Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-20
TEST OF PATIENCE
Awaiting Rapid Transit Facilities
on E. and s. d. Railway.
WONDERFUL MofIVEPOWERPR
Progress in DevelopmentAppa
ly of Crawfish Variety,
LONG SUFFERING PUBLIC

The residents of lexington and Brook
land are deeply Interested just now In a
series of experiments in rapid transit I'M
der way on the line of the lexington and
Soldiers Home railway, which is supposed
to supply them with transportation facil-
tiles. Potentialities for power development
are under scrutiny that promise great
changes in the stree. railway world
new motor is being evolved that may revo-
luiionize the rapid transit business and
cause the transformation OF the fine new
electric conduits of the Metropolitan and
capital Traction companies into sewers or
speaking tubes If the new device Is sue
cessful 1t is confidently felt that its en-
phatic appeal to the appreciation of the
transportation managers throughout this
country, at least, progressive as they are
VIII result in the immediate abandonment
of every other form of hauling device
indeed, aside from this fire new motor
which Is attracting so much attention, the
l.cklhston TOAD is in transitory stage
that promises equally striking results IN
the near future. Pending the passage of
some form of legislative permission to the
rev ownership to equip the lines with I'M
foreground electricity, the road NAV de-
Veiop into one of the most pronounced
cases of corporate desuetude ever witness
ed In this age In view of the elaboration
with which the Senate is considering the
wefghty problem of furnishing power 10
the newly organized company to straighten
out the mechanical and financial affairs of
the property, it is perhaps proper that a
oTleI description OF the state of affairs
aicng the h,e together with an account OF
tnis wonderful new motor, should be pre-
scented.
Incidentally, 1t is proper to note that thu
Belt road, also involved in the receiver
SNIP that now encompasses the lexington
mas been brought down to as near bed
rock In the matter of schedule and eaup-
meht as 1t is legally possible for any cor
pcrafion to be reduced without forfeiture
On the main line there are about seven
cars 10 cover stretch OF about seven
miies, while on the secondary branch th.
ola belt, two cars make the round trip.
win intervals of about forty-five minutes
between. The North Capitol street branch
OF Inc lexington has meanwhile been re-
dIo ed TO a single-car basis though II ex-
tcrds mile and third one way and the
rtuhd trip covers two miles and two-thirds
New York Avenue Line.
heretofore the main line of the road
running out New York avenue, has enjoyed
d hofse-car service, On a six-minute sched-
uie' with the aid of a trolley service be-
Schd the boundary as far as Brookland
the terminus of the line. The trolley cars
every other horse car would deposit its
load OF passengers at the deIectable Juno
llcn point at the corner OF Florida and New
ork avenues, where broken-Gown, foul
sHieiilng car furnished them with question
apie accommodations as waiting room
pending the often uncertain arrival of the
trolley car. The resigned patrons of the
road nave become used to the process of
waitlhs- Lately, however, the habit has
been sorely tried. The half-and-half sched-
ule did not always function" as machin-
lists say. The morse cars were more relia-
Die than the motors, which might be re-
earded as remarkable fact, in view of the
sad condition of the horses. The motors be-
gan to miss trips with frequency that
tested the long-continued patience of these
people to the utmost.
Within the past week matters have come
to an acute stage The motors seemed to
give out by common consent. There are
OILY about four that could be said to be
serviceable, including that which consti-
tutes the sole equipment of the unfinished
Washington and Maryland line, running
out 10 the District limits at Rfves station.
Even the old stardby, the "radial" a ire
mendous affair capable of producing as
much noise as threshing machine and of
travelling as fast as a road engine, was I'M
allie to respond TO the emergency call Then
the ingenuity of the make-shift artists who
preside at the power house of the road in
lexington evolved grand scheme which
has resulted in the appearance of this great
motor that may revolutonize the street
railway business.
Every overhead trolley line has in service
what is known as a tower car" 1t is
merely scafolGing rugged up on a truck
base, equipped with an electric motor a
controller and a brake. 1t is a car without
a car body. the scaffoldine taking the place
of the latter This device is used to enable
the worknen to repair the overhead wire
and 10 keep the hangers in order. 1t has
been in great demand of late on the Eek
ington lire, which seems TO be dsintegrat-
ing simultano ously all along the route in
every department, much as the deacon's
''one-hoss shay" crumbled without warn
irg.
Offensive to Eye and Ear.
The tower Is not an attractive thing. 1t
offends the eye and the ear. 1t is built with
a view to cheapness and rough work. Such
considerations however, do not affect the
minds Of the managers of the road. The
patrons of the road have never come in for
the least consideration at their hands, es-
pecialiy in such trivial matters as concern
flatr at,A Fort 10