The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-28

were run at less speed. In fact we must
have the big cars There Is no other way
to carry the traffic. but the BIZ cars S ould
be held down rigidly to speed Of ten
miles an hour within the residential por-
items of the city and District
In passing along the streets at that
rate of speed these cars would cause a
slight rumbling sound. but would not
shake the houses or jar down Loose p as
tering. The big ears are Just the thing.
only the companies should he made 10
understand that such thoroughfares as
+ Street. Connecticut Avenue and other
streets narrow and thickly settled. are
not places to run express trains as they
are run on steam railroads
There are several particulars in which
the bill proposed by the Commissioners
does not go far enough Hi speed is OF
the only fault OF railroad management in
the District. There is far too much free
dom allowed the companies in regard to
schedule and the oyercrowding of their
cars. The number of cars to be run over
a given route per hour is a ma ter which
should not be left alone to the companies,
as it virtually is now. True the regula-
ticns require the companies to submit
their schedules to the Commissioners. and
they are expected to approve or amend
them as they may choose. But the trou-
bic with such a regulation is that the
Commissioners have no way of being Off
cially informed whether the schedule is
lived up TO or whether it is adequate to
the needs of the locality which it is in
tended TO serve. The Commissioners are
generally informed of the faulty opera
ton of the cars by complaints sent in by
indignant citizens. often exaggerated and
when investigated it is found that the
Commissioners have given approval o a
schedule that permits the very things
complained Of, and reference of the mat
ter to the company is useless for they
have been already clothed with authority
for the faulty operation Of the cars.
viii not say that the companies 90 to
work deliberately to hoodwink the Com
missioners, but it sometimes amounts to
about that.
What is needed. in my opinion. is an
inspector who should have nothing else
to do but to keep his eye upon the street
railways every working day in the year
He should ride over the lines and ia
miliarize himself with their workings He
should be in the cars when travel is most
; congested, and his reports to the Com
/ missioners should acquaint them with the
exact facts regarding the service in al!
/ parts Of the District. He should be a man
Of judicial temperament, and his reports
! should reflect the true state of things
/ without favor to the companies or the
public. By such inspection the Commits
sioneTs would know al all times the exact
conditions prevailing on any given line,
and they could secure the legislation
needed and could enforce such legislation.
In the end the operation of the street
cars would be such as would serve the
/ public without the appearance of the dom
/ ineering influences Of the corporation
The bill proposed by the Commission
/ ers is a long step in advance of anything
We have now only think the big cars
/ should not be taken off the lines. They
should be run at a much lower rate Of
| speed"