Evening star., 1899-05-29
BRIGRTWooD ELECTRIC RAILWAY.
Further Complaint rs to It's Uncom-
Portable Condition:


Portable Condition:
10 the Editor Of The Evening Stari
wall you kindly give space to resident Of
Brightwood to supplement the remarks OF
Mr.. d. A. Newman regarding the condition
OF this apology for an electric road, known
as the Brightwood Electric Railway Com
panyf His remarks are most timely and
voice the sentiments of all the residents of
this section) 1 am sure; and now that the
tall has been started" think 1t should be
kept going until the management OF this
road is forced to Go something to better its
condition, as 1t Is evidently not its intention
to do until forced.
MIR. Newman's statements are facts in
every particular but 1 wish to relate some
of my experiences which he has undoubt-
edly had, but forgot to mention. We all
thought that We were being treated roughly
under the old management, but It could not
be mentioned the same day of the week
with the service of this new mana cement:
1t is growing worse every day. About one
half OF the cars ESQ called) are run with one
motor, instead of two and mornings and
afternoons, when the travel is always
heavier, they are crowded so at least one
half must always stand; the strain on the
motor is too great. with the result that they
barely move up grade, and smoke and emit
an odor that Is simply sitting. On several
occasions l have seen car smoke so, and
the odor was SO unbearable, that passen-
gers had to seek the front and rear dash
for fresh cir, and be ready to jump if the
car caught fire, which was momentarily ex-
pected. The cars burn OUT too often alto
gether. l have seen them apparently on
fire all over. Only last week q car gave an
electrical display that rtva1ed anything of
It's kind ever saw. The motorman jumped
for his life. The electric display not only
extended all around the outside of the car
but came inside and chased the passengers
out. We were then Informed by the motor
man that he could not go any further" SO
we walked. Trailer cars are run at night
positively without any light. The conduc-
tor accepts (what he supposeS to be- tick
cts makes change as near right as possible
and rings the fares up in total darkness. l
was asked last night by the conductor for
match, SO he could see to read the regis
ter OF course, If his money is not correct
he must make 1t good. How he makes the
change | don't understand. One passenger
refused to pay last night until a light was
produced, SO he could see to count his
money.
The crews shift places anywhere they
happen to meet on the road trade cars,
tickets, change. &c, and proceed, not know
ing how far they are going or where they
will change again L have seen three
changes between Brightwood and Bound
ary. Sometimes considerable time is con-
sumed by conference" of the two con-
ductors and motormen especially when you
are in a hurry, to the visibility of
after all. The men, as rule, cannot tell
you when they leave Boundary whether
they are going to Forest Glen, District line
or Takoma. l have been told by residents
of Maryland that they made no attempt to
find out, knowing that the chances were
they would land at Takoma Junction any
way. No power is an every day occur
reDce-it is wholly inadequate at all times
and hang ups" on this account are fire.
quent, lasting sometimes more than an
hour. The trolley jumps the wire fire.
quently, owing to the horrible condition of
the roadbed, and most of the conductors
time is consumed in watching it. When he
goes for fares he gets some one to watch
1t for him On one occasion he went on the
Wire the whole way to Brghtwood (after
ne got his fareSt, and | gave one and two
bells for him. Positively no attempt Is
made to repair anything until 1t becomes an
actual necessity. l have seen broken wire
remain so for week or more, and when
car passed under the mOtorman would give
two bells for the conductor to pull his troll
and the car coasted under.
Without any exaggeration whatever, it is
SIMPLY out of the question to tell when YOU
Will get to your destination on this so-called
car line, to say nothing of the trials and
tribulations that you undergo to get the
ride People ride out here once to look for
board. but never return. 1t is certainly
disgrace to the capital city-this utter dis
regard by the management of this road of
the comfort ana convenience of its patronS
and Of the stipulations of its charter Can
you not remedy this, as you do all such
public nuiSanceS?
CUVIER GREENE,
Recordlhg Secretary, Brightwood Avenue
Citizens Association.
Nav Is 1889.