Evening star., 1904-03-11
COMMUTERS WIN FIGHT
ORDER FOR INCREASED FAcILI-
TIES ON ELECTRIC RAILWAY.
Complaint Filed Against W., A. and
Mt. Vernon Company Approved
by State Commission.

The fight by the commuters Of the Wash
ington, Alexandria and Mt. Vernon rail-
way who daily come from Alexandria to
this city to their work. inaugurated re-
Gently against the company named before
the railway commission Of Virginia, mas
been successful in all the essential points
The commuters contended that during the
rush hours Of the day. both morning and
evening, the accommodations offered by the
railway company were entirely inadequate,
and that the cars were often crowded be-
yond the safety stage.
These contentious were presented to the
commission at hearing in Richmond about
three weeks ago by Mr.. A. @. Uhler OF
Alexandria. and Superintendent Colvin and
Mr.. r. Walton Moore, the attorney Tor the
railway company, looked after the interests
of the company Mr.. Uhler presented facts
and figures bearing out the statements as
to the crowding of the cars. and the rail-
ways representatives contended that the
rules governing steam railways could not
apply to them, as the Washington, Alexan-
dria and Mt. Vernon cars were operated on
the street railway system The commas
sion. however. decided against the com
pany, and has issued an order requiring
additional facilities for travel between 6:l0
and $50 In. and 4:30 and $50 pm.
Text of the Decision.
The decision, which bears date Of March
2, is as follows:
"The commission having carefully con-
sidered all the evidence adduced upon the
hearing of this proceeding. is OF the opln-
ion that it has been clearly established
that the Washington, Alexandria and MT.
Vernon Railway Company Is not 1urnlsn-
ing along the line of it's route from the
Potomac river to Alexandria service ade-
quate and sufficient to accommodate pas
sengers travelling or offering to travel over
it's route. and it appearing from the evil
dence that there Is special necessity 1or
greater accommodation for the public
leaving Alexandria in the morning between
the hours of 6:15 and $50 o'clock, 1nclus-
i've, and leaving the city of Washington in
the evening for carriage over the line or
the Washington Alexandria and Mt Yer
non railway in the state of virginia pe-
tween the hours of 4:30 and $50 O'Clock,
inclusive:
''It is ordered. That the said defendant
railway, within ten days from the ruling
of this order. do increase their carrying
capacity between the points named ana
within the hours mentioned THESE IN
creased facilities shall be provided in any
one of three ways below mentioned, or by
a combination thereof:
'That is to say. the scheduled north
bound morning trains from Alexandria be-
tween the hours of 615 and $50 and the
scheduled southbound evening trains from
the Potomac bridge between the hours Of
4:3O and $50 may be.
First Increased in number to the eX-
tent of not less than four. to be operated
on a new and independent schedule, or,
Second. Not less than four of such
trains shall be operated in double sections
On existing schedule. or,
Third Not less than four of such trains
shall carry two trailers.
''It is further ordered that within ten
days from the ruling of this order the rail-
way company report to this commission
the manner and means provided by it for
putting the requirements of this order into
effect"
Takes Effect Tomorrow.
Under this decision the railway company
will have to put on its extra cars or trains
tomorrow. The commuters of Alexandria
are greatly pleased over the decision. OF
course, the ruling of the Virginia authori-
ties is only effective south of the Long
bridge.
A failure on the part Of the railway
authorities to obey the mandates of the
commission incurs penalties of fine and