The times., 1897-05-12
TAKOMA CITIZENS PROTEST
A Call Fer Closed Cars on the
Brightwood Line.
The Company Alleged to Run Open
Cars Almost Exclusively Pa
irons Complain of Danger.

The citizens OF Tia koma Park are ma king
very vigorous complaints against the al
most exclusive use OF the summer or open
cars on the Brightwood electric road at
this season OF the year, as well as late
In the fall. Summer cars have been run
ming for about three or four weeks now,
and as very few closed cars have been
used since, the patrons OF the road at
Takoma and around Brightwood have
been unanimous in their complaint against
the inconvenience and want of comfort
they claim they have been recently gwen.
The same uneasiness was apparent :ast
fall when the open cars We're kept ON the
road until about Thanksgiving The gem
eral opinion expressed by Takoma people
is that the managers of the road are show
ing lack Of discretion by running open
cars at this time OF the year, and IL is
claimed that the only closed ears now
Used are a few trailcrs or ''bob-tailed''
cars. These are coupled 70 the open
cars and used about S O'Clock in the morn
ing and O'Clock III the afternoon to ac-
oommodate the increased traffic TO and
from the CITY at the hours named IL
would be much more comfortable and
agreeable to the people If these ears were
run also in the early morning and On cool
evenings.
A Times reporter last night interviewed
number Of Takoma citizens at their
homes, and without an exception. they
were opposed to the open cars almost
totally dispIacing the closed cars. What
the people are in favor OF Is a good sys-
TEN Of bota opel and closed cars, the latter
as protection against wind and weather
on disa Greeahle and rainy days Tbey
could do this, it is claimed, by liyiag up to
Section 10, of the Brightwood fran
cnise of October Is, 1888, requiring that
1.-The company shall place cars of the best
construction on said railway, with all
modern inprcv eInents, necessary To the
convenience and comfort OF passengers,
aud shall run cars thereon as often as
public convenience may require -
The act OF July 26, 1892, also states
that the cars shall he first-class in
every respect"
The mayor of Takoma, Mr. Samuel s.
Shedd, when seen, freely expressed him
self being greatly dispIeased with the
open cars at this season. He said that Ihey
should only be used in the middle of the
day at this season, but it seemed that the
railway mana gers do not want to give
their patrons first-class service, nor even
second-class service, since open cars are
run from early morn until midnight, and
on rainy days This latter is particularly
complained against, as the car seats are
often too veto be used, causing passengers
TO stand while riding, and the side cur
taius are poor projections against rain
which Is blown in on the patrons, en-
dangering health.
Many opponents to the open car policy
have been looking into the matter, aud
it is thought that at an early date the
Commissioners OF the health office will
be asked to make an investigation. In
some cities 1t is unlawful to run open
cars when the temperature is below
sixty degrees, and some think It would
be wise for the Commissioners to amend
the railway laws by adding a similar
regulation.
Dr. 4. V. Parson, resident of Ia
koma. said he was opposed tc the run
ming Of open cars now, because it was
not only very often too chilly in the
early spring mornings, but it was also
very detrimental to the health of the
people On rainy days it is almost im-
possible, he said, to ride to the city on
an open car without getting wet. He
has attended several patients during the
last week who have told him that they
attribute their sickness to riding in open
cars
Some of the other citizens who are
most prominent in opposing the present
system are Messrs. Louis p. Shoemaker
and j. S. Swormstedt They also think
that the company has been unjust to its
patrons 1t is thought by many that the
road would be much more prosperous
than it now is If the managers would
try to fill some of the wants OF its pa
irons But the Takoma people say,
they do not seem to want to do this.
and as result many CITY residents that
would otherwise run out to Tako:na in
the evenings do not now go.