Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-08
THE STREET CAR FENDER.
The Problem Discussed Before the
District Comm ixsi0ners.

The Problem Discussed Before the
District Com mixsioners.
There was a full discussion OF the street
car fender problem this afternoon In the
board room of the Commissioners Office.
During the early part of the week invita-
tons were sent to the representatives of the
various street railroad companies in the city
to be present this afternoon for the purpose
of discussing car tenders.
Representatives of four railroad companies
were present. Mess-s. Dunlop and CARL
were present in the interests of the Wash
ington and Georgetown Railroad Company,
Messrs. Cummings and Williams spoke for
the Brightwood railroad, Mr.. Claud for the
Rock Creek company and MI Schoepf for
the lexington and Soldiers Home railroad
and the Belt line road.
Capt. Powell introduced the subject. He
stated that the Commissioners had called
upon the railroad companies to confer with
them for the purpose of deciding problem
that was Of vast interest to the people of
Washington. For months the problem of
selecting suitable fender for street cars
had been uppermost In the minds of the
Commissioners. The public also was deeply
Interested, and he believed II was to the
interests of both the people and the rail-
roads that some device for protecting hui
man life and limb be selected. The propo-
sitiOn of the Commissioners, he explained
was to have the several railroads select
from the patents granted for devices of
this character one which they thought would
answer all requirements If each railroad
company will try a different fender he be-
lieved one would be found that would an
swer the purpose. He exhibited copies of
all patents granted on devices of this char
acter
President Dunlop of the Washington and
Georgetown Railroad Company said If the
Commissioners would find a fender that was
better than the one now in use on the road
the company would be glad to adopt it, In
fact, the company was willing to comply
with any order of the Commissioners 1t is
believed, however. that the fender now in
use was the very best known, but If the
Commissioners wished to take the respon-
sibility and order different fender the
company would not object.
Capt. Powell said of course the Commits
sioners could do nothing of the sort. All
they could do was to select a fender which
they believed answered the purpose and rec
ommend that the company adopt it. An
other thing which the companies needed
especially those of the rapid transit variety
was an automatic brake. He referred to
one which was operated by the fender As
soon as the fender was touched IL released
a clutch, which engaged cog wheels on the
axle and brought the car to quick stop.
President Dunlop contended that II would
be impossible to operate brake of that
character. 1t would throw the passengers
down when applied. He thought the cub
ject of tenders had been unnecessarily
worked In the newspapers. When the
Washington and Georgetown Railroad Com
pany was being constructed committee
was appointed to select the best fender
known for the cars. The records for last
year show that the cable road had killed
three people, while the horse cars the year
before had killed nine.
President Cummings of the Brightwood
railroad suggested that the inventors be
communicated with. If they had any faith
in their fender they would come to Wash
In Cvfn and CT
hearing was still in progress when The
Stars report closed.