Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-08
THE ROB-TAIL CAR QUESTION.
A Conference with Directors Of the Co.
lumbS8 Line.

THE ROB-TAIL CAR QUESTION.
A Conference with Director Of the Co.
| lumbta Line.
REPRESENTATIVES, OF THE Axrr-BoB-rAn CAR Asso-
CATION CALL ON THE OFFICERS THE CON-
| rASY-DIscrssING THE FACTS AND FIGUREs-rHE
COMPANY ASKS A WEEK TO REPLY.
Representatives of both sides in the Columbia
Railroad ooo-tail car night met in peaceful confer
eRce In President Wizards ONCE on street
yesterday afternoon. The corporation was
represented by Mr.. Willard. Mr. W. H.
CiaseeS the secretary OF the company,
ana collector Z G. Davis one OF the d.
rectors OF the road, and the complaining patrons
oy Dr. c. A Norton and Messrs Seville and Browne.
Mr. seville as secretary OF the committee, began
business by reading written statement, calling
the attention OF the directors the fact that over
i'ooo citizens or Washington, patrons OF the Co
iumoia line, having tired OF insufficient accommo-
cations on the line, had pledged themselves that,
on and after september !, they would not deposit
iares In the boxes OF the bOb-tail cars but would
give them TO any authorized agent OF the company.
THE BILL OF COMPLAINT.
He then read a list Of nineteen or twenty griev-
ances that have been suffered by the patrons OF
the road for years. Among the complaints made
were the following: The largest Of the cars could
were usually crowded into the same space; that
aged people, women and children were obliged,
owing TO the scarcity OF cars TO stand waiting on
stree corners In the most inclement weather; that
the over0urdened drivers were obliged to start
their cars at the risk OF injuring passengers who
were hanging on the rear plat form; that the passen
gers inside were thrown from one side to another;
tnft they We're usually forced TO leave the car TO
let others get out at the risk OF losing their
sometimes having TO run TO catch the car; that
the passengers were compelled 10 pass fares and
change
comfort and those on the rear platform were
Obliged TO act as starters in order to prevent USE
less waits; that this was line OF bob-ta cars run
on bob-tail route, and that no steps had ever
been taken TO secure an exchange OF passengers
10 the other lines intersected, the people along
this line thus being forced 10 pay two fares II they
wanted 10 20 anywhere; and, finally, that the
company had ignored repeated requests and COM
plants made TO the directors by patrons
CoMIcAL LETTERS AND CoMICAL REPLIES
Mr. Clageit said that II the last clause related to
certain letters that had been received from Mr..
JOS Frech, he would take all the responsibility Tor
the replies TO them. They were comcal letters,
he said, and he had answered them with comical
replies
In all earnestness and seriousness, and deserved
more attention. The notice they did receive had
convinced the people OF the northeast that the
case was hopeless
READY FOR A SUGGESTION.
Mr.. Clagett announced that the company was
ready to lay bare all OF their books and figures,
and II the committee could suggest any practical
plan out OF the difficulty he was backed by Mr..
Willard In telling tEeln that the road would adopt
IL. he said: ave saw some time ago that we
would need a new rail, and we have laid IL at a
cost, up 10 this tlne Oh $24 OOO IL has been paid
Tor partly oy borrowed money. We are, / assert,
doing everything We can with our means eau
get UuI OF this hight In ten minutes, tut taiS road
IS little pet OF mlne. l organizeu IL, and have
watched lis progress with great deal Oh inter-
est"
"what Is the stock WORTH, asked DIR. Norton.
''rhe STOCK is quoted at 80 on the market, the
par value Delnc, %, WIS The reply.
"how much VI IL can b. bought?"
'All or Al" retorted Mr. Ciasett
Mr.. Willard explained That they have been run
ming sixteen cars day for Two years, each car
making thirteen trips day. The receipts last
month averaged $50 day, and they do not aver
age over 40 cents d car a TIP.
COUNTING THE PASSENGERS
Mr.. Seville CAUSED some discussion at this point
by stating that he had counted the passengers in
the cars passing his house at various times and he
thought that the cars averaged more earnings.
Nj. Cldgett said: 1T Is noLa matter OF count
lion OF the problem. there Is u period between
Z 80 ana O'Clock III the morning anu one between
4 and u IN the evening when the cars are crowded,
but they do not pay running expenses during the
middle VI tue day. Now, II Is certain that we can
not take oil the DObtailS and put ON an equal num-
Der oil double cars once estimated th.t the cost
Is between s. and 50 u Car each Jay, and our
celpts do not 20 enough above that figure TO war.
rant our going TO any great expenditures"
THE QUESTION OF DOUBLE CARS.
Mr.. Willard explained that the dOuDle-car sys-
tenn would necessitate the services OF 25 more men
and 76 more horses, to say nothing OF the cost Of
the cars themselves.
'You do not Seem to think OF how much addi-
tional trlffic tue double cars Will attract" re-
marked Dr. Norton.
Mir. willard uld not reply to this
MI Seville Called 70 mind tue case OF the 39th-
street road, In New YORK, and said that the courts
or Washington might possibly follow the same
course, ana order tise Columbia and other one
horse lines In this city To put on double Cars. with
conductors, the Case were ever tested.
You must remember" retOrted Mr.. willard,
that New York and Washington are very dif-
ierent From North capitol street east Is a very
Sparsely settled region"
mo, that Is not So" exclaimed DR.. Norton, "for
that portion Is the main support OF the line'
'GentleInen," was Mr.. Wizards reply, "that part
OF the line does not pay and never did, and II you
want proof or that We will investigate the matter
by roobing the boxes, as We Call II, collecting
the receipts at different parts OF the line.n
Mr. seville turned the Tide OF discussion by ask
Ing II IL would cripple the resources OF tine road TO
put on double cars.
Mr.. willard. THAT Is question That we have
been considering Tor years. We thought first TO
put down RAN that was good for something
ms road Is going 10 so ahead with improvements
fast as IL can and are now considering propo-
sitons 10 run the road by cable anu also electric
motors"
ASKING WEEK TO REPLY.
"What, then VIII We he able to report to our
Queried DR.. Norton.
'You can ngure That out for yourselves from the
statement OF our finances" SAID the president
handing MIN copy OF the report To Congress OF
the condition or the road TO september, 1887, to
winch frequent reference had been made during
the discussion.
''No. We are not going TO do your figuring for
you; that Is not what we came here for" was the
reply.
.'rhen you can say that you brought your writ
Ten communication 10 Us anC Will answer It
with facts and nsureS In a week. We must have
that much time. You have given US one day 10
answer your written communication, which must
have taken you considerable time To prepare, and
the fact that Mr. ClagetI's brother died to-day will
preclude our answering 1t to-day. But your COM
mlttee Shall have The answer In a week.
and as Iuil as IL Is possible to make it.
Will DO, for We do not know what we can do"
Mr.. Davis VINO had remained silent thus far
SPOKE: "Wnle i am Lot well posted as the
others, can appreciate the position In which we
are placed this afternoon. We a minority OF the
board OF directors not authorized 10 speak for
the whole board. IL has been the disposition OF
the directors Of the road 10 do everything In their
power 10 advance the road. / know that tine road
does not furnish nrsL-class accommodations; the
road Is small, the cars are small the receipts are
small, but we have gradually built the road up and
at Tue very moment the travel Will warrant It
double cars Will be put on, and every small car
supplanted"
TO REPORT TONIGHT.
further from either side the conference was ended
The committee will report to the meeting OF the
association TO be held tonight at Melrord Hall