Evening star., 1898-02-07
l4TH STREET ELECTRIC CARS
Residents Pleased by the Prospect of the
Proposed Change.
DiscomfOrts of the Present System So
Great That Many Patrons Are
Losing Patience.

AS stated in The Star on Saturday, the
Capital Traction Company intends to op-
crate the cars on the 14th street line from
the northern terminus to the Treasury De-
partment by electricity as soon as the work
of putting in the wires which make the
connection with the power house of the
Potomac Electric Power Company can be
completed. Mr.. CARL, the chief engineer
and general superintendent of the road
states that he expects the cars will be run
ming by electricity on 14th street next week
and probably the early part Of the week,
although, on account of the weather or
some other unforeseen cause there may be
delays.
This is welcome intelligence to the resi-
dents along 14th street and others who have
occasion to use that street car line. as the
present service, in the opinion OF at least
a large number of the patrons. is about as
unsatisfactory as it possibly could be. In
fact, there Is such feeling Of desperation
over the oisccmforts and loss of time due
in part it is asserted. to the attempt to
make one electric car running north from
U street carry the passengers that are
brought to that point by several horse cars.
as well as the L street cars. that some
have even said that they preferred to have
the entire line operated by horses rather
than to endure longer the present patch
work system
State of Evaporation.
The inconvenience Of the present arrange
| ment was especially felt during the cold
| snap which has just ended, and although
there was some aleviation of the situation
| when the old horse car was located at the
U street junction, where some Of the wait
| ing passengers could find refuge from the
biting wind, yet the daily experiences were
of such q character as to keep the travel
ing public in a constant state of exaspera-
tion.
The feeling against the company became
so pronounced that a great many of the pa
irons doubted whether the announced in
tention to operate this line by electricity
| before the balance of the road was COM
pleted was genuine. and it was common to
hear the remark that the company was
only trifing with the public and did not
propose to make any change in the pres
ent system until the electric current could
be obtained from the power house which
| is being fitted up by the company.
| Position of the Company.
Those Identified with the management Of
| the company, however. state it has been
| the purpose all along to get the new cleo
| tric system into operation quickly as
possible, and they point to the interval
which has elapsed since the beginning of
| the installation to the present time as an
| example Of rapid and effective work, q
| tribute alike. it Is claimed to the execu-
! tive skill manifested in the administration
| as well as in the promptness with which
| orders were filled by those who had mate
rial to furnish.
1t is further said that il the company had
no other motive it certainly would be in
| fluenced by the selfish one of conserving
its own interest, it is losing great deal
| of money each day the horses continue to
be used 1t Is maintained that the legtti-
mate business of the road is now being
done by other companies and as soon as
the present horse car service can be done
away with and the electric cars put on the
road then the receipts of the company will
show large increase.