Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-13
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
RICHMOND, Va, July 13.-The state cor
poration commission this afternoon as
sured r. C. L. Moncure and a committee
Of citizens from Alexandria and Fairfax
counties that one or more members of the
commission would be in Rosslyn Monday
morning at 8 o'clock to investigate the
operating system Of the Washington, Ar
lington and Falls Church railroad.
The committee arrived here this morning
and arranged for a conference with the
commission. The complaints Of the pa
irons of the road against the facilities Of
fered them for travel and the alleged loose
methods of operating the lines were duly
set forth, and the necessity for an early
inquiry urged. The committee was salts
fed with the assurance that the investiga-
ton will begin at once.
Stringent orders for the regulation of the
Washington, Arlington and Falls Church
railway have been issued by the Virginia
corporation commission as a direct result
Of the accident July g. when one life was
lost and many others were endangered
1t is ordered that the road maintain an
independent system Of telephones, estab-
fishing communication at all times when
trains are running, between the dispatchers
or operators office and tho various stops on
the road, the telephones to be accessible at
all times to all employees of the road
dispatcher's office must also be maintained
and be at all times in charge of a compe-
tent man.
Train orders are to be framed and issued
much in the manner practiced on steam
roads, orders to conductors to be made in
writing or telephoned, and signed by them
when read and undQrStOOd
must write their orders in book provided
for the purpose, which the dispatcher must
also do, and conductors must repeat each
order to the dispatcher before signing it,
and then require the motorman to read it
and sign.
Must Keep Records
Dispatchers must keep daily record
sheets of train movements, showing the
time each train passes reporting stations,
with notes Of delays and changes of trains
that do not make the schedule. Conductors
must report by telephone to the dispatcher
the time of arrival and departure at GER
tain specified stations.
Sufficient power must be provided to
maintain the schedule not only between
terminals, but also between intermediate
points, and there must be sufficient cars at
terminals to take care of traffic without
croWdtng passengers.
No work or freight trains may be run as
sections OF passenger trains, and such trains
shall not leave reporting stations without
orders from the dispatcher. Trainmen on
such trains must be informed Of the sahed-
ules Of all other trains operated and must
keep out Of the way of passenger trains
and clear the tracks for them at least five
minutes ahead Of their schedule time.
Flags by day and lights by night must be
carried as signals by all trains run in Sec
lions.
The order virtually places the railway I'M
der the direct control of the commission,
since 1t Is ordered that the proceedings be
kept the docket Of the commission,
that future orders may be entered and fur
Their requirements made without additional
notice to the company.
Committee Is Active.
In spite of these drastic orders Of the
commission a committee Of six from the
citizens associations of Falls Church, Ball
ston and Clarendon. with Attorney r. c. L.
Moncure chairman, went to Richmond
this morning to present to the board the
grievances of the patrons of the railway
The impression prevailed that the action of
the commission intended to forestall
the formal complaint but the committee
was determined to have the matter threshed
out thoroughly once for all, and was to APP
pear before the commission this afternoon.
Besides the three organizations mentioned,
the Commuters Association of the WASH
ington, Arlington and Falls Church Railway,
organized at Falls Church last night,
also represented by the delegation which
went TO HlCnmOnO. Ills OISdHlZdtlOil was
effected at Masonic Hall, which was crowd
ed with interested citizens. many Of whom
spoke forciby Of the management of the
railway. The meeting was called to order
by Pickering Dodge, while H. A. Fellows
and Charles A. Stewart were elected chair
man and secretary, respectively.
Through J. w. Garner the railway an
nounced that it was preparing to install a
signal and telephone system, with other
improvements tending to reduce danger. r.
G. L. Moncure who was peoples attorney
at the inquiry into the accident. said that
condescended to respond to a popular de-
mand, and that the people were tired Of be-
ing classed as human freight and had
reached the end Of their patience
Other speakers were Charles Henderson
a passenger on the wrecked car; Robinson
Loving, DR.. T. C.. Quick, H. G. Hopkins
Jeremiah Connolly, NJ E Church. Thomas
A. Hodgson and Frank Lyons.
Requests presented by the committee to
the state commission at Richmond today
will include demands for emergency brakes
adequate power, signal system, undecayed
cars proper schedule sufficient accommo-
dations, reduction of rates and double tracks
from West Falls Church to Washington.
Vice President and General Manager Hub
Church railway SAID this afternoon that all
he knew. about the report of the Virginia
corporation commission with regard to
forms on his line he had learned from the
newspapers, and that he had received no
official information. He declined to further
discuss the matter.
Mr.. Mackey's Observations.
Crandal Mackey, commonwealth attorney
of Alexandria county, Va, says the people
are determined that they will have better
service on the road and also that 1t
will be given without endangering the lives
of the patrons of the road. This morning
he sent dispatch to the members of the
corporation commission at Richmond In
which he stated: Situation on Falls Church
railway intolerable Cars overloaded twice