The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-07-17

Just taken the matter up with our build
ers. The difficulty comes in the brakes
The vestibule fronts have hand wheel
brakes, and they cost $50 or SIS EACH
Mr.. Latta. for the Charlotte Street Rail-
way Company, found vestibule fronts both
objectionable and decidedly dangerous. ;"
He blandly informed the commission that
their use in large cities was being discon-
tinued, and casually remarked that our
climate did not require them. He follow
ed this lead with the following master
piece Of it's kind:
1--WE deal with strong, hearty young
countrymen, who have been brought up to
farm life, accustomed to exposure and
therefore find it no hardship; on the con-
trary seek this special occupation
Continuing he told the commission,
whom he seemed to think had never seen
one of the cars in question, that 'the YES
thule is ungainly and unsghtly, and can
be used with comfort for possibly only
eight or ten weeks at a time in the year"
AS to tenders Mr.. Latta recommended
the one that had been adopted by the
Metropolitan Street Railway of New York.
He pointed out it's various beauties and
| many advantages.
The Durham Traction Company organ
lied last February, and not yet equipped
for service, has no objection to placing
vestibules and tenders upon its cars, and
even before the law was passed the d.
rectors had so ordered. The only thing
they ask is that the commission desig-
nate no specific make Of vestibules and
tenders, but permit it to equip its cars
subject to the approval of the commission.
The Durham railway was represented by
Mr.. H. A. Foushee.
The other side of the question was
presented by Mr.. w. G. Douglass, at
torney for the Raleigh motormen and
conductors
He confined his remarks principally to
the Raleigh Street Railway and said he
wanted to begin by saying that he didn' t
think any street car line, anywhere,
ought to be permitted to operate such
cars as are run in this city,
Have you ever ridden on old No. 10?
Well, If you haven't I ask you not to
decide this question till you do. 1t starts
off as if it were attached to the motive
power by chain with about six links
loose. That's the start. The rest of the
journey is a hop and skip and a dive.
1t is wonderful that the old thing stays
together to get to the end of the journey,
and still more wonderful that you stay
together.
"And now the Wilmington people come
here and claim that they have the slow
est schedule. didn't think any city on
the face of the earth had slower one
than Raleigh. Why a man who'd get
hx ,rJ,t on1
lect a cent of damages, because he'd be
guilty of contributory negligence. He
wouldn't be run over anyhow, he'd be
walked over
With so much by way of Introductory,
Mr.. Douglass pointed out the need of
vestibules for motormen in winter, told
of their suffering in bad weather and
declared that he did not think anybody
ought to be allowed to work his fellow
| man under such conditions.
What hours do you require the men
to work? Ten and a half, and | want
to tell you that you can't get even a
niger to split rails for you in such
weather for that length of time-nor drive
a dray. The vestibules ought not only to
be ordered by the Commission, but they
ought to be demanded by the travelling
public.
ITO pass such an order will result in
three good things: "a Compel the pur-
chase OF some new cars; CD protect the
motormen; (3) afford better accommoda-
tons to the public.
IF they don't get new cars, there will,
one of these days. be another case of
the old preachers one boss shay with
some of theul-all drOp tn DiaceS at
once"