The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-01


oeeh more pronounced than at present
Cltlzens associations throughout the
city and outlying precincts have made
vigorous protests to the traction COM
panies; the Business Mems Association
mas put itself on record as dissatisfied
with the service, and now Congress will
De asked TO provide remedy Indig-
nation Is expressed in no uncertain
1erIns oy those who are compelled to
patronlZe the roads.
Mr.. GUIDE Severe.
William F. GUIDE. a member Of the
committee appointed to make an exami-
nation Of the matter and report to Con-
gress. has the following to say on the
subject:
1t would scarcely be going too far
to prefer charge of manslaughter
against the railway companies that
control the suburban lines In no other
cCnlnunity that | know would the con-
ultlons that prevail I'm the District be
Tolerated 1t is outrageous aDpalling
dnisgraeeful, and a blot on the National
Il know nothing of the troubles that
oeset the car-riding public of the north
eastern part Of the city. nor of any
other section Of Washington. except Pet
worth. Brightwood, and Takoma. For
nve years have been a resident of Pet
worth. and all that time the railway
NOlhpdlS mas promised to do some
thing, but what has been done in
reality is not perceptible to the naked
eye.
A Transfer Station"
ITO begin at the beginning. the Ia
koma line starts at Florida and Bright
wood Avenues. There a wooden shed
was erected long time ago to serve
as transfer station and waiting place
Tor the patrons Of the line. The shed
Is a tiny structure, not inclosed. and
affords no protection from the clements
in cold weather the waiting passenger
freeze; in rainy weather they are
drenched. and when the temperature is
high they roast.
Just fancy such a picture as sixty or
more shiyering suburbanites huddled in
that station on a cold, dreary night
Eve Eve minutes pass, ten minutes go by.
nfteen. and still they wait and freeze
Finally the long expected conveyance
does appear, and through it's doors pour
the passengers. Then comes the agony
OF crowding over the platform and ind
ing a seat
THAT Is the sight I saw several nights
ago The picture is not exaggerated. One
hundred and seventeen persons on that
car Think OF it, Is not that enough to
try our patience?
Forced to Walk.
Indeed, IL is a common thing to see
l>G persons waiting iOr a car. and even
that figure does not include those who
have given up all hope of riding. and
taken to walking to and from their
country homes as a regular thing Puf
OF course. you know x - much chear,er
for II railway company TO employ one
mOtorman and one conductor and use
one car 10 carry more than 100 persons
than Il would be TO double the facilities
Il have travelled in many places but
never have l seen or heard Of such car
service in any other place The citizens
elsewhere would not submit 10 II"
Pneumonia's Habitat.
Fred c. Coldren. also a member Of the
committee. said:
There seems to BE- perfectly good
ground for the objections raised by the
citizens on and near the Columbia or
n street line as TO the car service fur
nlshed them. The half-open ears run
on mat line have but little space for
passengers in the closed portion and
women and children. as well as men
are constantly obliged to ride in the
open portion. or walk 10 some other car
The worse the weather. of course
the more crowded is the condition of
all cars one physician in the north
one day visited six patients suffering
with pneumonia. every case Of which
he ascribed to exposure on those cars.
ne condition at the south end Of
boundary. has. Of course. been observed
by every one Of US that ever has oc-
CASTOR TO use the line There is abso-
lutely no protection from the weather
although manifestly a small expendi-
ture on the part of the railroad COM
pany would furnish protection from at
least the worst conditions
1t would seem probable that the rail
road company could well afford to fur
hsh tirst-class accommodations. not
only at this point but at other points
Where transfers are necessary. At this
PLACE. where long waits are unavoid-
able under the present schedules, there
Is absolute need Of protection in bad
weather.
From Business Standpoint.
1T seems to be the universal testi-
mony of those using the Tenleytown
line that the schedule hv no means