Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10
KNOCKED DOUTBYSNOW
The Excuse Given for Not Running
Cars on Highland Avenue.
MANY OF THE MOTORS BURNED OUT.
Sufficient Provocation for Breaking the
Traction Deal.
C. L. MAGEE SAYS IT WILL NOT BE DONE

There has been a great deal of COM
plant from residents along the Duquesne
Traction line for the past week over the
way the new management has been running
the road. The complaints started with the
snowfall on Sunday morning, and have
been growing lever since. 1t was COM
planned that cars were run irregularly, and
at such long intervals that people were COM
PEELED to walk to the Fifth avenue line or
the Pennsylvania Railroad to get to and
from.the business part of the city. To make
matters worse nearly all the Highland
avenue cars were taken off, and that part
of the line was covered by two cars which
failed to accommodate half the people, and
caused many living out the avenue to walk
to and from Penn avenue rather than wait
for car
The transfer of passengers at Kirkwood
street and sHighland avenue, compelling
them to walk through the deep snow to the
cable cars caused more complaints. 1t was
even stated that the way in which tie road
was being conducted BY the Pittsburg Trac-
tion Company was sufficient for the Du-
quesne Company to ask for an abrogation of
the contract and that such a step might pos
sibly be taken.
Officials of the Pittsburg and Duquesne
companies say, however, that the irregular
service for the past week has been unavoid-
able and that it will be improved at once.
William Elkins, son of President Elkins,
and Assistant Superintendent of the COM
bined traction roads, was asked for an ex-
PLANTATION of the trouble yesterday. He said
that it was all caused by the snow.
''The snow gets into the electrical ma
chinery under the cars" he said, 'and
causes the motors to burn out and other
damage that disables the cars. That is why
so many Duquesne cars are lying in the car
barn. Thev are being repaired, and as soon
as possible we will have them all out on the
road again. We have put another car on
the Highland avenue branch, and with three
cars on that mile of track, will be able to
run car every four minutes.
G. l.. Magee, President of the Duquesne
Company, corroborated Mr.. Elkins' state
ment, and when asked about the possible
abrogation of the contract, ne said: "There
is absolutely nothing in it. 1t is as much
to the advantage of the other company as to
us to have our cars running regularly. The
trouble was caused by the snow.
The snow sweepers, which were to
have been delivered early in December did
not come until few days before the snow
storm and were not ready when the snow
came Our cars suffered in consequence,
but it will not occur again. In few days
the cars will be running in way to suit
everybody, on Highland avenue as on the
other branches. Yes, We could abrogate
our contract with the P1ttsburg Company if
they failed to give the public good service
on our line, but there is no intention not to
do so and no such question will be raised.
If the people will only be little patient
they will soon have rapid transit facilities
better than they ever had and equal to all
demands"