Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-14
Street Railway Noises.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star,
A law passed by both branches of Con-
gress granting an extension of tracks in
this city to one of the local street car COM
panies was reconsidered upon the protest
of government official for the reason that
the prospective tracks would pass through
the street in which he resided and he would
be Inconvenience by the noise. When such
protest emanating from a single indi-
vidual can have such weight with the
United States Senate as to induce it to re-
consider a bill, the numerous protests of
reputable citizens and property holders all
over the District should meet with some
notice and action by our Commissioners.
l refer to the numerous complaints against
the present methods of the Washington
Traction and Electric Company. it's intro
duction Of cars of enormous weight and
size and its absolute liberty to run them
at any rate Of speed it may choose, and
1t often chooses the highest rate 1t can get
out of them.
The constant changing of their gongs even
when the cars are empty, and only rem
dered necessary by the high rate Of speed
at which they run. especially late at night
and early in the morning, renders sleep and
even rest utterly impossible, and Is such
nuisance that 1t should not be tolerated in
and city which is supposed to have an eff
fective municipal government.
letter of complaint published In The
Star about two weeks ago from one Of the
leading practitioners of medicine in this
city bore testimony to the fact Of the effect
of this everlasting rattle and clatter and
Earring upon the public health and private
property.
1t certainly seems time for the Commits
sioners to show to a suffering public that
the city can control the railroads not that
the railroads control the city and do just
as they please.
1 would suggest that the Commissioners.
as an experiment, occupy houses on one
OF the narrow streets through which this
road runs, and attempt to live and sleep
there, especially the latter, for thirty con-
secutive days and nights, and l believe they
would then be willing to realize that the
complaints poured in upon them come from
human souls. and are wrung from them by
sleepless nights and unstrung nerves, and
are not pure fiction.
1t is not intended to detract in the slight
est degree from the improved railway serv-
ice which this new syndicate has given to
Washington, but this same service can be
rendered without making the residents feel
their houses vibrating about their heads
and fnsunerable noises pouring in through
their windows, preventing conversation.
numbering sleep. and, according to the tes-
timony of the physician above quoted. and
with whom fully agree, causing injury to
health.
No opposition can be made to the former
and better built cars running at legitimate
rate of speed. but the present heavy weight
eaio eoinpliiiIlB the NOISE anu Jdfi ing VI lne
earthquake and the avalanche. should be
suppressed by law or else the number of
inmates at st. Elizabeth's will be increased.
The growing of a rooster, the barking of
dog. the putting of steam pipe and the
buzz of the buzz saw have all been con-
demned as nuisances to the public. and
have been abated. If these minor noises,
then why not these mammoth cars with
their mammoth noises?
1t is to be hoped that citizens living along
the routes of this line will take some con-
certed action In bringing this crime of 1900
to the attention of the authorities with the
OF the impression upon their ears that the
cars do upon ours, and insist that these
cars be condemned as nuisances and prohib-
tied. 1t is said that this company is even
now having larger and certainly heavier
box cars for winter use constructed. If this
is so the whole route will take on the mu-
steal note Of the boiler shop.
r. ESIDENT.