Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-15


lish it's time tables.
Attorney c. ]. Handler, representing
number of those who were injured in the
wreck acted with the committee in pre-
pairing the communication.
An Informal Inquiry.
The tour over the road started at 1880
o'clock from the Virginia side of the Aque-
duct bridge, shortly after the arrival of
Commissioner Stuart, who was delayed in
this city for about half an hour. He was
greeted at the station by Attorneys Mackey
and MonCure, and the other members of the
party. Superintendent Garrett of the rail-
way Immediately ordered special car for
the party. The commissioner sat in the
front seat with Mr.. Garrett and Attorneys
Mackey and Moncure. The was in
charge of Motorman Mortimer, stated to be
one of the oldest and most reliable en-
ployes of the railway, and Conductor Deu-
ternan. At the start Commissioner Stuart
said that the trip was an informal investi-
cation preliminary to any action that may
be taken by the state corporation commits
sion. He also said that it was the duty of
the commission to see that all of the or
ders heretofore given to the railway should
be carried cut to the letter.
AS the party traversed the line of track
between the Aqueduct bridge and the scene
OF the recent wreck, a short distance east
of Clarendon. Messrs. Mackey and Mon
cure set forth to the commissioner what
they believed should be done by the road
1t was argued to the commissioner that the
delays in properly equipping the railway IS
serving as a great destroyer of the values
of property in the section traversed by the
railway. To these arguments Commissioners
Stuart listened attentively and said that he
would require more improvements upon a
road that had a track with many branches
than on straight line.
AS he made this statement Attorney
Mackey. pointing to the brake upon the car
upon which the party was riding, said:
That brake used upon the car which was
wrecked looked to me as though it might
nave been used in the Garden of Eden.
Saw Wrecked Car
When the scene of the recent wreck was
reached the slowed up but did not come
to a complete stop. The exact point where
the wreck occurred and several other Incl
dents relative thereto were explained to
the commissioner. The car barn and repair
shop of the railway was visited after Ball
ston was reached. Mr.. Jacob Gerke, chief
electrician of the railway, greeted the party
as the car pulled into the station and ac
Companied them to the car shop, where the
wrecked car was minutely examined. The
entire front platform Of the car, with the
exception of the roof, was shown to have
been torn away by collision. Commissioner
Stuart well as other members of the
party boarded the car and sat In it for
short time while Attorney Mackey and
Moncure told him that there were at least
eighty-four people upon the car at the time
of the accident, when it has an actual seat
Ing capacity of thirty-four. 1t was ex-
planned that the conductor had rung up
fifty fares.
Superintendent Garrett ard Chief Elec-
trician Gerke were csnecially attentive to
the members OF the party in answering
questions The general impression seemed
to be they We're ioing the best they can
with the equipment they have at hand.
Attorney Moncure also showed Commits
III ~ arfS nf he hrp kan hi cI,
were picked up shortly after the wreck.
The commissioner examined the pieces
carefully and listened with interest when
the attorney declared that the wood was
too rotten to have been used in a car
for traffic purposes.
The party then proceeded to West Falls
Church. where Commissioner Stuart talked
over the telephone to Attorney r. Walton
Moore, representing the railway company,
who was then at his office in Fairfax.
Over the New Route.
The run to Clarendon was then made
At this point the party was transferred
to car of the main line which branches
off at Clarendon from the stem which
leads in to the station at the Auueduct
bridge, and comes to Washington by way
OF the new highway bridge, finally lead
ing into the station at the corner of 18th
street and Pennsylvania avenue north
west. At this point Supt. Garrett and
Chief Electrician Gerke left the party
after wishing Commissioner Stuart and
the other members "A pleasant return trip
During the run to this city the commits
sioner conferred at length with Attorneys
Mackey and Moncure and other members
of the party. He seemed to take a very
deep interest in their arguments, and con-
veyed the impression that he wanted to do
his best to see that every one gets
square deal" At the close of the trip
the commissioner said that he would noti-
fly the lawyers of the railway to appear
before the commission in September. He
then went at once to the New Willard
Hotel where he Is stopping after an
nouncing that he Will return to Virginia
late this afternoon.