Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-28
LETTERS FRox THE People.
The Transfer Question.

Hfftor Sar:-Many complaints have appeared
in your valuable journal in relation to the action
OF the W. q G. r. X. Co. in Staioning transfer
agents at the functions Of their road These
complaints are perhaps well founded when they
charge simply that much Inconvenience is caused
by the new arrangement; but when the facts are
laid before the public, no right-thinking man or
woman win condemn the action which the COM
peny has been Forced into. Let me give state
ment OF what the transfer system Is intended to
be- also few OF the abuses which have for
long time been notorious. The transfer system
is intended to secure to the payer of fare ride
over the entire length of line Of the railway, at
. the time when the fare is paid. The words of
the charter are lone continuous ride" and the
transfer tickets set forth that said ticket is good
for lone continuous ride from the junction" &C.
ms, take 1t, means simply that the party to
whom said ticket is issued may take the next
interesting car at the junction and proceed to
the end of the line or to any point between the
junction and the said end.
The passenger taking such transfer enters
into an implied contract to use it in accordance
with the printed terms OF the ticket, aud in no
other way. But far from doing this hundreds
OF people have daily taken the transfers to re-
serve them for use during the period for which
issued, u occasion arise. Hundreds have daily
taken them to 0ire dtcGY
AT one time there existed transfer exchange
In the Office OF gentleman near 18th and New
York avenue. Parties coming either way and
not needing their transfers would leave them
here to be given to Others needing them; and
asst. but not least, am reliably informed that
parties going to Center Market would exchange
ranSfeiS and return to their homes upon the
1cketS so secured, thus getting two rides for one
are.
All these methods of using these transfers are
simply theftS from the r. X. Co., and although
the amount stolen in each case is only five centS
yet, can readily believe that the daily stealing
amounted to quite 500. Under these circunn-
stances the Il. r. Co. were fully justified in put
ting some restriction upon the issue OF transfers.
Finally. Nj. Editor, do not own a cent of this
ticers. nor can approve of their usual course in
neglecting the comfort Of their patrons; but let
us give the devil his due, and in this case, if
there is any just cause Of complaint 1t is of the
public'S own making.
Yours TRANSFER FIEND.
More About the Transfer Nuisance.
Editor Sdr:-Before you close your columns
to the public on the ''Transfer" nuisance, ask
the privilege of making dash at the Washing
ton and Georgetown X. II. Co.
For eleven years have been constant pa
iron OF the 14th-street branch; the probable ex-
pense to myself and family for the comforts and
dScOmfortS OF the transit reaching 5000 annual
ly. Perhaps no one has ridden oftener, or knows
more about the 14th-street branch than the
writer In early years endured its thumps and
jumps-the cars daShing of the track into the
mud, or grinding for square or more over cob
BILE stones-and have helped them to get on the
track again. have been left, with ladies of my
family, tWO-thirdS of the way to boundary, on
account of neglect to repair the road-the car
being unable to proceed further. The cars late
In the evening often turned back before reach
ing the terminus, thereby compelling passen-
gers to walk into the interiOrOf the city. These
were annOyances of years gone by, but the re-
collection OF them is vivid.
There are annOyanceS at the present time.
Passengers are required to make conductors OF
themselves, passing fares up and down and run
ming the risk of falling into some ones lap or
er on on {Se h aa 6s a95t tear
tlemen seldom get seat unless they suffer
ladies to stand.
Themonopoly has strengthened-itha has bought
out opposition and suppressed competition-the
directors and stockholders are probably pros
pering-they grasp for more, and apparently do
not hesitate to annoy or trample on those who
have fOStered and maintained them. The great
aim OF the road seems to be that not penny
shall escape its grasp, and its gigantic brain in
PRODUCES new transfer system which stinks in
the noStrilS of the community.
Passengers must seek posted agent, satisfy
him that they are entitled to a transfer, wait
until he is ready to give it, and then take the
car he directs-that is the first one. The paSsen-
ger may be cripple or feeble grandmother,
or mother with an infant in her arms; yet, In
the mud, in the darkness Of the night in storm
or In the burning sun, the transfer agent must
be sought, and the rules he has received enforced
The first car may be very crowded, the paSSen-
ger may meet some one with whom he desires
moments conversation, a lady may be faint or
hungry, and require refreshments near at hand,
and there are many other reasons why the first
car cannot be very well taken, and which the
company should appreciate. The road has re-
one end OF the line to the other-one seat has
been paid for, and because the passenger will
not 60 directly through he is deprived OF that
which is legally his.
Are these regulations cfeditable to road which
the public supports?
The recent statement of a saving to the road
OF hundred dollars day by the trickery or
That sum might possibly be, the footing
of transfers not issued but it is doubtful if the
company's receipts are any greater. suppose
large class of people, and the profit goes to the
company, only makes them the more powerful,
and may enable them, eventually, to absorb all
other lines and have the whole travel in their
hands.
Their charter, think. required them to have
suitable covering for passengers at the head
18th street. For Is or IS years there was no such
provision made, and now there is none, excep
the little Office OF the superintendent In the
stable.
Talk about awnings at the transfer points! An
awning when the snow is drifting or the north
wind bowling, IS lovely proposition! 1t Is good,
too, for the kind friend who allows it to be
stretched In front OF his premises: 1t will insure
him plenty Of company all day, block up the
way to his door and retard passers-by. If the
company 1cM adhere to the unpopular regula-
lions adopted, the people will ride, l am GER
tam as little as possible S ana IL Is suggested
upon the car coming to stand when they de-
sire to get on or off and not risk limb or life by
making the attempt while the car Is IN motion
ductor or driver and absorb a little of the com
pany's time Stacking up" is what they call it
when male passenger wants 10 r1de.
The sympathy of the company for those out
of employing Mt almost escapedme. The ''tranS-
fer' arrange ment gives four or five men en-
ployment. Quite thoughtful, and an excellent
idea to work on the sympathteso of the commu-
nifty! Reduce the hours of labor from seventeen
to reasonable number, and assign these addf-
ttonal employees to the duty of relieving others,
and the company's generosity will be much
more appreciated
1t was my intention to address this to Mr..
Hurd, the president OF the road, who has made
many improvements in its management, but l
believe there are those who would like to say
amen, to some part Of this growl, If the oppor-
tunity be given them. DISGUST.
THE COURTS.