Evening star., 1900-10-01
RUNNING OF HEAVY CARS
THE NOISE ALLEGED TO BE SOURCE
OF As.orAsor.
Protest Filed with the Commissioner
REPORT In Case Made by In
spectOr Bradshaw.

Mr.. Thomas w. Fowler and other resi-
dents and property owners on 9Th street
recently protested to the District Commis-
sioners against the running of the heavy
cars of the City and Suburban railway over
the street, contending that the matter COM
planned of is destructive Of every right to
which they as citizens are entitled.
I'VE have submitted" stated the protest.
ants, ito the loss of our shade trees. the
destruction of our parking and now. by
reason of the intolerabe noise made by
these heavy cars going at a high rate of
speed and the changing of bells, 1t Is inn
possible to get needed rest and sleep until
after o'clock at night, and then many are
in such a nervous condition as to prevent
sleep until morning.
1.-THE peace of our families is entirely
broken up. 1t being possible to converse at
our front doors only in broken sentences
by reason of the terrific noise made by
these cars, often as many as three OF four
passing on one block within three minutes.
God help any who may be i'll along this
line"
The protestants stated that they espe-
cially objected to the commonly known
combination car running to LIE Drolt
Park. with It's grinding. humping noise,
which car can only be compared, they de-
clared to two express trains passing eacn
other, jarring houses to their very founda-
tions. One nights residence on this street,
they asserted. will convince the most
prejudced mind of the business OF their
complaint Therefore, they earnestly ap-
pealed to the Commissioners that such
remedy as may be in their power be ap-
piled at once.
Report Of Inspector.
Mr.. L. P. Bradshaw. an inspector In the
engineer department.. was instructed to in
vestigate the complaint, and he has SUD-
mitted the following report to the Com
missioners:
1.-The cars operated on this the 4th street
division of the consolidated lines are the
low-set single-truck car formerly In serv-
ice on the Columbia line. and what Is styled
the combination car, formerly used on
the City and Suburban road. and operated
between 18th and D streets northeast ana
18th and G streets northwest Five of these
latter cars are in regular service through
out the day, running on seven-mlnute
headway, and five are added as trfppers In
the morning and evening. cutting this head.
way in two to accommodate bureau Oh
printing and engraving employees.
These cars in appearance compar- favor
ably with other types Of large cars in serv-
ice on the different roads. Their gears
| have recently undergone thorough repairs
and been fitted out with new wheels, while
| as regards size and weight they are not as
| large nor as heavy as the City ana SuD-
| urban green car that has operated along
9TH street so far as l am aware. since Au-
gust, 1899 Nor has 1t been the result OF
my observation that they make as much
noise In running as these cars.
Under Inspection.
However by way of removing possible
noise in the operation of its cars the COM
pany has had force of mechanics special
| ly watching defects of mechanism, and
MANY important notifications have been
| made to this end.
II am informed it is their purpose, as far
| as can be done, to reduce 1t to a minimum,
but whether their efforts will succeed to
such extent as not to interfere with the
| conversations of residents along the line Is
thought to be extremely doubtful, since this
| is an Inconvenience common to all streets
| traversed by the electric car. even the
| smaller type Of car, and to thoroughfares
| as broad as Pennsylvania avenue 80 lar
| as the complaint refers to unnecessary
| ringing of gongs and excess OF laWiul
speed these are matters covered Dy ponce
regulation The charter requirement as 10
these cars is that they shall be hrst class,
with all modern improvements 1or the con
venience, comfort ana saiety oA paSs3"
gers. n,
In forwarding this report to Capt Beacn'
the Engineer Commissioner. who has I'M
mediate supervision of such matters, ms
assistant Capt. Newcomer, recommended
that the protestants be advised that lnVes-
tigation has failed to discover any FEATURES
connected with the running OF these cars
that would Justify the District authorities
in forbidding their use. This recommenoa-
tion Capt Beach has approved, ana the
matter is now before his associates for