The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-26
COMPLAIN OF CAPITOL
HILL STREET CARS
Citizens Association of East
Washington Protest.
Use of Open Trailers in Cold Weather
and Lack of Sufficient Cars
Are Criticized.

Mr.. ". Mosby Williams, chairman of the
committee on street railways Of the Eas
Washington Citizens Association. has
forwarded to the District Commissioners
the following complaint concerning tht
street cars on the several lines of the
Washington Traction and Electric Com
pany operated on Capitol Hill:
| First. The filthy condition of the cars
the public is compelled to use.
| Second. The shabby appearance of the
same cars because of long service with
! out repainting or revarnisling.
Use of Open TrniIers.
| Third. The use of open trailers in
weather below 80 degrees f.
Fourth. The lack of a sufficient num-
Der Of cars between Z and a. M. and 3:2J
| and $50 pm, whereby large numbers OF
men and women, both young and old are
| compelled 10 stand in crowded cars, lily
ventilated, holding on to straps or each
other to preserve their equilibrium.
Fifth The crowded cars referred to
are what are commonly known as green
cars or Street cars. During the hours
above referred to, and more particularly
in the p. N. hours, numerous large, COM
| modious, elegant, new yellow cars. com
| monty known as Connecticut Avenue cars,
go by half nlled, quarter filled, and
| many times with no passengers, stopping
at the Capitol and returning with about
the same number Of or no passengers
Sixth. Patrons on East Capitol and
adjacent streets on the route of the
road westward to Fifth Street desiring to
arrive at point in Northeast Washing
ton, along the Columbia Road, are not
allowed to ride there except on payment
OF two fares. This is unfair and unjust,
not only to the people OF the first section
referred TO, but also to the people of the
farther northeast and is discrimina-
ton against merchants in both sections.
The owners of real estate on Capitol Hill
are practically debarred from renting to
employees of the Government Printing Of
flee because the said employees cannot
reach Capitol Hill without the payment OF
two fares. This is a discrimination made
by the company against properly owrrrs
and also against merchants OF the eastern
section"
Means Suggested for Relief.
Mr.. Williams suggests the following
means of relief:
First. The cleansing of the interior of
all green cars and the painting and var
nishing Of the exterior of all green cars
Second. The storage of all open green
tIailers from December / until April /.
and the substitution therefor of closed
trailers during that period of each year
The adoption and putting into operation
OF this second suggestion would take time
and would afford no relief this winter.
Some relief can be given the community
by the Traction Company by extending
the run of say onehalf the number of
yellow cars out East Capitol, between the
hours Of 4 and D. m. or later and be
tween Z and a. n.
Third, Delays - breakdowns on the
road occur frequently, causing cars 10
be run into the car barn on Fifteenth
Street, causing delay in starting of cars
from that station. A rule adopted which
will start car from the station at Four
teenth Street on a time schedule irrespec-
tive of arrival of cars in barn will afford
relief at the cast end