The morning times., 1897-01-13
RATE OF SPEED INCREASED
Commissioners Issue Order Re-
garding Street Cars.
LIMIT, TWELVE MILES AN HOUR
President Dunlop of the Capital
Traction Company Opposed the
Change-OfficiaIs of Other Roads
Favored Twill Go Into Effect
Within Thirty Days.

Washington street cars may now be pro
PEELED at the rate of twelve miles per
hour, the Commissioners having issued an
order to that effect yesterday afternoon.
The question of making this change has
been before tile board for several weeks,
the proposition originating in request
for t from one OF the local companies, but
which of them is not known.
Tie order provides that cars may be
run at the rate of twelve miles per hour
between streets and six miles at the cross
| ings, within the city limits. the present rate
| being ten and five miles, respectively. There
was no change in the speed beyond the
boundary, the regulation leaving it ut fif-
teen miles an hour.
There are ten companies now operating
| in the District, but not all of these are
affected by the order, their lines lying
outside of the city.
Responses have been received from four
of the companies whose officials were asked
to express views, three Of which favor the
change, and one opposing it.
Favorable Replies.
The three favorable replies were from
the Metropolitan, Anacostia and the Wash
ington, Alexandra and Mount Vernon, the
arguments advanced being in substance as
follows:
president Harries, of the Metropolitan
road, expresses the opinion that an Increase
of speed to twelve miles per hour is ab
solutely essential, in orcer that the public
may have the pleasure and benefit OF
reasonable rapid transit
"Basing my OPINION he says, "upon the
tn rail in
| cities where rapid transit has not been
regarded as undesirable, l am prepared to
| argue even for a greater speed than twelve
miles per hour.
Il am satisfied that the public would be
| better served were the limit placed at,
| say, fourteen miles an hour, In many OF
the larger communities OF the United States
the average speed OF street cars exceeds fiji
| teen miles, and in several important cities
f! the authorities have permitted the street
railroad companies To solve the speed prob
| lem In their own way
President Dunlop Objects.
President Dunlop's was the only mega
tive response. and, speaking for the Capt.
tai Traction Company. he said it was his
belief that the present speed is such as
/ W diiph itdSbHdillt IlbiIl dS-
cident, aud at the same time permit such
rapid transit facilities as seem to be
called for in this city
The president of the Washington, Alex
andria, and Mount Vernon Railway, Mr.
| g. E. Abbott, was brief in his expression.
and 50, also, was President Griswo old, of
| the Anacostia and Potomac Company.
| The former said he would be glad to have
| the speed Increased, and the latter, that
| he knew of no reason why the speed sug-
| geSted should be permitted. where such
conditions do not exist as render it in
| compatible with safety to the public"
| A part OF the letter of inquiry sent out by
| the Commissioners related to the require
ments of the several Company charters.
! The board wanted to know if there was
any provision IN either that would pro-
! hibt the running OF cars at a greater rate
| OF speed, and each OF the companies des-
ignated gave a negative response.
| President Harrcs stated tBat when the
| Metropolitan used horse power the speed
was limited to six miles an hour, and this
he regarded as an unnecessary provision
but that with electricity as a motive
power, there is nothing to prevent the
| change.
The amendment will take effect at tie
expiration OF thirty days from the date
| of the order.