The Washington times., 1904-01-05
CITIZENS IN EARNEST
FOR BETTER GAR SERVICE
Business Mems Association
Also Active.
WILL APPEAL TO CONGRESS
Accommodations on Columbia Line
Thought to Be Menace to
Health of Patrons

That no stone will be left unturned
by the Business Mems Association to
obtain better car service Is clearly in
Dictated by the attitude of Louis J. Jack
son. chairman of the committee now
making an investigation of the' condi-
lions
Mr.. Jackson says the crusade will not
cease until something definite has been
gained, and if the companies refuse to
comply with the request of the citizens,
Congress will be asked for remedial leg
islation. The present service he de-
nounces as abominable, and declares it
is almost suicidal 90 ride on the cars.
In no other city of SIMILAR size that
1 know of is the street car service so
inefficient and inadequate as in Wash
ington. The service throughout the city.
with the exception of those lines oper-
ated by the Capital Traction Company,
is abominable. Not only are the cars a
menace TO public health but they seldom
run on schedule time. l have frequently
been compelled to wait ten, fifteen and
twenty minutes for a car.
In Northeast Section.
I'm probably no other part of Wash
ington is the service quite so poor as
in the northeastern part Of the city.
The cars are of the combination va
riety. One-fourth closed and the other
three-fourths open. The closed portion
is poorly ventilated, and it is really
conducive to i'll health to ride inside.
But far more dangerous is 1t to ride
in tho open section In the winter months.
Often have / seen children blue with the
cold while facing the biting winds on a
front seat of one of these combination
cars.
Indeed. only a day or two ago / was
a passenger on the II Street line when l
saw a young woman with a child in her
arms get on and take a seat outside for
the single reason that the inclosed part
was filled to overlooking. It was a fear
fully cold day. 1 even felt the wind
through a heavy overcoat. The young
woman was thinly clad and all during
the ride l could see her shivering.
Pneumonia Results.
"A physician who resides in the North
east told me he had in charge twelve
pneumonia cases which he attributed to
the patients riding in open cars. In
deed. / am beginning TO believe it is al
most suicidal to ride in these cars.
Under the circumstances should not
think it would be necessary for us to
appeal to the car companies for relief.
The patronage of the roads is surely
large enough to warrant the expendi-
ture Of a small sum for cars of a more
modern type. II we find it necessary TO
take our appeal to Congress 1 feel conf
dent, as do otherzs that laws will be en-
acted compelling the companies to pro-
vide the proper service.
with the various citizens associa-
tons helping us, the movement will gain
strength, and there is every reason to
expect excellent results. Demands Of
such "A nature have never been presented
in the past with enough enthusiasm or
vigor. II remains to be seen what will
result from a concerted move"
Interested in Service
E Hilton Jackson. an attorney and
member of the Business Mems Associa-
ton is taking an active interest in the
demand for better suburban car service.
Although not a resident of the suburbs
| or northeastern section OF the city,
where complaint is most general. Mr.
jackson is strongly in favor of an i'm
mediate change
My attention has been particularly
attracted 20 the conditions In North
/ east Washington" said Mr.. Jackson
/ to a Times reporter. 1T often hap
/ pens that L am compelled 10 use the
/ cars passing through that part of the
city. and so L am fairly we'll acquainted
/ with the situation.
ITO travel once on these cars on n
/ cold day or when the weather is other
/ wise unpleasant, is all that Is neces-
/ sary to convince one that an immediate
/ change is needed. The service is a men
ace To the health of those forced to
use the line. in addition 10 its features
Of discomfort and Inconvenience.
Faulty Construction.
THE trouble lies in the construction
] of the cars. which are built on anti
quated lines. one half of the convey
ance is open. and the other half closed.
! II is needless to remark that one-half of
a car like this is not, sufficient 10 carry
| a crowd Of passengers that would fiji a
regular closed car. And yet that is a
/ daily occurrence in Washington in win
/ ter.
Few persons like to ride in "A summer
street car when the temperature is down
/ below the freezing point. But for resi-
dents Of the Northeast it is simply a
question Of walking to their homes or
riding at the risk Of their health.
THE railway company could improve
the service 30 per cent without difficulty
or much expense by simply installing
] similar system on the line as that on
/ Pennsylvania Avenue. F Street. or Con-
necticut Avenue. With regular winter
car and an open II ailer. the patrons of
/ the road could be cared for, nicely. and
danger OF III health from this cause
would cease.
- change Is an imperative necessity.
/ trust the railway company will soon