Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-02
STREET CAR TENDERS
So Far Only Partial Compliance With
the Order.
No Fender Yet Adopted on the Column
bfa Line-Situation on the
Other Roads.

According to the orders issued by the
District Commissioners as literally inter-
preted, all the street railroads in this city
using mechanical power should have their
cars equipped with tenders. This seems to
be, however, one of the cases where orders
do not order, for the facts are that the
street railways of the city have not their
cars all supplied with tenders. The situa-
ton in regard to the tenders seems to be
one in which, to use a legislative phrase,
progress is reported" There are no fem
ders at all en- the cars Of the Columbia
road, but Mr.. Baker, the president of the
company, told a Star reporter today that
this was not because the company defied
the Commissioners; in fact, he said. they
always held themselves in readiness to
carry out any order which the Commission
ers might make.
simply this: The cars were now equipped
with a wheel fender, which, in the opinion
OF competent experts, as well as from act
ual experience in New York and elsewhere,
had been pronounced entirely sufficient f6 r
the protection of the public without the
addition of tenders. 1t is impossible. MIR.
Baker said, for any one who happened to
be struck by one of their cars to get be-
meath the wheels, and in addition the grip
man could stop the car almost instantly,
such was the control the powerful brake
used had over the cars.
Mr.. Baker said that he had hoped and
still hoped that the Commissioners would
take this view of the matter and would
insist on the company attaching tenders
to the cars. However. said Mr.. Baker, the
company Is at present, as 1t always has
been, ready to comply with the wishes of
the Commissioners There Is fender, he
said, in the company's power house which
is much like the one that the Washington
their cars. and If the Commissioners ap-
prove that fender and think 1t necessary
that fender should be placed on the cars
of the Columbia road, Mr.. Baker said that
the company would equip their cars with
tenders of that pattern. He recognized
that he was in the hands of the Commits
sioners and could not assume any attitude
of defiance In this matter, even If he de-
sired to do So His company had endeavor-
ed to equip their road with a service that
would be f1rst-class in every respect. and he
was of the opinion that the Columbia road
would compare favorably with any cable
road in the country.
The Other Roads.
The situation in reRrd to the other street
railways of the city is as follows:
The Washington and Georgetown have all
the cars of the 14th street line equipped
with the Blackston fender, and 1t is stated
that as soon as additional Tenders can be
secured from the makers they will lie
placed on the cars on the avenue line.
1t Is the intention of the officers to put on
the Blackiston fender.
1t is stated on benalf of the lexington
Company that the cars OH that road are
practically all supplied with tenders.
All the. cars that on the regular
schedule of the Rock Creek road are sup
piled with tenders, and the work of equip
ping the extra ears. 1t Is said, is being
pushed forward rapidly.
What Commissioner Ross Says.
When a Star reporter asked Commits
sioner Ross what had been done relative to
compelling the street car companies to
equip their cars with tenders, Mr.. Ross
politely said that he understood all of the
roads were beginning to equip their cars.
1.-The original order" he said. provided
that the cars should be equipped by April
l, but the roads asked for an extension,
claiming 1t was impossible for them to do
the work by that time. Tuesday Mr..
Blackstone, the inventor of the fender
which Is to be placed upon the Washing
ton and Georgetown street cars, appeared
before the board and explained the delay
in regard to that line, which he took upon
himself. The reason was that the inven-
tion had to be practically changed and
| new castings made to accommodate the
grip cars. All this took time. in fact, 1t
| required three or four weeks to make the
steel castings. 1 have not followed the
matter for two or three days, but believe
the railroad companies are using due dill
gence in the matter of equipment. If they
don't we will go for them with sharp
ofi rlrss