Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-05
THE CABLE CAR TIE-UP.
1t Was occasioned by Gripman's Careless
ness-How the Grips Are Operated.

| AuE GABLE CAR TIE-CP.
1t Was Occasioned by Gripman's Careless
ness-How the Grips Are Operated.
The avenue and 14th street cables were forced
| to suspend operations for about two hours this
morning owing to the carelessness of a grip
man in taking up the cable on the left-hand
dies, which resulted at the Peace monument in
tying up the two cables into double sailors
knot and resulted an the cars on both lines stop
ping short and remaining SO until the knot was
Strengthened out Since starting the cable on
the 9th of August the new cable has been
stopped several times owing to the neglect OF
rules by gripmen and twice the cable has been
cut. The managers of the road are thoroughly
satisfied with the system itself, and hold that
the only difficulty is the unavoidable ignorance
of the new gripmen, which will doubtless be
overcome in time.
PRESIDENT HURT SATISFIED WITH THE SYSTEM.
President Hurt said today to a STAR reporter:
"We are entirely satisfied with the working Of
the new cables, so far as the machinery is con-
cerned. Every delay and break has been
caused by the failure of gripmen TO follow the
rules given them. The gripmeu new at the
business, OF course, and need experience
We wanted TO give our old men
a chance and it takes time to learn men the
DIslites anu uUu OUT WHICH ones are surely 1n-
competent. The road regrets the delays mainly
on account of the inconvenience to the public
and everyone can rest assured that everything
will be done to make things run smoothly Yes
terday the system ran like clockwork and would
do the same every day if gripmen will only fol-
low instructions. There is nothing compli-
Gated about the system and the rules for grip
men are simple and direct and the
men are well aware that neglect
to follow instructions means discharge. We
were compelled to start the cable on August 6,
when it was in incompleted condition and
accidents were to be expected. 1t took four
months to get the 7th street cable running
thoroughly smoothly, and the new lines have
not been IN operation over month. We have
not as yet received our full complement of cars
although they are being pushed along rapidly
| as possible. The cable also is not vet running
at its full rate of speed"
RULES FOR GRIPMEN.
The rules for gripmen to which Mr.. Hurt re-
fers, and the violation Of which has caused the
breaks, are printed in neat little book, which
also contains directions for conductors and
other employees. Besides stopping and starting
the cars for passengers the gripmen have GER
tain things to look out for. On the Penn
sylvania avenue line going east from
Georgetown there are two what are
called "let-goes" and "pick-ups." The
gripmen going in this direction are directed to
drop the cable at signal plate 'open," Just
| before entering the curve on 18th street south
of the treasury, and to run by gravity to signal
plate grip just east of 14th street vault and
then to pick up the Navy Yard cable.
Also the cars TO be stopped thirty feet
west of signal plate ''open." on west side of eth
| street, to transfer passengers. Afterward the
cable is to be grasped firmly TO gather
headway and then dropped when signal plate
"open" is reached. The cars are to run across
the street by gravity and the cable taken up
lin Of fha ol lata L.
said that failure to follow these rules at 7th
street has caused two accidents to the system
While the cable was running slowly it was neces-
sary to lift the cable to the grip after crossing
9TH street. but now most of the gripmen are
! able to pick il up without stopping
GOING WEST FROM THE NAVY YARD.
On the same line going west from the Navy
Yard there are four points for the gripmen to
watch At the Peace monument the cable is to
be dropped before entering switch at signal
atassOpen" and gravity is to carry the cars
Through switch to signal plate grip" where
the cable is to be picked up. At 7th street the
operation is similar to the one for cars going
east. At the signal plate "open" on east side
of vault at 14th street the Navy Yard cable
nal plate grip the 14th street cable
is to be taken up. This cable IS to be dropped
by throwing the grip wide open and stopping
in center of offset track at 18th and G streets
After transferring passengers the Georgetown
cable is to be taken up by using hand pickup.
oNTHE 14rH STREET LINE.
On the l4th street line leaving Mt. Pleasant
there are four ''let go's" and pick ups" The
14th street cable is to be dropped just after en-
terlng the curve at 18th street. Gravity is to
carry the cars around to q street. where the
Georgetown cable is to be taken up by hand
pick-ups The operation at 18th street and the
avenue and at 1th street is then the same
as for avenue cars. At the Peace monu-
ment the TO stop in center
Of Offset in tracks just before reaching the
switch and the grip is to be thrown wide open
to release the Navy Yard cable, and the auxiliary
rope to the b. and .. depot is to be taken up
by hand pickup.
Going to Mount Pleasant from the Balti-
more and Ohio there are three points for grip
men to watch. The auxiliary cable is to be
dropped just before entering the switch at the
Peace monument and the Navy Yard cable to be
taken up west of the switch. At 9TH street and
at l4th street the proceedings the same as
with avenue cars. At q street the cars on the
14th street line proceed in the usual way, as
these cars do not change the cable here.
There are a number Of special rules ALSO the
breaking of one of which caused the stoppage
this morning. This rule provides that in case
Of losing cable on the line il is to be replaced
with the grip hook and care is to be taken that
the cable is in the right hand dies. other wise it
will be thrown of Of the first e4go" sheave
passed.