Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-30
WANT GOOD SERVICE
THE sUs-cCMMiTTe LOOKS AFTER
THE STREET-CAR COMPLAINTS.
Better Schedule. Less Noise, Electric
Lights, and Lower Steps to BE De-
manded Of tho Companies.

| tNtNN"' w IA%~ ~
At the last meeting Of this body
subcommittee, consisting of Messrs.
Gray, Turpin, and Thomas, was sp-
pointed to investigate the complaints
made against the railways and see il it
was in the power of the Council to have
them corrected.
This subcommittee, agreeable 10 call,
met in the City Engineers Office at
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. All three
of the members were present, as were
also Superintendent Selden, of the City
Railway Company Superintendent Will
bur- of the Union Passenger Line Civil
Engineers Brgwyn and Whitcomb, Mr..
Wyndhan X. Meredith. counsel for tho
railways; City-Attorney G. Y. Meredith,
and Colonel W., Il. Cutshaw, City Engi-
neer.
| STOPPING on GRADES.
The first complaint considered was
that about the cars not stopping to take
on or putoff passengers while on'the up
| grade.
Colonel Cutshaw could geo no reason
why they should not stop.
Major Whitcomb and MIR. Burgwyn
were both of the opinion that it would
be dangerous to stop the car while going
up hill The latter said that If car
were to lose its power on an upgrade 1t
would be about as bad as railroad train
rushing down hill without on engine.
Mr.. Wyndham Meredith called atten-
ton to the fact that Richmond was.tho
only CITY in the Union where the cars
stopped between crossings.
| MUST MAKE TIME.
The schedule question was next taken
up. Mr.. w. II. Meredith said he had
not heard that there was any trouble IN
this quarter.
In reply to a query as to what service
the company pretended" to give, Su-
perintendent Wilbur said-aseven-minute
| schedule. There had been some delays
recently, but in thirty days he expected
to have it all right.
Colonel Cutshaw did notthinka seven
minute service sufficient.
In answer to question Mr.. Selden
| stated that this was also the schedule
maintained on Main street.
Superintendent Wilbur went on to say
that he was using his best efforts to lessen
the noise made by the cars on his (the 4
| Union Passenger line. Ten large mo-
tors have been received, and a car is
equipped every two days AS soon as
these were fitted up more new machines
would be on hand. Eventually the cars
would run as quietly as those on Main
| street.
IN OTHER cIPIEs.
Colonel Cutshaw, who has recently re-
| turned from Washington, stated that the
electric cars III that city run smoothly
and quietly. He had no suggestion to
make as to how the Richmond lines
could accomplish that result.
MIR. Seden told the committee that he
was now experimenting on this. His
! idea is TO take out the dust-pGn from un-
der the motor and put canvas IN ats
place.
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.
Next in order was the matter Of pre-
vomiting accidents. The Main-Street
Line was pronounced all right in this
particular. Mr.. Wilbur was asked what
! his company proposed to do. He re-
piled that gates were being put on his
cars while they were being retitted.
Life-guards or modified cow-catchers
would be placed on all cars, the con-
struction of which would admit OF it.
The high steps on the Main-Street cars
were spoken OF. Superintendent Selden
said he was trying TO remedy this. The
cars had been put on high trucks, which
raised them three inches further from
| the ground than before. He had care
fully considered the point and was afraid
it could not be rectified.
Mr.. Thomas thought the difficulty
could be obyiated by lowering the step
slightly. so as to divide the height re-
Gently added. MIR. Selden said he would
do this if it could be done.
ELECTRIC LIGHT.
| In regard to lighting the cars with
electricity Mr.. Selden thought 1t was
about as cheap as oil. On an average at
least dozen chimneys were broken
every night. All of the Main-Street cars
could have incandescents in IA short
while.
The much-vexed question of stop
pages was again discussed.
Mr.. Wyndham Meredith thought 1t
best to stop only at the far corner OF
each street This would save IA great
deal of time to people who went q long
distance and prevent the jolting caused
10y the sudden stops.
MIR. Selden called the committees at
tention to the fact that he had years ago
issued orders to the horse car drivers to
stop only at the far corners, as 1t pre-
vented the cars being damaged by runa-
ways.
TIE TWO CORDS.
The next complaint on the Chairman's
liss was the similarity and proximity OF
the bell and register-cords.
Mr.. Turpin said that several days ago
this came near causing q iist-hght on
board car between passenger and the
conductor. The former wanted to stop
the car, and jerked the wrong string
SUPERINTENDENT Selden said this tron-
bic only existed on the open cars. These
were now off the line, and he would try
and have this matter corrected before
they were put on again. AS to the gongs
on the cars not ringing loud enough
that was temporary. as they were re-
paired as quickly as they got out OF order
KILLED By A GUARD.
Mr. Selden, in answer to question, ex-
pressed the belief that thelife-guard oc-
casioned the death of the man recently
killed on Main street These appliances,
he explained, come to within four inches
of the ground, Just about good height
to catch leg or an arm. 1t was not
thought safe to make them lower, as the
cars oscillated greatly. =,
The last man struck by the electric
car and seriously hurt had, he under
stood. bled to death. A doctor had told
him that il the ambulance could have
, been gotten promptly his life could have
been saved. A street-car was unlike a
locomotive. The hitter ran rapidly ana
, if it struck anything would huri II on
{ some distance, while the moderate speed
of the former would cause body to be
dragged under the machinery