The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-21
How to Run street Cars.

To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal:
1t may seem an unkind remark, but, so
far as my observation goes. there is not a
comfortable street car in the city. The
steps Of all the open cars are too high. and
it is unnecessarily difficult for the old, the
young or the feeble TO get into a car. In
the old ones, that dip like a ship III a swell.
we sit On corrugated seats, and in the much
touted new ones the seats are too close TO
each other, with very uncomfortable backs
that start too far front, because not built
for "hiked-up'' slippery seats that one is
about to slide off from all the time. while
the so-called foot-rests, that nom but a tall
person can reach, deprive the new cars of
all room to place baskets ald bundles, and
SO increase discomfort. All these open cars
should have two running boards, like the
cars of San Francisco, for instance, for ease
of entrance and incidentally increase carry
ing capacity. And there should be an ef-
fective protest against persons standing in
these open cars-it is too humiliating for the
passengers and uses too much running time
in unloading. The most satisfactory car Is
the kind built with the front half of the
open style and the rear half closed, and then
all kinds of people are satisfied.
1t is announced that the street-car COM
pany is about to abandon its grapevine,
jerk-water, zigzag route around the State
house and send the North indianapolis ilne
up Illinois street and Indiana avenue. IL
this is so 1t Is an afterthought. for, as the
company has hauled big rails into OHIO
street, its intention was to lay new track
there. In either event the change is a BAD
one. What should be done is TO lay rails
On Senat avenue straight TO washington
street, for this will greatly increase running
facilities and relieve the congestion on Hi,
n1iC utrnaft (far u-nich aoCnn tho Rr0Q6
Ripple line was changed to another street,,
as it will throw all transfers on to Washing
ton street, and accommodate the western
part of the city better.
1t is a fair criticism TO remark that many
of the lines are not run right: Why should
there be an endless procession OF empty
wasting time and o~bstructing streets? Most
of the lines should be run as feeders to
Washington street rather than trunk lines,
as now. and would thus give more frequent
and satisfactory service to their own dis
tinctive portion of the city. Why. for in
stance, should the whole northwestern part
Knockout when the fire or other trouble Is
away off up Massachusetts avenue or down
Virginia avenue? Why should the high
have to climb the precipitous track
of the South Side Irish hill region?
Surely not because there is direct travel
most none. And from Woodruff Place to the
~stockyards is from the sublime to the
ridiculous. And IL Is even questionable IL
the Broad Ripple cars should be allowed
down town. but only serve as feeders, As
1t is now how can the company tell where
1t really gets its money from, and which
lines to serve best?
Put In electric turntables at the Ken
lucky and Virginia-avenue intersections, run
all west lines TO the Virginia-avenue turn
table and all east lines to the Kentucky
avenue turntable, making each car turn
empty. and you solve a problem in trans
ferring that sooner or later will have. to be
solved. Two lines could often be looped
into one to advantage. for instance, the
Blake and Indiana-avenue line, cars to run
both ways. enabling a person to get home
via either line. The ideal system, and the
one that will or ought TO soon come, is a
belt line-not necessarily on the very out
skirts-all the lines radiating to it, with
anywhere by any line. Switches should be
put in. enabling a car, when far behind
time, TO be sent back without going to the
punching Of , cars and the fearful iS"e exasper.
ating NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ex-
periences with which we are now so familiar.
occasional use of a trailer when needed, with
but one conductor for both cars, as the load
would be a more distinctive one, not needing
transfers.
The cars should rave a system of colored
lights for night. and the day signs. under
the single-lire system, could be briefer and
SO larger 3 IA and p plaiineFGi aarne excellent C. lie t,p plan a.s as
line a letter, and have a great wooden letter
two feet long hanging down in front. And
If the company is not gcing to use Kentucky
avenue 1T should remove the obstructing
poles and tracks. A word as to paving. Who
can understand the true inwardness of tear
ing up streets already we'll paved before
touching those that are not paved at all
and are mere dirt roads. like Senate avenue?
Finally. a reform in the use of transfer
tickets is due, and in the interest of both
passengers and company. A transfer ticket,
with a time limit only. should be good on
any line. The company should not care
which line a ticket is used on so long as it
Is used within its specified time. Adopting
this plan would enable the company to get
rid OF the holders sooner, as il would give
many a choice OF three lines, saving patrons
much time and giving them some sort of
line.
No doubt many people have ideas how the
cars should be run, and as IL is a question
of public interest they have a right to ex-
press them. Why not speak out? The COM
pany surely ought to welcome a free dis
cussion, as II will reap the benefit, for there
VIII surely be some suggestions worth heed
ing. w. B.. CLARKE NJ n
Indiananolic Sapt &c