Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-22
He LIKES NEW CARS
Secretary Eddy Reports on
"Pay Withins'
ON THE CHEVY CHASE LINE"
But Not So With New One on 14th
Street.
MORE OPEN CARS WANTED
Another Complaint Is That Chevy
Chase Cars Have Too Bright
Headlights.

Complimentary reference to the new
pay within" cars recently Installed OH
the Chevy Chase line and the reverse 10
car numbered 163, now being operated
on the 18th street line by the Captai
Trac tion Company. were the substance OF
two reports submitted to the Dlstricl
electric railway commission by H. Ch1-
ford Eddy its executive ofncer ana secre-
tary, at the meeting of the commission
yesterday afternoon.
Mr. Eddy's report on the pay Wltnln
cars which are now taking care OF the
entire service between Chevy chase lake
and New York avenue and 10Th street
northwest states that the new car is
long step toward increased comfort. con-
venience and safety for those who patron-
ize them
While their makers claim that this type
of car practically eliminates boarding
and alightng accidents Mr.. Eddy states
that in Philadelphia, where about 5UO
of them are operated by the Philadei-
phia Rapid Transit Company the chiei
complaint against them is that women
are afraid of injury in boarding or angn.-
ing from them and he has been m
formed that a few such accidents nave
happened the clothing sometimes being
caught in the folding step.
Are Richly Finished.
The cars operated on the Chevy Chase
line are said to be typical. They are pro-
vided with fourteen transverse and four
short longitudinal seats covered with rat
tan, which give a seating capacity of
forty-four adults Sem1-automatic air
brakes are provided in addition to the
usual handbrakes. Illuminated signs
are provided at both ends and signs not
Illuminated on each side. M. Eddy ex-
presses the hope, however, that the Cap
ital Traction Company will be more lib
eral in allowing the use of the rear exit
than it has been with the PAVE. type
of car.
The new cars are richly finished within
and without the exterior being a dark
olive. The interior is practically one
large room on wheels in which both mo-
torlnan and conductor are sheltered With
the passengers from the weather:
Don't Like These Cars.
OF the new type of car on the 14th
street line in which additional straps are
suspended from a rod located in the CEN
ter of the car. supported by three posts
extending from the car floor to the roof.
Mr.. Eddy says the supporting posts have
been found to be more or less of an OBJ
struction to the passengers, and the
straps themselves hang so low that they
come in contact with the head of a man
or woman nf average height He finds,
however, t,...t standing passengers pre-
fer the center straps and thus save seat
ed passengers from being trampled on,
but regards the equipment Of the car as
an invitation for more "stand-up pas
SengerS.
The new strap arrangement is de-
clared to be an unsuccessful attempt to
improve car which was originally
and is yet most unsatisfactory as far
as standing room and seating arrange
ment are concerned. Mr. Eddy recon-
mends a public hearing relative to the
equipment of the p. A. Y f. cars with
transverse seats. originally placed in
service by the Capital Traction Com
pany.
Complaints Heard.
Several complaints were also consid
cred by the commission. among them
one by a resident of Georgetown as TO
the dangerous operation of the Capital
Traction cars at the terminus in that
section, incivility of conductors and
motormen. too strong headlights on
the Chevy Chase line, the dearth of
open cars in the Mount Pleasant sec
ton in the evening and the failure of
westbound Columbia cars to stop on tn.
west side of 14th street and New York
avenue.
There was also a request from folks
in the northeast district that the tracks
on 4th street between Michigan and
Rhode Island avenues be utilized, which
will receive further consideration by
the commission.