissioners, deposit with 
 the collector of taxes of the District of Columbia, to the credit of 
 the appropriation for the reconstruction of said bridge, the sum of 
 three thousand three hundred dollars, to defray the cost of such 
 underfloor construction as may be necessary in order that the cars of 
 said company may be propelled over said bridge by underfloor elec- 
 trical conductors or cables, and the entire cost of maintenance of said 
 underfloor construction shall thereafter be borne b} 7 said railroad 
 company, and no cars shall be propelled across said bridge unless all 
 electrical conductors or cables furnishing power for the propulsion 
 of the same shall be placed under floor of said bridge. 
 
 ******* 
 
 Provided* That no more than twenty dollars per annum shall be 
 paid for each gas lamp equipped w r ith a self-regulating flat-flame 
 
 2475' 
 
65 
 
 burner so adjusted as to secure under all ordinary variations of pres- 
 sure and density a consumption of five cubic feet of gas per hour, 
 nor more than twenty-six dollars per annum for each gas or oil lamp 
 equipped with an incandescent mantle burner of not less than sixty 
 candlepower. And during the fiscal year nineteen hundred and six 
 the price prescribed by Congress for lighting each street lamp in the 
 District of Columbia with gas or oil shall be construed to include 
 the cost of the illuminating material used, lighting and extinguishing 
 lamps, repairing, painting, cleaning, purchasing, and expense of 
 erecting and maintaining lamp-posts, street designations, lanterns, 
 and fixtures: Provided, That all of said lamps shall burn every night, 
 on the average, from fifteen minutes after sunset to forty-five min- 
 utes before sunset: And provided further, That the Commissioner? 
 of the District of Columbia may purchase, erect, light, and maintain 
 such posts, lanterns, signs, and fixtures for street designation pur- 
 poses, in addition to those mentioned above, as in their judgment may 
 be necessary, which lamps shall not be subject to the restrictions of 
 this paragraph except as to the time of burning: And provided fur- 
 ther, That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia are hereby 
 authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to enter into one- 
 year or three-year contracts for any one of the above systems of light- 
 ing by gas or oil lamps equipped with incandescent mantle burners 
 of not less than sixty candlepower; and hereafter the illuminating 
 power of gas furnished by any gas-lighting company, person, or 
 persons in the District of Columbia shall be equal to twenty-two 
 candles. 
 
 Extract from an act making appropriations to provide for the expenses of the 
 Government of the District of Columbia for the fiscal year ending June 
 thirtieth, nineteen hundred and six, and for other purposes, approved March 
 3, 1905. 
 
 And provided further, That the Commissioners of the District of 
 Columbia are hereby authorized and empowered, in their discretion, 
 to enter into one-year or three-year contracts for any one of the above 
 systems of lighting by gas or oil lamps equipped with incandescent 
 mantle burners of not less than sixty candlepower; and hereafter the 
 illuminating power of gas furnished by any gas-lighting company, 
 person, or persons in the District of Columbia shall be equal to 
 twenty-two candles. 
 
 Extract from an act entitled "An act making appropriations for sundry civil 
 expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nine- 
 teen hundred and six, and for other purposes," approved March 3, 1905 (33 
 Stats., p. 1193). 
 
 For removing cables of lines from the roof of the Treasury Depart- 
 ment building and placing them under ground, one thousand two hun- 
 dred dollars: and authority is hereby granted for laying the neces- 
 sary conduits under the streets, avenues, and sidewalks of the city for 
 that purpose. 
 
 Extract from urgent deficiency bill, approved February 27, 1906. 
 
 HEATING, LIGHTING, AND POWER PLANT: The limit of cost of the 
 heating, lighting, and power plant, authorized and provided for under 
 the sundry civil Act approved April twenty-eighth, nineteen hundred 
 
 24757 
 
66 
 
 and four, is hereby extended so that when said plant shall have been 
 completed and of sufficient size and capacity to furnish heat, light, 
 and power for the office building. House of Representatives, the 
 Capitol building, the Congressional Library building, the office build- 
 ing, United States Senate, and for such other buildings as may here- 
 after be erected on grounds adjacent to the Capitol grounds at the 
 east of the Capitol building and facing the same, the total expendi- 
 ture shall not exceed one million three hundred and ninety-three 
 thousand dollars ; and contracts for any part or the whole of the work 
 herein provided for under said extended limit of cost are authorized 
 to be entered into by the Superintendent of the Capitol Building and 
 Grounds, under the terms of the Act aforesaid. 
 
 SUBWAY SYSTEM : For the construction of a subway system to con- 
 nect the office building of the United States Senate with the Capitol 
 building an expenditure not to exceed one hundred and sixty-eight 
 thousand five hundred dollars is hereby authorized ; and contracts for 
 said subway system are authorized to be entered into within said sum 
 by the Superintendent of the Capitol Building and Grounds under the 
 supervision of the Commission on the Senate office building created 
 by the sundry civil Act, approved April twenty-eighth, nineteen hun- 
 dred and four, subject to appropriations to be hereafter made by 
 Congress. 
 
 Extract from act approved June 27, 1906, making appropriations to provide for 
 , the expenses of the Government of the District of Columbia for the fiscal year 
 
 ending June 30, 1907, and for other purposes. 
 
 
 
 LIGHTING: For illuminating material, lighting, extinguishing, re- 
 pairing, and cleaning public lamps on avenues, streets, roads, and 
 alleys; purchasing and expense of erecting and maintaining new 
 lamp-posts, street designations, lanterns, and fixtures; moving lamp- 
 posts, painting lamp-posts and lanterns; replacing and repairing 
 lamp-posts and lanterns damaged or unfit for service; for rent of 
 storeroom, cartage of material, livery, and other necessary items, two 
 hundred and fifty thousand dollars: Provided. That no more than 
 eighteen dollars per annum shall be paid for each gas lamp equipped 
 with a self -regulating flat-flame burner so adjusted as to secure under 
 all ordinary variations of pressure and density a consumption of five 
 cubic feet of gas per hour, nor more than twenty-five dollars per 
 annum for each gas or oil lamp equipped with an incandescent mantle 
 burner of not less than sixty candlepower. And during the fiscal 
 year nineteen hundred and seven the price prescribed by Congress for 
 lighting each street lamp in the District of Columbia with gas or oil 
 shall be construed to include the cost of the illuminating material 
 used, lighting and extinguishing lamps, repairing, p'ainting, cleaning, 
 purchasing, and expense of erecting and maintaining lamp-posts, 
 street designations, lanterns, and fixtures: Provided. That all of said 
 lamps shall burn ever}^ night, on the average, from fifteen minutes 
 after sunset to forty-five minutes before sunrise: And provided fur- 
 ther, That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia may pur- 
 chase, erect, light, and maintain such posts, lanterns, signs, and 
 fixtures, for street designation purposes, in addition to those men- 
 tioned above, as in their judgment may be necessary, which lamps 
 shall not be subject to the restrictions of this paragraph except as to 
 
 24757 
 
67 
 
 the time of burning: And provided further, That the Commissioners 
 of the District of Columbia are hereby authorized and empowered, 
 in their discretion, to enter into one-year or three-year contracts for 
 any one of the above systems of lighting by gas or oil lamps equipped 
 with incandescent mantle burners of not less than sixty candlepower. 
 For electric arc lighting, and for extensions of such service, not 
 exceeding ninety-five thousand dollars : Provided, That not more than 
 eight3 T -five dollars per annum shall be paid for any electric arc light 
 burning from fifteen minutes after sunset to forty- five minutes before 
 sunrise, and operated wholly by means of underground wire; and 
 each arc light shall be of not less than one thousand actual candle- 
 power, and no part of this appropriation shall be used for electric 
 lighting by means of wires that may exist on or over any of the 
 streets or avenues of the city of Washington. 
 
 AN ACT Making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government 
 for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and seven, and for 
 other purposes. Approved June 30, 1906. 
 
 For lighting twenty-seA r en arc lights in Potomac Park driveway, 
 at not exceeding eighty-five dollars per light per annum, which sum 
 shall cover the entire cost of installing, lighting, and maintaining in 
 good order each electric light on said driveway, and authority for 
 laying single-duct conduits through public grounds and making con- 
 nections for said lights is hereby granted, two thousand two hundred 
 and ninety-five dollars, one-half of which sum shall be paid from the 
 revenues of the District of Columbia and the other half from the 
 Treasury of the United States. 
 
 [PUBLIC No. 169.] 
 
 AN ACT Making appropriations to provide for the expenses of the government 
 of the District of Columbia for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen 
 hundred and eight, and for other purposes. Approved March 2, 1907. 
 
 LIGHTING : For illuminating material, lighting, extinguishing, re- 
 pairing, and cleaning public lamps on avenues, streets, roads, and 
 alleys; purchasing and expense of erecting and maintaining new 
 lamp-posts, street designations, lanterns, and fixtures; moving lamp- 
 posts, painting lamp-posts and lanterns; replacing and repairing 
 lamp-posts and lanterns damaged or unfit for service ; for rent of 
 storeroom, cartage of material, livery, and other necessary items, two 
 hundred and fifty thousand dollars: Provided, That no more than 
 eighteen dollars per annum shall be paid for each gas lamp equipped 
 with a self-regulating flat-flame burner so adjusted as to secure under 
 all ordinary variations of pressure and density a consumption of five 
 cubic feet of gas per hour, nor more than twenty dollars and eighty- 
 five cents per annum for each gas and twenty-two dollars and eighty 
 cents per annum for each oil lamp equipped with an incandescent 
 mantle burner of not less than sixty candlepower. And during the 
 fiscal year nineteen hundred and eight the price prescribed by Con- 
 gress for lighting each street lamp in the District of Columbia with 
 gas or oil shall be construed to include the cost of the illuminating 
 material used, lighting and extinguishing lamps, repairing, painting, 
 cleaning, purchasing, and expense of erecting and maintaining lamp- 
 posts, street designations, lanterns, and fixtures: Provided, That all 
 
 24757 
 
68 
 
 of said lamps shall burn every night, on the average, from fifteen 
 minutes after sunset to forty-five minutes before sunrise: And pro- 
 vided further, That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia 
 may purchase, erect, light, and maintain such posts, lanterns, signs, 
 and fixtures for street designation purposes, in addition to those 
 mentioned above, as in their judgment may be necessary, which lamps 
 shall not be subject to the restrictions of this paragraph except as to 
 the time of burning : Provided, That any association or corporation 
 engaged in the manufacture and sale of gas for illuminating and fuel 
 purposes in the District of Columbia, through its president or other 
 duly authorized officer, shall make a sworn statement to Congress an- 
 nually, on or before the first day of February in each year. Said 
 report shall contain a detailed statement of the condition of the busi- 
 ness of said association or corporation for the year ending December 
 thirty-first next preceding, and such statement shall set forth the 
 actual cost and also present value of the property of such association 
 or corporation used in the conduct of its business, the amount of paid 
 up capital stock, the amount and character of the indebtedness of 
 such association or corporation, the amount and cost of materials used 
 in making gas, the amount of gas manufactured, the amount of gas 
 sold, the average price per thousand cubic feet received for gas sold, 
 the revenue from the sale of all by-products, the revenues from all 
 other sources, the extensions and improvements made in the plant and 
 works, the actual cost of the same, the amount expended 'for labor, the 
 amount set aside for depreciation, the amount set apart for insurance 
 and renewals, the amount paid out of earnings for betterments, the 
 amount paid for betterments from other sources, the amount set aside 
 and paid in interest and dividends, the surplus after paying the oper- 
 ating expenses and fixed charges, the statement of the operating 
 expenses to be itemized and classified as is done by other public utility 
 corporations, in the District of Columbia, the names of the stock- 
 holders and the amount of stock held in such association or corpora- 
 tion by each of them on December thirty-first next preceding the date 
 of such report. 
 
 Any such association or corporation, 'not later than the fourth day 
 of December in the year nineteen hundred and seven shall make to 
 Congress a sworn report in accordance with the requirements of this 
 provision and showing the condition of its business as near as its pres- 
 ent method of bookkeeping will permit for the year ending December 
 thirty-first, nineteen hundred and six. 
 
 For electric arc lighting, and for extensions of such service, not 
 exceeding one hundred thousand five hundred dollars: Provided, 
 That not more than eighty-five dollars per annum shall be paid for 
 any electric arc light burning from fifteen minutes after sunset to 
 forty-five minutes before sunrise, and operated wholly by means of 
 underground wire; and each arc light shall be of not less than one 
 thousand actual candlepower, and no part of this appropriation shalJ 
 be used for electric lighting by means of wires that may exist on or 
 over any of the streets or avenues in the city of Washington: Pro- 
 vided further, That any unexpended balances not to exceed in all ten 
 thousand dollars of the appropriation of two hundred and fifty thou- 
 sand dollars for lighting, and of the appropriation of ninety-five 
 thousand dollars for electrical arc lighting, provided in the District 
 
 24757 
 
69 
 
 appropriation Act for the fiscal year nineteen hundred and seven, 
 shall continue and be available for the services of the fiscal year end- 
 ing June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and eight, for the lighting pur- 
 poses designated under said appropriation in said Act: Provided, 
 That any company, association or corporation engaged in the manu- 
 facture and sale of electricity for illuminating or heating or power 
 purposes, or either, in the District of Columbia, through its president 
 or other duly authorized officer, shall make a sworn statement to Con- 
 
 fress annually, on or before the first day of February in each year, 
 aid report shall contain a detailed statement of the condition of the 
 business of said company, association or corporation for the year end- 
 ing December thirty-first next preceding, and such statement shall set 
 forth the actual cost and also present value of the property of such 
 company, association or corporation used in the conduct of its busi- 
 ness, the amount of paid-up capital stock, the amount and character 
 of the indebtedness of such company, association, or corporation, the 
 amount and cost of materials used in making electricity, the quantity 
 of electricity manufactured, the quantity of electricity sold, the 
 amount received per annum for each public arc light, the amount re- 
 ceived per kilowatt for each public incandescent light, the average 
 price received per annum for each arc light furnished to others than 
 the public, the varying discounts allowed to consumers using arc lights 
 during a part of or the entire night, the average price charged per 
 kilowatt for incandescent lights furnished to others than the public, 
 with the varying discounts, and the price charged per kilowatt hour 
 for power or heat furnished, and the gross revenues from each source, 
 the revenues from all other sources, the extensions and improvements 
 made in the plant and works, the actual cost of the same, the amounts 
 expended for labor, the amount set aside for depreciation, the amount 
 set aside for insurance and renewals, the amount paid out of earnings 
 for betterments, the amount paid for betterments from other sources, 
 the amount set aside and paid in interest and dividends, the surplus 
 after paying the operating expenses and fixed charges, the statement 
 of the operating expenses to be itemized and classified as is done by 
 other public utility corporations in the District of Columbia, the 
 names of the stockholders and the amount of stock held in such com- 
 
 Eany, association or corporation by each of them on December thirty - 
 rst next preceding the date of such report. Any such company, asso- 
 ciation or corporation, not later than the fourth day of December in 
 the year nineteen hundered and seven, shall make to Congress a sworn 
 report in accordance with the requirements of this provision and 
 showing the condition of its business as near as its present method of 
 bookkeeping will permit for the year ending December thirty-first, 
 nineteen hundred and six. 
 
 24757 
 
70 
 
 Extract from act approved March 2, 1907, making appropriations to provide for 
 the expenses of the government of the District of Columbia for the fiscal 
 year ending June 30, 1908, and for other purposes. 
 
 For Washington Home for Incurables, maintenance, including ele- 
 vator, four thousand dollars: Provided, That grounded electrical 
 circuits may be used for lighting and power purposes at said Home. 
 
 Extract from act approved March 4, 1907, making appropriations for the sundry 
 civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1908. 
 
 SEC. 9. No appropriation heretofore or hereafter made for the 
 construction or equipment of any executive or municipal building in 
 the District of Columbia shall be expended for the production of 
 electricity for light or power, unless, in the judgment of the Sec- 
 retary of the Treasury, such necessary electric current for light and 
 power can not be obtained at a less cost. 
 
 [PUBLIC No. 92.] 
 
 AN ACT To authorize the Washington, Spa Spring and Gretta Railroad Com- 
 pany, of Prince George County, to extend its street railway into the District 
 of Columbia. Approved February 18, 1907. 
 
 Be it enacted l)y the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America in Congress assembled. That the Washing- 
 ton, Spa Spring and Gretta Railroad Company, a body corporate 
 under the laws of the State of Maryland, be, and it is hereby, author- 
 ized to extend its line of street railway within the District of Colum- 
 bia with single and double tracks, equip and operate the same for the 
 carrying of passengers, parcels, milk, garden truck, and other small 
 freight, with the necessary switches, turn-outs, buildings, mechanical 
 devices, along the following route: Beginning on the Bladensburg 
 road, or Baltimore and Washington turnpike, at the dividing line 
 between the District of Columbia and Prince George County, Mary- 
 land, thence along said Bladensburg road to Fifteenth street east and 
 H street where x it intersects with Maryland avenue and said Bladens- 
 burg road; that the motive power of said road shall be electricity, 
 operated by the overhead wire or trolley system, and a return wire, 
 similar in capacity, situation, and insulation to the feed wire, shall be 
 provided with a double trolley ; and no dynamo furnishing power to 
 the road or any portion thereof shall have either of its wires con- 
 nected with the earth. 
 
 SEC. 2. That the said Washington, Spa Spring and Gretta Rail- 
 road Company may acquire, by gift, grant, or purchase, such real 
 estate on either side of its line as may be necessary for depot, freight 
 purposes, and car barns, and shall have the right to connect its line 
 with the same. 
 
 SEC. 3. That all plans of location and construction shall be subject 
 to the approval of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. 
 
 SEC. 4. That excavations in the highways shall be made only under 
 permits from the Commissioners of the District of Columbia and sub- 
 ject to regulations prescribed by them. 
 
 SEC. 5. That the said railway and its appurtenances shall be con- 
 structed in a substantial and durable manner, subject to inspection by 
 the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. All changes to exist- 
 ing structures in public space shall be made at the expense of the 
 company. 
 
 24757 
 
SEC. 6. That the said company slrallvieposit^ucjk ^ttfrfe/^s the Com- 
 missioners of the District of Columbia may require to cover the cost 
 of inspection and the cost of changes to public works in the streets 
 caused by the construction of said railway. 
 
 SEC. 7. That the company shall keep the space between its rails and 
 tracks and two feet exterior thereto in good condition, to the satisfac- 
 tion of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. The pave- 
 ment of these spaces shall be at least as good as that of the contiguous 
 roadway. The proper authorities shall have the right to make 
 changes of grade and other improvements which they may deem nec- 
 essary, and when said Bladensburg road is improved the company 
 shall bear the entire expense of improving said spaces to correspond 
 with the remainder of the roadway. The requirements of this section 
 shall be enforceable under the provisions of section five of the Act 
 providing a permanent form of government for the District of 
 Columbia, approved June eleventh, eighteen hundred and seventy- 
 eight, 
 
 SEC. 8. That the cars shall be first class and shall be kept in good 
 condition, to the satisfaction of the Commissioners of the District of 
 Columbia. 
 
 SEC. 9. That the cars shall be run as often as public convenience 
 requires, on a time-table satisfactory to the Commissioners of the 
 District of Columbia and approved by them, and it shall be the duty 
 of said railroad company to submit such time-table for approval 
 whenever required by said Commissioners, and said company is re- 
 quired to run its cars in accordance with said approved time-table. 
 
 SEC. 10. That the speed of the cars shall be subject to the police 
 regulations of the District of Columbia, 
 
 SEC. 11. That persons drunk, disorderly, contagiously diseased, or 
 refusing to pa} 7 the legal fare may be ejected from the cars by the 
 officers in charge thereof. 
 
 SEC. 12. That, as far as possible, articles left in the cars shall be 
 cared for by the company, to the end that they may be returned to the 
 rightful owner. 
 
 SEC. 13. That the rate of fare which may be charged for the trans- 
 portation of passengers over the line of said company within the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia shall not exceed five cents per passenger, and six 
 tickets shall be sold for twenty-five cents, each good for the transpor- 
 tation of one passenger over the whole or any part of said line in the 
 District of Columbia. 
 
 SEC. 14. That the company is authorized to erect and maintain the 
 buildings necessary to the operation of this road, subject to the build- 
 ing regulations of the District of Columbia. The company shall erect 
 and maintain passenger rooms and transfer stations as required by the 
 Commissioners of the District of Columbia. All passenger rooms 
 and transfer stations shall be provided with such conveniences for the 
 public as said Commissioners may direct. 
 
 SEC. 15. That the said company, through its proper officers, shall 
 annually, on or before August first, make return under oath to the 
 board of personal-tax assessors of the District of Columbia of the 
 amount of its gross receipts in the District of Columbia during the 
 preceding year ending June thirtieth, and shall pay to the collector of 
 taxes of the District of Columbia, at the same time and in the same 
 manner as other personal taxes are paid, an amount equal to four per 
 
 24757 
 
centum per arftiiUYi' tfceredify in lieu of other personal taxes; that the 
 real estate of the said company in the District of Columbia shall be 
 assessed and taxed as is other real estate in said District. 
 
 SEC. 16. That nothing in this Act shall prevent the District of 
 Columbia at any time, at its option, from altering the grade of the 
 street or highway occupied by said railway, or from altering and 
 improving streets, avenues, highways, and the sewerage thereof ; and 
 the company shall change its railway construction and pavements so 
 as to conform to such grades and improvements as may have been or 
 may be established. 
 
 SEC. 17. That said company is authorized to construct and operate, 
 for its own use only, telegraph and telephone lines along its railway, 
 as herein provided for, subject to the approval of the Commissioners 
 of the District of Columbia. 
 
 SEC. 18. That the construction of said extension on the lines of 
 said railway company within the District of Columbia shall be com- 
 menced within one year of the passage of this Act and be completed 
 and cars running thereupon for passenger traffic within two years 
 from the passage of this Act, in default of w r hich this Act shall be 
 void and of no effect. 
 
 SEC. 19. That all the conditions, requirements, and obligations im- 
 posed by this Act shall be complied Avith by any of the successors to 
 or assigns of said company within said District. 
 
 SEC. 20. That within sixty days from the approval of this Act the 
 company shall deposit one thousand dollars with the collector of 
 taxes of the District of Columbia, to guarantee the construction of 
 this railroad within, the prescribed time, and if this sum is not so 
 deposited this Act shall be null and void. If the sum is so deposited 
 and the road is not in operation as herein prescribed, said one thou- 
 sand dollars shall be forfeited to the District of Columbia and this 
 Act shall be void. 
 
 SEC. 21. That the construction, adoption of motive power, erection 
 of buildings, regulation of schedule, and speed of running shall be at 
 all times under the supervision and control of the Commissioners of 
 the District of Columbia. 
 
 SEC. 22. That each and every violation of the requirements of this 
 Act or of the regulations of the Commissioners of the District of 
 Columbia made under the authority thereof shall be punishable by a 
 fine of not less than twenty nor more than one hundred dollars, in the 
 discretion of the court, such fines to be collectible in any court of 
 competent jurisdiction as other fines and penalties are collected in the 
 District of Columbia. 
 
 SEC. 23. That the company shall, on or before the first day of 
 February in each year, make a report to each the Senate and House 
 of Representatives, as prescribed in section ten of the Act of June 
 tenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, entitled "An Act to extend 
 the routes of the Eckington and Soldiers' Home Railway Company 
 and of the Belt Railway Company of the District of Columbia, and 
 for other purposes." 
 
 SEC. 24. That this Act shall take effect from and after the date of 
 its passage. 
 
 SEC. 25. That Congress reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal 
 this Act. 
 
 24757 
 
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