Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-16

the regular schedules are quite satisfac-
tory.
When we remember that It was not 20
many years ago when we had none out
bob tail-mue cars on Main street. we have
every reason to be grateful to the New
Workers. who came down here ana intro
duced electric-cars and added miles ana
miles to the length OF our street-car
lines. Yes; we are far better on than
we were some years ago. and there Is
prospect Of our being still better OF
next year,
But while the present service does well
enough for ordinary travel II TOO often
fails to meet the demands OF the pubic
on great occasions. Should an excur-
sion party go down the river and arrange
to have five or six cars meet 1t upon us
return, those cars will be "rammed
and jammed." as the saying is, ana the
general public. regular patrons, waiting
on street-cerners along the line. VIII nave
no chance at all. SO, too. when there
is to be a baseball game. People gong
to the game crowd the cars. and the regu-
lar patrons OF the cars too often nave 10
walk to and from dinner.
Now, far 1t be from the Dispatch to
expect that any street-car company ever
will or can accommodate all the peo-
pie who leave their homes simultaneously
10 attend a great baseball game. 1t is
impossible. 1t is not done anywhere that
we know of. No company could afford
to maintain an equipment SUFFICIENT to
accommodate the public on such occa-
sions. All throughout the land there Is
the same complaint that we hear In
Richmond. But still. isn't 1t possible to
improve our service? We think so; we
have several times said so.
The remedy is for the City Council to
allow the street-car company to have
"cross-overs" at important points. AT
present all Main-street cars run from the
Reservoir Park TO Fulton. or certainly
10 Libby Hill. Immense relief would be
given congested travel II. for instance,
extra cars were put on the tracks to
run from the baseball grounds to Ninth
street. At Ninth street they could
Gross over" and return up town. In
this way 1t is possible for the company
to accommodate the public much better
than 1t now does and, so far from this
arrangements working any injustice to
downtown people. 1t would give down.
town people more room, less crowded
cars than they have ever had before
so, too, there could be a "cross-over" at
the Theatre, from which point extra cars
could be run to the baseball grounds
and Reservoir Park via the Clay-street
line.
We feel confident that the existing cleo
trio lines will have to adopt some such plan
or else lose the baseball business. BY
this time next year new car-line will
be In operation on Broad street. and 1T
will be strongly tempted to establish
a baseball park on the Exposition
Grounds, particularly II present condi-
lions with respect to service on Main
and Franklin and Clay streets continue.
If the whole trouble as TO Gross
overs" Is with the City Council, the street
car company could do nothing better
than let the public know the fact. Pub
lie opinion would force the neces-
sary legislation If the company but
showed a willingness TO put on extra
cars to meet all extraordinary demands.
When our street-car service Is being
criticised. we should remember that.
owing to the heavy grades here in Rich
mond, our street-car company hasn't the
advantage that nearly all other compa-
MES have of putting on "trailers'-that
is to say, several cars, all drawn by the
foremost car. Trailers might be run
from Fifth and Main or from the Thea
tre-corner westward. but they could not
be run up our steep hills.
Another thing: Our street-car conduct
ors have never learned to pack people
into cars as well as their brethren up
North do. We have seen times when
people were unable to get so much even
as foot-room on the platform Of car.
while inside the car there were benches
but loosely filled. Seldom. indeed, do our
conductors appeal to passengers TO make
a seat for one more"-a familiar appeal
on all northern and western roads. And
then, we have hero a bad custom OF al
lowing the rear platform TO be crowded
even when there is room in plenty inside
the car. The result Of this is that many
people taking a glance at the platform
from the sidewalk. resolve to walk the
short distance that they have to go,
rather than squeeze into that crowd"
Thus, the lcniency Of the conductor
loses business for his company. A fur
Their observation OF ours is that no.
where in the land are there more
polite and willing street-car conductors
than ours are. And not always is their
politeness appreciated. Selfish and self
assertivc men take advantage Of It. La
dies too, are not averse TO indulging
themselves with superabundance of
room, even though many other persons
have no seats at all.
The city and the street-car company
ought TO agree as to "cross-overs." More
attention ought to be paid to filing the
cars and clearing the rear platforms,
and, what Is more, street-car patrons
ought to be more considerate OF one
another. and more appreciative of the
efforts of the company to serve them