Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-11
OvercrowdinE the Briehtwood Cars
To the Editor of The Evening Star:

Overcoming the BriGhtwoOd Cars.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
Much has been said in your valuable
paper in praise Of the excellent accommo-
dations given the citizens of the District
by the company now operating our street
car lines.
Saturday evening last (6:30 p.m.), while
workmen, tired with a weeks labor, and
thrifty housewives with market baskets
were hurrying homeward for a much need
ed rest, on attempting to board a Bright
wood car at the Boundary 1 was surprised,
but not at finding the car crowded far be-
yond limits, for that is usual with US.
What excited my wonder was the fact that
no attempt was made to move the car.
There being no space to rest the sole of one
foot on the rear platform, 1 fastened to the
front end, where things were little better.
Climbing aboard found an alteration 60
ing on between the conductor and a very
determined gentleman for his inches (some
four feet six), who requested in most re-
spectful tones to be forcibly elected from
the car. Knowing 1t to be against the
rules to ride on the front platform. 1 man.
aged to crowd part of my anatomy in the
doorway. taking care to hold my head as
far out possible to avoid breathing the
fetid atmosphere inside, and silently took
in the situation.
The little man was firm In his determi-
nation not to move from the platform I'M
less furnished with a seat inside, or elected.
Peremptory orders were followed by re-
was called by the conductor, but refused
to interfere. The conductor appealed to
the motorman to assist him in putting the
little man off, but here the crowd took a
hand in the game, announcing their in
tention to stand by the little man and re-
pay with interest any use Of force the
companys employees might indulge in. The
motOrman here explained that by being
forced to run the car with a passenger on
the front platform would undoubtedly cost
him his Job, which excited much sympathy
from the bystanders as well as from the
man Of courage, but did not shake his reso-
luton in the least, and after being delayed
about twenty minutes the car moved out
with its load of perspirng humanity. in
violation of this stringent and arbitrary
rule Of this up to date" and "obliging''
corporation, leaving on the sidewalk pas
sengers enough to load all the cars at
present operating on the Brightwood road.
During October last four other citi-
zens-perhaps, i ought to say residents-of
the District of Columbia and took up our
abode in Brightwood in view of the prom
ises made by this company, after rebuild
ing the roadbed to equip the same with
modern cars, whichiwere to make continu-
Gus trips to the heart of the city. Nine
months have elapsed and the cameras Of
my friends purchased for the purpose of
taking snap SnotS OLitne new cars in opera
ton are now worms out, and owing to the
screeching noise Of cars now in use which
scare the game in the woods and awake
peaceful sleepers until midnight, We are
now looking up suitable quarters down
town, when we will no longer be at the
mercy of this ;oblising concern.
AS an ex-citizeniOf Detroit, Mich, and
Chicago. ILL.,. where, redress Of grievances
is frequent, the enduring patience Of the
companys patrons In this section has sur
prised me greatly and I now rejoice to
find at least one resident that has the
temerity to demand what should be accord
ed him freely, the right to stand in the
open air, instead OF breathing the noxious
atmosphere on the inside where human
beings are crowded Hike herrings in a box
The schedule Clever observed) on which
the Brightwood cars are run, the daily
overcrowding to which the passengers are
subjected, would be a disgrace to a back
woods Texas town, not to mention an other
wise prosperous suburb of the first city of
the greatest country on the earth.
Should the motorman be discharged, as
he evidently expected to be, I trust there
are a sufficient number of high-minded citi-
zens in this locality to see he Is taken care
of until he procures position where he
can live up to the regulations of his en-
ployes, without involving them In a lawsuit
GEO. PRESTON.