The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-06
THE owl" Cars STARTED
An All-Night Service Inaugurated
by the Capital Traction Line.
Rapid Transit Now Possible at All
Uours-Much Qualification Exhibit
eel by Patrons-Citizens Need Not
Now Hire Cabs Intentions of the
Washington Traction Company.

The all-night car service, which has long
been wanted and asked for by the resi-
dents of the District, was inaugurated last
night by the Capital Traction Company
over all its lines in the city. The new
schedule was put into operation a. /
O'Clock this morning. and from each of the
termini of the road cars were run over
all the lines at intervals of thirty min
utes.
1t is expected that the other roads oper-
ated in the District will take up the plan
OF running cars all night before the end
Of the week. George Truesdell, President
of the Washington Traction and Electrical
Company, stated yesterday that his c5m-
pany is preparing TO institute an all night
service over what are known at the syn
dicate" lines. On these lines it is under
stood the motive power will be storage
batteries. The batteries have already ar
rived in the city. and will be arranged
for operation as quickly as possible.
The Capital Traction Company is the
pioneer of the all-night car service in
Washington, and that it will prove a
financial success 10 the management o. the
enterprise, and also a great convenience
TO the travelling public. was demonstrated
this morning. The appearance of the cars
in the small hours Of the morning was a
pleasant surprise TO the belated, as in
many cases it saved cab fare.
In many instances the people did not
know that an all-night service had been
established, and when they boarded one
of the cars were sure to enquire OF the
conductor if there had been a break down
on the road, which caused their late run.
Upon being informed that the all-night
service had been established by the Capt.
tai Traction Company, the reply in every
instance was: That's what has been want
ing in Washington for several years, and
I'm surprised that the street railroad com
panies have not undertaken it before
now
The all-night service was not put into
operation last 1ight on the L Street line
of the Capital Traction Company but II
is understood that it will be extended TO
that line within the next few days. When
this Is done continuous service will be i'm
operation over all the branch lines OF the
Capital Traction Company Until the
new service is put into operation on the
Chevy Chase road the last car will leave
Chevy Chase for Washington at midnight.
and, going westward, will leave Washing
ton for Chevy Chase at 1880 a m.
This morning the cars were running at
regular Intervals Of thirty minutes until
$50 a. m, when the regular three minute
day service went into operation. The
branches over which the all might service
extended were the Mount Pleasant,
Georgetown. the Boundary on Seventh
Street, the Navy Yard, and the Seventh
Street wharf
The action of the Capital Traction Com
pany in inaugurating the service will
make it unnecessary, so far as that cor
poration is concerned, for Congress to take
any steps toward providing such accommo-
dalton through legislation. The same may
be said also OF the other street railroad
companies, for. as already stated. Presi-
dent TTuesdell has announced that ii is
his intention to inaugurate the all-n night
system over the lines controlled by the
Washington Traction and Electrical Com
pany In the near future. 1t was suggested
that the all-night service would not be
put in operation over the lines OF the
syndicate" roads until the electric sys-
tenn of locomotion had been installed on
all the branches. but Mr.. Truesdell stated
yesterday that as soon as the storage bat
teries can be got ready for service the
cars will be put in operation.