Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-24

although traffic is undoubtedly somewhat
heavier in rainy weather. They show.
however, that in a majority Of cases the
average number of passengers per car
is considerably in excess of the average
seating capacity, and in several cases
the average number of passengers stand
ing was considerably more than could
be comfortably accommodated In the
aisles and on rear platforms Fifty charts
accompanied the report, showing the con-
ditions at congested points on the more
important as well as on some of the minor
lines.
The report states in part as follows:
The result of the investigations shows
that many of the cars. especially on GER
tain lines. are very much crowded dur
ing the rush hours
THE worst instance observed was on
the 9th street line at 9th and G streets
November pa, at 5:27 pm, when a north
bound train. consisting OF closed motor
car seating twentyfOur passengers and
an open trailer seating twenty passen-
gers. carried a load of 124 passengers,
seventy-two being on the motor car and
fifty-two on the trailer. making a total
of eighty passengers in excess of the
seating capacity of the train.
Instances of Big Loads.
Another instance was that of train
on the Metropolitan line at 18th street
town. at 4:J7I. pm, November 49, This
train was of the same type and capacity
as the 9th street train just mentioned and
carried siNty-one passengers on the motor
car and fifty-twO on the trailer. making
an excess of sixty-nine passengers car
ried over the total seating capacity of
the train.
ION the 11th street line at 18th and G
streets nOrthbound car seating thirty
NOVpnhor
''On the LeDrot Park line at 9Th and G
streets. November %, westbound car,
seating twenty-siX passengers, carried
eighty-one.
ION the Columbia railway at 9Th and
Massachusetts avenue car seating thir-
ty-four passengers carried ninety-one.
''On the Pennsylvania avenue line No
vember "a, at the Peace Monument an
sengers. consisting of closed motor seat
ing twenty-fOur passengers and an open
trailer seating forty passengers, carried
lis.
Examples of Extreme Cases.
ION the lie Droit Park line south
bound car at 18th and + streets south
west. November 21. carried eighty pas
sengers. This ear has seating capacity
of twenty-siN passengers
These are some examples of the ex-
IRENE cases of overcrowding, but such
cases apparently are not uncommon. The
observations show that on many of the
lines during the rush hours cars are
frequently operated carrying an excess
OF forty passengers over the seating ca
pacity. The rear platforms are frequent
~, 1 may say usually, crowded during
the rush hours, and the front platforms
are often used to accommodate passen-
gers, the steps and running boards being
also often occupied to their fullest
paclty. 1t is not an uncommon sight to
see several passengers standing on the
rear bumper and fender of a car. and in
one instance last summer I saw two men
standing on the front bumper"
Data Not Absolutely Accurate.
While Mr.. Eddy does not claim that the
data submitted is absolutely accurate, be-
cause of the difficulty of counting the
exact number of passengers on crowded
car during the short interval of a stop at
a given point. he inclines to the belief
that the actual number of passengers car
ried on the more crowded cars is rather
more than less than the figures indicate.
Mr.. Eddy Is convinced that more cars
are needed during the rush hours. He
has observed. too. the tendency of the
car that comes along. however full it may
be. although another, possibly almost
empty, may he just behind it. He OBJ
serves. however, that this condition of af-
IalfS Is uue III part 10 the running VI
cars at irregular intervals. which was
found to be the case on several linesA
Comparison Is Favorable.
Although correspondence with the NUM-
cipal authorities of other cities and In
formation obtained through the State De-
partment from conSulS abroad indicate
that the overcrowded car problem Is still
being wrestled with wherever street cars
are found. yet some progress has been
made, says Mr.. Eddy. notably In Paris,
where the number of passengers that may
be carried is limited by municipal reguia-
ton.
The report concludes by stating while
in my opinion the conditions regarding
the crowding of cars in the District OF
Columbia are, to say the least, very uli-
satisfactory and should be remedied. yet,
as far as l have been able to learn ana
observe. they compare favorabiy win slhi-
liar conditions in many other cities.