The Washington times., 1905-11-12
PROTEST
AGAINST CAR NOISE
Residents Along MetrOpOli-
tan Line Complain.
SECOND OBJECTION FILED
Letter Accompanying Formal Comp amt
Calls for investigation by Artho-i-
ties-May Go TO Congress.

Wcli-known residents cf Seventeenth
street northwest have flied with the
District Commissioners a second com
PLANT against the so-called ..intoler-
able noise made By the cars of the
Metropolitan railroad in their passage
along Seventeenth street north Of H
street northwest Tie complaint -
signed by II. G. Yarrow. IL D.. Of -
Seventeenth street; Vescott & story.
Of sic Seventeenth street, r. Il. Collins.
OF 81 Seventeenth street. Clifford NJ
Lewis proprietor Richmond Hotel. cor
ner Seventeenth and II streets. I. y.
Mcclure Of 1879 Connecticut avenue
and T. Clarence r. DIX. of SEQ Seven
teenth street.
1t declares that more than half :
ars appear to have fiat wheels or lOez-,
M rafting running gear, ard, con-
These defects and the high rate o.
pCed at which the ears a-e rushed
OWE the hill create an ear-splItting
an. and clouds OF dust which are most
Objectionable and unnecessary.
Accompanying the formal complaint
vas a letter from Nathaniel Wilson, eX-
.!aining the grievances of the protest.
-ng citizens II is understood the mat
Ter may be carried 10 Congress The
ext OF Mr.. Wilson's letter follows.
Mr.. Wilson's Letter.
ITO the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia:
Some time ago 1 placed in your
hands paper prepared by a number
of househoiders on Seventeenth street
northwest, Directing 10 the noise and
dust made by the cars of the Metro
politan railroad In their movements
north Of II street northwest
u now iIiclose another paper of like
character, signed by other residents on
Seventeenth street. and also an afr
davit as to the condition OF the track
on Seventeenth street and Of the cars
that run on that route
ION behalf of myself AID many
Others I respectfully request that you
designate some competent person ether
an employee Of the District governmenL
CT some other person, TO examine and
report on the condition OF the tracks
and rails on n street, SeVeateepl-l
street and Connecticut avenue. and OF
the cars and of the equipment OF the
cars.
such an examination and report viii
certainly make it known 10 you.
Il That the tracks and the space De
tween the tracks arc two feet beyond
the exterior tracks are not IN scod
condition as required by law. but are
broken and uneven and in very bad con-
, dition.
many OF them are loose and badly worn
% That the cars. particularly the
larger ones that at one time were taken
! OF the road in obedience 10 pune oo-
I lection and request, but were quickly put
/ back are Of light and poor construction.
- That the running gear, the brakes.
/ the piniOn wheels. the wheel guards ana
chuck plates OF the cars are worn and
! loose and greatly out OF repair
Disturbance Day and Night
-. That the rapid movement of the
cars causes such a pounding and rat
Ting. and such buzzing and roaring
noises as to cause a constant and serious
disturbance by day, and especially by
night.
smooth and slippery rails TO facilitafe
/ the movement OF cars that are too light
and too poorly constructed 10 be other
wise run.
! =. That the cars are run at an ex-
/ cessive and unlawful rate OF speed, par
/ ticularly about midnight and early in
g. That the excessive high rate Of
/ speed at which the cars are run in
/ creases the noise thereby made TO an
] uncomfortable extent. and creates clouds
/ of dust. which not only destroy the
/ comfort. but menace and injuriOusly
/ affect the health of those living along
/ the line of the road.
1T Is believed that in no important
city in this country or in Europe are
/ cars so I'll constructed and noisy allow
/ ed TO run on tracks in such bad and
broken condition
] IF the report of the person select
( ed by you shows these complaints 10
be well founded, I beg to be informed
I control of the Commissioners under eX-
/ listing laws and also what remedy is
/ open to those who are sufferers from
/ the causes herein mentioned
/ Respectfully. your ObedienU servant
NATHANIEL WILSON,"