The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-06

II. c. Yarrow. NJ. D.. of Sli Seventeenth
Street northwest. has written to the Com
missioners protesting against the way in
which the Metropolitan Street Railway
Company run their cars over the line pass
ing his home Dr. Yarrow writes in the
following terms:
LAS law abiding and tax paying citizen
of this District feel obliged to throw
myself upon your protection and in a
solemn and earnest manner protest against
the way in which the Metropolitan Street
Railway Company run their cars over the
street in which / live, namely, Seven
teenth Street, between H and !.
For over twenty years have lived in
this locality enjoying comparative COM
fort, especially at night. when have been
able to get the needfui repose after long
and tiresome day OF professional work. But
within the last two years. since this COM
pany has been running its electric cars
over this part Of the road, it seems almost
impossible for anybody to get that rest
so essential to their well-being and the
proper fulfllment of their duties the next
day. During the time that the company
of speed which varies from ten to seven
teen miles an hour the noise was bad
enough. but now since the large-sized cars
which run to Glen Echo have been placed
on the road the clatter and rush and buzz
and turmoil together with the changing Of
bells, are something frightful. and can
only be appreciated by one who lies awake
at night and listens to 1t. 1t is not only
the nerve disturbing noise which l COM
plain Of but the Earring and shaking of
my residence is such when these heavy
cars are passing that really fear perma-
nent injury may be done to my dwelling.
Il am free to say. though very busy
man and one anxious to cover distances in
as reasonable length of time as possible.
owing to the necessities of my profession.
I cannot see why this tremendous rate Of
speed should be continued. especially dur
ing the hours of the night when people are
supposed to be seeking their rest. II you
add to the above mentioned noises the
facts that the conductors stop at the corn
ers OF the streets where IL seems best to
them; that frequently II they are little
behind time decline to stop for you alto
gether 50 that sometimes one is obliged
to walt for several ears before being able to
take one think your honorable body will
see that |. in common with my neighbors,
have good cause for complaint Of the un-
Just manner in which We are treated by
this road. BY actual count during one
hour, and that not the busiest Of the day,
100 cars passed my domiciie."
Dr. Yarrow closes his letter by urging
the Commissioners to come to the relief
OF the citizens OF Seventeenth Street by
the speed Of its cars so as not to cause SO
great disturbance
The complaint having been referred to
the Police Department for investigation
and report, Lieut.. R. B. Boyle, Of the
Third precinct. now reports through the
Superintendent of Police. He says thai
three motcrmen have been arrested fol
running their cars at an unlawful speed
since the receipt of this complaint, but II
was found On investigation that none Of
them exceeded the rate Of speed allowed
while passing the compliments house
Lieutenant Boyle adds that the policemen
will continue to look after the matter and
keep the railroad employees within the
limits Of the law.
In transmitting this report to the Com
missioners Major Sylvester adds tina,
through his orders effective measures have
been taken to cause the removal OF the
cause Of complaint.
The complaint OF DIR. Yarrow is one OF
several similar protests received by the
Commissioners. The cause OF the trouble
seems to be rather the size Of the cars
than the speed at which they are run. The
Commissioners have not as yet found a
satisfactory solution Of the difficulty. but a
plan has been under advisement for rum
ming all cars in the most populous parts of
the city at slower speed. Though this has
its objections. It would probably remove
much of the complaint coming to the au-
thorities from all parts of the District.