Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-04-12

resehtative Holstein chairman, held
an Interesting session in the outer Of
flee of the Superintendent of Public
Works in the Capitol last night, listen.
ing to what representatives Of the pub
lie had to say in reference to Rep. Co
elho's bill providing for air.brakes and
speed indicators on the cars OF the Ho- ,
nolulu Rapid Transit Company, this
bill having been referred to the Po- /,
lice Committee for consideration.
George Markham and c. d. Pringle,
the latter having been a conductor on
the local transit cars for a couple OF
years, not at the present time being In
the employ Of the company, appeared
before the committee to express their
views, being closely questioned by
members Of the committee. The bur
den of what these gentlemen had to
say was that all the cars Of the local
system should be equipped with up.to-
date air.brakes. pneumatic sanders.
and speed indicators: that the old
fashioned hand.brakes now In use
were dangerous, not to be relied upon.
incapable Of controlling cars Is an
emergency. and altogether out Of date.
Pringle's answers to questions. put
chiefly by Rep. Cox, were somewhat
sensational. He stated that to his per
sonal knowledge cars known to be out
of order as far as their brakes were
concerned were allowed to be run out
without repairs. He had witnessed &C.
cidents, he said. which were caused
by the inability OF the old.fashioned
hand.brakes to control the momentum
of the car in an emergency.
Markham addressed the committee
at length. frequently referring to a
copy of the Street Railway Journal.
which contained articles and illustra.
tons having to do with air.brakes,
sanders, etc. in use In Chicago. Phila'
delphia. and San Francisco.
Markham praised the efficiency OF
the air.brake and stated that this
brake was the only thing that could
be depended upon to absolutely CON
troll cars. He seemed to know a great
deal about railroading for layman
and his enthusiasm for the air.brake
led the members OF the committee to
ask him as to the cost of the appli-
ance. In this connection, however,
Markham said he was entirely ignor-
ant. IL know nothing OF the cost"
said he; AL know about It is the
use OF the brakes and their efficiency.
And air.brake should be on every car
of the Rapid Transit system, here. II
| To fnr
troll his car with the present old.fash
Toned hand.brakes. The cars cannot
be brought to q quick stop In case OF
emergency. I have seen cars slide
: across the street when they should
have been stopped at the corner
When the weather is damp the sand
in the sand.boxes at present used gets
wet and refuses to fall on the track
. With the air.brake the pneumatic san
der Is used, the air forcing the sand
on the track and insuring effective op
Grafton in case The tracks are slippery
The air-brake 10 applied gradually, not
all at once. OF course. II the air-braks
was applied suddenly the passengers
would be thrown from their seats. but
this is not necessary. There Is no mar
living who can apply the same power
to stop the wheels that can be applied
the air-brake. have no axe 70 grind
have no grudge against any member
of the company. nor against any EN-
ploye: ! am simply here as a repre-
sentative of the people. We have the
lives of people to consider; we must
consider the safety of the public and
human lives are more precious thar
gold You all remember the horrible
incident of a car running into hearst
and spilling out the dead body after
breaking open the coffin. You gentle
men of the committee. l know, will dc
your duty, and may God bless YOU"
Markham went on to talk Of the
method of handling an air.brake and
to describe the operation OF a speed
Indicator and sander. He then in
troduced Mr.. Pringle.
Said Pringle: 1.-THE air.brakes now
In use in Chicago. San Francisco, and
Philadelphia are not emergency at
fairs; they are used all the time to the
exclusion of other brakes; they are
used In starting and stopping the cars
for ordinary operation as well as fol
emergency, proving effective always
in an emergency. No; never heard
OF a case where the air-brake refused
to work.
"The air-brake is operated on grad
uated scale; there Is no sudden stop
It is impossible to stop car all at
once; no man is going to stop car
SO suddenly as to injure passengers
for then he would have damages on
the inside while seeking to avoid dam
ages on the outside of the car With
an air-brake a man has absolute con
troll Of his car"
Rep. CoX:-"Do you know of any
cases here where the local cars refus
ed to respond to the hand brake al
present in user"
81 have been on cars here. time and
time again when thew would not re