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

Pratt of the bureau OF LutoihViv 'cci IS
n Kncker. clerk Of the courts Of Alexandra
ean.'tv. Prank @. Grimes: w. T. wilkins. 8
elerk for the Southern Railway; George Har-
low employed in the Agricultural Depart.
,nent: Miss Ada thomas. Miss Lucy ~
Graves. a photographer in the National Mu.
scum: Miss Fanny Herbert, a. clerk in the
United States Land Office; Mrs NJ. r. Evans,
employed in the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing; Robert B. Marshall. assistant to
the auditor of the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal Company; Harry White, clerk; Miss
Lucy g. Watkins, clerk in the Treasury
Department; Frank d. Pollard. q clerk In
the Southern Railway office; E. Walton, who
lives near Mount Vernon, and is in business
in this city.
The commissioners last night we're given =
public illustration of the Inconvenience oc-
casioned by travel ON the electric railway.
After adjournment yesterday evening they
took the $50 train for Washington and upon
reaching the foot of Fourteenth street the
train refused TO 20 f. rther and the ofnciels OF
the railway quickly came to the rescue by Sc
curing vehicles and conveying me comInis-
sionsrs TO their hotel.
After the Gszette's report of the pro-
ceedipgs of the Stete Corporation C)m-
mission closed yesterday afternoon it
was determined to dispense with the
evening session, which was a distinct
disappointment to large numbers OF
commuters who were unable to be present
dnring the day. Scores Of them assembled
Mt the court room between and 8
O'Clock, only to fin tbed doors closed.
During the latter part of the afternoon
session numbers of witnesses were put on
the stand, aud while several of them read
from copious notes their testimony was
largely along the lines Of those who had
preceded them.
One incident which was indicative Of
the feeling OF the people occurred when
Judge Crump called Mr.. A. 9. Uhler
hack TO the stand aud asked several
questions about the service since Mr..
Ubler appeared before the commission
in Richmond about q year ago, and Mr..
Uhler said there had been no improve
ment and no new rolling stock had been
purchased Ia that time; he would judge
the service was even less satisfactory, as
the cars must have detefiorated. Judge
Crump asked Mr. Uhler if he could sug'
gest a remedy and the reply, "Entire new
rolling stock and an expert railroad
man TO manage the road" caused the
spectators to break into applause. Mr..
Collins, an employe iu the navy yard,
was called to the stand to testify as to
the crowding OF cars before a. m, and
the commission then adjourned until
1890 o. CLOCK this morning.
Before the adjournment until this
morning Mr.. Boothe stated that the pros
ecutien would I ut two expert electricians
on the stand and that he also wanted to
nut on six witnesses who would testify
that they had been compelled to move
from Alexandria on account OF the poor
service given by the electric road. Mr..
Moore stated that he would admit this
without consuming the time necessary to
hear the witnesses.
During the afternoon session Mr..
Moore objected to references to excessive
rates aud disorderly conduct on the
Mount Vernon end of the line, claiming
that these matters were not within the
scope Of this investigation.
When the commission was called to
order by Judge Crump shortly before IL
o'clock this morning, j. Hugh Hazelton,
an electrical engineer in the employ OF
the Manhattan Elevated Railway Com
pany. took thestand. Mr.. Hazelton ties.
tilted that he had visited the power house
and shops of the Mount Vernon Com
pany. and had made an examination oi
its rolling stock aud road bed. In reply
to questions propounded by Mr.. Boothe
and Mr.. Harlow, he said that the power
house il we'll designed and the engines
and generators 10 very good condition
that there is no lack of power and No
doubt that it is amply sufficient to heat
all of the cars of the company il proneI
apparatus we're installed in the cars. he
said the bodies Of the cars, and partlc-
ularly the motors, werein bad shape ant
showed that they had been racked by long
and hard service, and that apparently no
efFort had been made to keep then
in repair. Mr.. HaZslton then aitei
stating that he found in the repair shoE
6ny per cent of the company's motors
out of service and undergoing repairs
wen, iuto a detailed description OF thu
different styles of motors aud othe
machinery used by electric railways
He said this road should have at leas
eight new and up.to date motor cars
with four fifty horse power motor II
each. He said the present two-moto
cars could be repaired and run withou
trailers. Mr.. Hazleton also said tina
this il the only electric road that h
knows of that is located in section
where there is apt to be snow that ha
practically no provision for clearin
snow from the tracks. de said Mr.
Colyin had told him that a rotar.
sweeper had been ordered, but that
was obvious that it should be here nov
In regard to the roadway, he said to
Joints are rough, making riding uncoT
Portable, but that the rails are IN goo
condition. He said that the whirlin
noise mentioned By witnesses was cause
by WORKOUT trolley wheels, a matte
easily remedied. Mr.. Hazleton made
number of recommendations, and state
that their adoption would not involve
very great outlay of money
Judge Crump asked him the cost {
motor cars such as he had msntione'
He replied that the superintendent hs
; told him that they cost IS, 700 each.
Counsel for the prosecution asked Nj
/, Hazleton if their requests were unreasol
II. - y;.w of fhe annual statemen