The Washington herald., 1909-02-04
AIR BRAKES ASKED
ON TRACTION LINES
Railway Commission Order
Not Yet Complied With.
MAY ACT AGAINST COMPANIES
Interstate Commerce Commission
May Take Drastic Action to Con.-
pei Local Traction Corporations to
Garry Out It's Order-HPay as YOu
Enter Cars 10 Be Installed.

So far as Is known, the electric railways
Of the District. with two exceptions. have
not compiled with the order from the IN
terstate Commerce Commission requiring
cars operated IN the District to be equip
ped with air brakes.
On recommendation OF the District rail-
way commission. the Interstate Com
merce Commission last November passed
a resolution requiring that all double
track suburban cars in operation after the
hrst day Of the present year should be
fitted with air brakes.
The order OF the Commerce Commission
was far-reaching, and included every line
Ia the District, but 50 far the order has
been ignored BY some OF the companies.
What they viii DO Is not known at this
time. but Z is likely that drastic measures
viii be recommended 10 compel the COM
panies 70 recognize ard carry out the Or
der OF the commission
Point 10 Other Cities.
In their recommendation for air brakes
for all cars IN the District. the railway
commission stated last fall that there
were but few cities in the country whose
cars were not operated with air BRAKES.
and that cars so equipped required less
power 20 stop than those without them.
ana lessened the danger to life and prop
erty.
The Capital Traction Company win in
the near future replace the present equip
uient OF It's cars operating on the Chevy
Chase line with new cars fitted with air
brakes. The Rockville line OF the Wash
ington Railway and Electric have decided
TO carry out the order OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission by equipplng ali
cars with the kind Of brakes called for.
A novelty IN Washington which wiz
soon be introduced BY the Brightwood
line OF electric railway VIII be the pay
as-you-enter cars"
This type OF car has long been II
operation in many OF the largest cities
Of the country. and has worked TO ad-
vantage for both the public and the CON-
pzniss-
Another matter brought before the com
mission was the eqUipping cf street cars
with double steps or running boards.
Another Order Ignored.
Double board or two steps were long
ago recommended 20 the railway CON-
panies. but no action was taken By them.
In his report the secretary OF the com
mission said that ne old not deem Il ad-
visabie that the Fourteenth street Inc
should be equipped with Two runniRgs
boards. but that sI the other lines
should
The secretary stated that the service
over the KenilwOTth line and connections
was excellent. and that recent complaints
70 the contrary were not sUbstantiated
by personal observation
Letters were read from the Great FAILS
and Old Domirion line. ststing that OH
GERS Of the company had investigated the
alleged overcrowding OF rars. and that
no such condition existed. One OF The
letters said II % Der cent Of the
passengers road on the platforms 10
enjoy their cigars
An important letter was read from the
Bennlng Citizens Association. complain
s8ng OF the darkness OF stations in the
suburban part OF the town. They asked
for q conference with the commission 70
better explain the matter.