Evening journal., 1901-07-26
TROLLEY MEN
PLAN BATTLE
Adoption Of Fender ReSOIu
tiOn Will Be Cause
WOULD MEAN BIG EXPENSE
thought That Fender Equipment
Mould Subject Companies 10
Fake Suits

Intended action en- the part OF the
directors Of the Street and Sewer De-
partment to compel trolley Companies
operating In tnis city TO provide lender
equipment for their cars. Will precip,-
tate "a legal tight involving une ques-
ton whether or not the department is
acting within its premises, when ic az
tempt5 to compel a private corpora
tion TO adept such car equipment as
0hat department chooses to recon-
mend. Moreover, il VIII be denied that
tho department Is the proper body to
introduce such legislation, and from
all indications the igst VIII be long
and bitter one
The subject OF fender equipment for
Wilmington trolley cars was brought
before the Legislature at its last ses-
sion, when acts bearing on the ques-
ton were introduced in both Senate
and House. In committee the bills
were reviewed carefully and the SUBJ
iect gene into most Thoroughly. Ex-
perionced railway men. many of whom
had had experience with tenders, de-
clared that the fender Is not a life
saver, in these days of careful opera
tors and air-brake cars, but rather the
source OF greatexponse to railway COM
panios, inasmuch as there exists class
joi men who obtain a livelihood by
falling into tenders and demanding
damage for injuries received. Tho
men are known as professional fen
der droppers,' and only several weeks
ago several of the kind were arrested
IN philadelphia and committed to
prison. In view of these facts the Leg
iSlative committees reported the bills
untaVorably and the agitation ceased.
Since the question has been re-
opened by the Street and Sewer De-
partment, many people have interested
themselves in IL, and It is certain that
llt the majority OF Wilmingtonians
could 'ba heard on the subject, thoy
would take the stand that the fender
Is not necessary to the protection OF
the local travelling public Nearly all
the cars that run In the city streets are
equipped with air brakes, and all are
manned by experienced crews. Ger
tainly the death rate as shown by trol-
ley cars is the lowest of any city in the
country. This fact. many prominent
citizens say, ought to be sufficient
proof that the fender is unnecessary
here. and that to compel the companies
TO spend thousands of dollars in this
way therefore would seem wholly mn
necessary 10 principally Is to avoid
unis big expenditure and at the same
time protect themselves from the
professional fender drOpper'' that ths
companies oppose the passage OF such
a resolution by any body other than
a legislative one.
To be compelled to equip its cars
with Tenders. the Wilmington CITY
Railway Company would find it impos-
sibe for the cars to turn the corners OF
Front and Tenth and Market streets.
and at Fourth and Pine streets. unless
The streets at those corners were torn
up and new rails laid at great ex-
lpcnse Cars of the Peoples Railway
Company neither could turn the cor
ners of Second and Sixth and King
streets, Seventh and Thirteenth and
Lombard streets. and Thirteenth and
King streets. This is shown to what
great expense the trolley companies
would Jc put by tho enforcement OF
such res l,cti IN, should 10 be declared
legal, and IRE unjust result of the
operation of The measure 10 local rapid
transit projectors who have dono more
in developing the outlying districts
and advancing the business interests
OF this community than all other
lagencies combined.