The San Francisco call., 1906-11-25
BLUE FLAMES FLY
ON LOCAL CARS
Poor Mechanism, Overload
ing and Dead Rails Are
Grave Causes of Danger
NIGHT SERVICE BAD

roads there appeared yesterday new
order OF caution, warning passengers
not TO ride on the steps or guard rails, |
nor TO stand in the doorway or pas
sageways Of the conveyances. But
there was no admonition to the rails
not to grow suddenly dead, to circuits
not TO break, nor to fuse boxes or con-
trollers not 10 blow out with pyro-
technic display and danger to the
travelling public. The car company in
sists on the patrons OF its lines being
prudent and amenable in every re-
spect but there seems to be no reci-
procity on the part OF the United Rail-
roads 10 make travelling safer and
more agreeable for those who pay the
nickels
Tho citizens fated 10 ride on the
streetcars might fisunt in the face OF
the officers OF the company banners de-
claring that no prospective passenger
should be made 10 wait for the next
car nor should be thrown into the
street at a switching point because the
time table OF the line prevents the car
from going TO its proper terminal. A
clause relative TO overhead and under
the-csr fireworks might also be per-
tinent
DEAD RAILS BLAMED
At times one may find a motorman
who can explain why q fuse blows out
or the controller box eXpIodes. but
usually the matter is hidden behind
the vague explanation that something
is wrong-it is hard to tell Just what
il is. one reason given by Mutually and
his men is that dead rails cause breaks
in the circuit and that these lead to
disaster FOR the fuse. A dead rail is
one that has become isolated from its
fellows through the breaking OF the
copper wires by which they are Joined
When the car is on this dead rail there
is not proper escape for the current
which prOpels, the mechanism of the
motor becomes overta Eed and there is
sn explosion, soaring women into
hysteria and tending 10 put the car
out OF commission. Frequently the ap-
psratus OF the car will be out OF or
der and the explosion will occur on
Level stretch, as II by caprice; but most
often the cause OF the report and the
blue fash which lead TO hysteria and
at times TO serious injury TO passen-
gers is traceable TO the excessive strain
on the motors OF the car. due to an
overlooking. The lack OF sufficient cars
10 handle the trafic is responsibIe-is
ct the bottom the cause of all the dis
comfort, accidents and noises like the
crack Of doom or ten-inch guns.
A bulging car viii be grinding and
groaning up grade. with passengers
on the steps like bees at the hive gate
AT sunoown. when there will be a re- |
port blue fire Will spread disbolically
and the car viii stop. The motorman
viii throw the switch above his head
and there viii be internal rumbling Of
the motor machinery but il will not |
move. Then the motormsn and con- /
ouctor viii call a conference and IL
there is an inspector within several |
blocks he will join. They will decide /
that capital operation is necessary.
STREET CAR OPERATION
With determined air they will enterl
the car and rout out the passengers
who are sitting near the door. A probe
viii be inserted into the wicker seat
and IL Will be removed. With the
epidermis laid open the car surgeons
VIII burroW into the inner parts of the
machine. The appendix. in the shape
OF thin wires, viii be removed care
fully, laid 70 one side with certain
rites and mptterings and then other
wires VIII be inserted to patch up the
wound. The wicker epidermis will be
crowded back into place and maybe the
passengers can reseat themselves
After time is allowed the car to re-
cover from the operation it proceeds |
on its Journey.
In the meantime the persons who
were thrown from the car by the force
OF the explosion have been taken to the |
Emergency Hospital. where they are
splinted and bsndsged from head to
toe, as the nature Of their injuries ne.
cCssitates.
That is only when the fuse box
blows out; il is a far more serious all
ment when the controller box explodes
United Railroads men will advise that
when the controller box goes off you
do little side step 20 the right. BY
this YOU can escape all danger. A
u nf Of To-
then, need fear nothing from the blow
ing out Of the apparatus under the
motorman- Most CT the n7otorinen
know when to jump. and those who
were not advised soon learned en-
pirically.
PASSENGERS CANNOT DODGE
But the passengers who are crowded
about the controller have little room to
dodge when the blue fire starts. They
are bsthed In an electric splash-terror
stricken by the fire about their limbs
Through the Providence which protects
the innocent, little physical damage
IS done by the electric flame in itself
but the shock TO nervous persons is
great and serious. This distressing
condition would not be possible il the
United Railroads kept its cars in con-
ditiOn FOR service. When controller
blows up. there is nothing to be done
but 10 tow The car 10 the nearest barn
Its day OF service is over.
There is nothing on the new placard
issued by the United Railroads and
posted conspicuously on its cars to the
effect that the company should operate
sufficient cars at the time people are
going 10 and fro from the theaters and
skating rinks. There is a certain
stated time on certain lines when the
theater traffic is heavy. It is for
short space OF time, but that space the
United Railroads has not bridged with
sufficient cars TO carry the people who
seek pleasure. Every car running be-
tween 1880 and 1880 Is crowded to
the rails with folks who desire to take
recreation in the evening and who have
70 suffer the well-nigh intolerable in
convenience OF the car service to get it.
CHURCH LADIES IN A FARCE