Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-02-03

results. Ar. luOnpsOu saiu Iuhe 'HS
simple fact that six our OF eleven motors
\ being out OF service was sufficient
evidence that something was radically
wrong with the road.
Mr.. Hazleton was recalled and stated
that road in Chicago had recently dis
carded one hundred and sixty motors
that were only about twelve years OF
age he said these motors were OF the
same pattern as some of those owned by
the Noun. Vernon Road be further
stated that the life OF a motor depends
largely upon the service required OF
it, and the care expended upon 1t.
Mr. Netherland was recalled, and
asked what efforts had been put forth by
the Commuters Association to secure
better service by amicable means. He
then reviewed the circumstances leading
up to the last appeal to the Commission
ers. and the organization Of the Com
mulers' Association. He said tie Com
missioners issued an order which the
conpany had obeyed in letter, but not
in spirit. They ran two trailers on
certain trains as fsr as Arlington juno
ton, where the second trailer was cut
off, and the passengers compelled to
crowd into the two forward cars. This
was objected 10, and the third car was
run to the south end of the Long
bridge, where a motor car and crew was
maintained several hours each day for
the purpose of taking of this third car.
This, be said, caused great incouveni-
ence, aud usually made delay of about
ten minutes. Eventually, he said, the
company dropped back to the old order of
things. and the Commissions instructions
we're apparently forgotten. Hehad written
two temperate and courteously worded
letters 10 President King, but he had re-
ceived no reply. The letters, he said,
were written in a spirit Of friendship.
| and were merely for the purpose OF in
ducing Mr.. King to personally investi-
gate conditions with which he did not
believe Mr.. King was familiar. Mr..
NetEerIand said that his several con-
ferences with Mr.. Colvin were amicsble,
and that be had been treated with the
utmost courtesy. Mr.. Colvin had prom
ised TO do everything that was asked, but
the promises were not kept, or at least
only partially.
Mr.. King then took the stand to make
his statement. He said the testimony
brought out showed that the Mt. Vernon
road is superior to the street railways OF
Philadelphia. He said he did not ad-
nit the truth of all of the crimes charged
against the Mount Vernon road and
denied that the management had
been Indifferent to the needs of the
people of Alexandra. He said that
when he took the management of the
road two and half years ago, neither
the stock nor bondholdeu had received
anything, and that il was impossible to get
money for improvements. In about g
year, he said, the company paid a small
dividend, as it was necessary to show
that the property could earn money
before it was possible TO borrow
money for bstterments. Mr. King said
he could name number of roads where
| one-half of the rolling stock has been
out of condition during the past two
months on account OF the weather. He
stated that the building of approaches TO
the new Long bridge, the purchase OF
several new motors, and the snow
sweeper, and the double tracking of the
road from Alexandria to Four-mie run.
and from Arlington Junction TO their
terminal in Washington, would involve
an outlay of aboat 5000, 000 This, he
said was not a small SUN, or one easily
raised, but that he had just completed
negotiations for more than that amount,
and thatth money would be available on
March |. Mr.. King said the people OF
Alexandria are merely asking the electric
road to do what the company proposes
to do. He said the new cars would be
in service within six months, and that
some of the old motor equipment would
be discarded for new. He said the wit
nesses seemed to think that this road Is
about the same as others, and do not
take into consideration the fact that
part of it is overhead trolley and part
underground, and that there is bridge
to cross that necessarily causes some de-
Law He said an electric railway that is
not oyercrowded during certain rush
hours would be but q poor paying invest
ment. Mr.. King denied that tho cars
of the Mount Vernon road are in dan
rerous condition aud said that there we're
fewer accidents in 1904 than in any
previous year. BE then asked the Com
mission to allow the company to carry
! out its plans which will satisfy Alexan-
+ drisns off" he said, "they can be satls'
t fed"
In reply to questions by counsel Mr..
King said his road would soon have six
teen frst class motor equipments, and
that the new cars would be as fine as money
) can buy. In regard to Mr.. Netherlsnd'
: letters, Mr.. King said that 1t did not
seem wise in his judgment to answer
them, as the matter was then in th'
=. hands oil the State Corporation Commits
9 sion. 10 regard to criticisms OF the
/, management of the road, he said this
would be found on any road where an
! association Of commuters concentrates IL
attention on every so-called abuHe. ID
" claimed that bis road has spent as muct
8 money as any other road Of its size To-
d cleaning cars aud that their unclean
a condition was due largely to the tobacc'
habit. Mr. King was questioned a
y some length by Mr.. Harlow, but moth
!; ing of Importance was brought out