Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-07

fe2O-tu, th,s, lyS4
morning or evening and even tate into the
night. One often has to stand up nearly
all the way to Brightwood before a seat
be secured.
Il desire to emphasize the fact that The
citizens Of Takoma Park want a through
service and want II at once. The loss Of
time caused by changing and waiting for
cars in considerable. but the irritation and
wear and tear upon ones patience is in
calculable Give US through service at once
and We shall be glad to pay the same rate
for II that all the other suburbs pay. Why
make fish Of one and flesh of another"
Favors a Boycott.
Mr.. r. S. Brown. a prominent citizen Of
Takoma. who among the first to build
and reside in Takoma Park is at present
chairman of the sewers and sanitation COM
mittee of the citizens association. He is
highly indignant at the backward step
taken by the syndicate. Mr.. Brown was
one of the former presidents of the cti-
zens association and was one Of the origi-
nal committee of nine which resulted in
extending the street car facilities to Ia
koma, and has been for years a constant
traveller on the road.
In an interview today he said:
IF the recent increase Of fare is carried
out by abe Washington Traction and Elec-
trio Company 1 am in favor of boycotting
the road and using the steam road. can
not understand why the Brfghtwood road
Is called a suburban road or that Takoma
Park is a suburb. when their cars run
from the center OF the city in three other
directions TO the Distri line for one fare
Why such discrimination against Takoma?
Why, the people of Takoma are at the
present time at the expense of $4,000 put
ting in a water and sewerage system to
benefit and improve the park and make il
still more attractive, while the railroad
gives II a blow which is bound TO be
i1ously felt by all property owners. Where
are the through cars which were promised
nearly two years ago2 At that time il was
stated that we would have the best of
equipments, everything new
This scheme of four tickets for % cents
must necessitate change OF cars at the
boundary (which to be eliminated,
for II the through service is given where
will the dividing line be to expect the dou-
BILE fare. for the occasional rider Will not
have these coupon tickets. He must pay
two fares Isn't that going up against the
law which says one car fare TO any point
in the District, when the road is under the
same ownership? The Brightwood road is
now carrying more passengers throughout
the entire day than any other road leading
out of the city: 1t is all rot about the
company not being able to carry people at
the present charges. What is necessary
now to prevent this miserable, uncalled-for
stop to the progress of this delightful sub
urb is organized. efficient and complete
boycott and an earnest appeal to Congress
at its next session for our just rights We
have got to have a through service at six
tickets for a quarter and sixteen-minute
schedule, OF there will be discomfort for
these big street car magnates. We have
been waiting now nearly two years for
this change, and hope TO get it
Regarded as Unjust Discrimination.
President Kinnear, in speaking of the
new movement, says:
In my judgment the increase of fares on
the Brightwood line is not only an unjust
discrimination against the people of Ia
koma Park and vicinity, but 1t is a step
backward which cannot inure to the benefit
of the road in the long run. While IT is
true the company is a rich and powerful
corporation, nevertheless it needs the good
will of the people, which it can never hope
to get by placing upon them what they re-
gard as unjust burdens If the company
will treat all its suburban lines alike and
let the burden rest with equality upon all
its suburban patrons. then, l think, our
people will pay their share with much
grace any others in the District and
with as little grumbling; but TO single US
out in the manner 1t has proposed is more
than we will submit to without at least
making vigorous protest.
IF the road is not paying now am quite
sure that an additional burden on the peo-
pie will not have tendency TO build up
the country between Takoma Park and the
city, but, on the contrary, prices in real
estate will decrease, no building will be
done and the traffic on the road will stead
more keenly than II is at the present time.
For one / am sadly disappointed in the
conduct of the road. for 1 had hoped the
officers would be quick to catch the impulse
of improvement and lend thereto every as
sistance in its power, for by doing IL
would not only help to build up the most
beautiful part of the District, but every
family that could be induced to locate out
here would be an addition to the patronage
of the road, and il would only be a ques-
ton Of a short time when revenues would
be greatly increased.
In addition to the above, II we are
forced to purchase coupon tickets at four
for a quarter many of the people will use
the Capital Traction cars, and the big syn
dictate will actually get less for the service
rendered than they are getting now.
Il am opposed to the change for more
reasons than one. In the first place, 1 can
hardly conceive of big syndicate like this
one retrograding into the channels of the
old Brightwood Railway Company. the
memories of which are a perfect nightmare
to the older residents OF this part of the
District. In the second place, II is an I'M
just discrimination, and, in the third place,
many people who live just few blocks
above the boundary will be compelled to
pay extra fare which to many means
quite sum at the end Of a year."