Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-19
THE CABLE CAR GRIP
President Du4H}og Says the Couplings Cause
the Jerking, Not the Grip.
He IL Having the Remedy Applied ms
Rapidly .hPo..fble Proposed
Extension Of the Line.

Georgetown Railroad Company was asked
by Star reporter when the new grips In
tended to be put on the cars In place OF
those now In use would be introduced. Mr.
Dunlop smiled at the question:: There was
an item published a couple OF days ago,
which, unintentionally. I am sure, stated
that / had said that new style or grip
was about to be adopted on our lines, IN
order to do away with the jerking, which
now appears to cause some annoyance,
he remarked. "Such an impression Is err
roneous. What / said was that means
were now being taken to stop the Jerking.
This will not necessitate change IN the
grips 1 know it is the common belief that
the grip Is responsible for the occasional
sudden lurches passengers are SUBJECTED
to, but such is not the case.
1.-THE grips in use upon our cars are the
very best obtainable. They are ldentlcai
with those in use en- Broadway IN New
York, only they are worked dlnerentiy.
Up to the floor Of the car and down TO
where they catch the cable, they are ,ne
same. Ours are worked by means or q
lever while those on Broadway are con-
trolled by wheel and chain. Now, the
grip has nothing to do, 1 repeat, with the
jerking. The Broadway cars do Lot jerk
because they are run singly.
What Causes the Jerking.
OuTS are run III q Tram, anu shS oAAiioJ
ance complained Of Is caused by the coup
ling of the cars. I can put you on any
single grip on our line without trailers and
you can ride all day without being jerked
We have discovered that the car couplings
are the cause Of the jerking, and We are
remedying them every day, cars being
turned into the shop every day or SO for
the purpose.
you see. the constant use wears the
linz Mi Htt hot 10 nj
an absolutely tight connection between the
cars. When the train is started, therefore,
instead of moving all together 1t moves in
sections. so to speak, hence the trouble.
In very short time there will be no
more jerking, as all the cars will undergo
remedial treatment for their defects of
this character. Many of the trains have
already been fixed and are running as
smoothly q vestibule train"
What are the intentions of your COM
pany In relation to the proposed extension
Of It's lines as indicated in the bill pre-
sented to Congress?" inquired the reporter.
Proposed Extension of Line.
II should like to have that generally I'M
derstood," said Mr. Dunlop. I'VE are not
fighting anybody. We have long appre-
ciated the fact that the section lying be-
tween 18th street and Rock creek and the
avenue and the Potomac and tributary to
our system alone has been in need of
DcttcT tIdISit IdCilIticS, anu tHS pSopiS
desiring rapid travel should not be COM
PEELED to walk SO far in order to get 1t.
We also appreciate the fact that q cross
town line was necessity in the upper
part OF Washington proper With these
conditions in view, we have asked for a
charter to run our cars from 18th to the
river by way of g street, returning by f
street, and to run trunk line out 22d street
to X street. We do not want a charter
for the mere purpose of holding 1t. If the
bill is passed the roads will be built at
once, equipped with cable as finely as our
present system is, and the people in the
section now without proper facilities will
be enabled to reach any part of the city
over our lines for one fare.
The CoIumbia's Claim.
Suppose the claim of the Columbia road
to priority over the section below the ave-
nue. is upheld?" inquired the reporter.
"Of course, we do not admit any such
claim, and it. is difficult to see how any
one else cam" replied Mr.. Dunlop. The
Columbia road could not benefit the sec
ton in question, because passengers taken
up there seldom would wish to continue
into the northeast. To reach any other
part of town such traffic would be COM
PEELED to leave that road and pay another
fare on one of the others. But there is no
fight, as so many persons seem to think.
We have asked for the concessions L
have enumerated, and we will COM
mence work and push 1t to rapid compile
ton as soon as they are granted, in case
they are. We would not, however, build the
southwest section lines without establish
ing the trunk line on Odd street, and we
would not put in the latter unless We We're
given a charter for the former. Our plans
embrace the eventual extension of the ODD
street trunk line to the northwest territory,
kalorama Heights and neighboring locali-
ties which are without means of communi-
cation. We would also build a separate
power house to run the F and G street and
the I'D street cables
What do you think of the prospects of
the passage of the bill?
Il can see no reason why 1t should rot
pass" was the reply. 1T will certainly add
immensely to the convenience of a large
number of the population, and cannot for
the life of me- speaking in an entirely dis
interested manner, see wherein it would
injure anybody or anything or their rights,
promised or acquired"