Evening star., 1909-05-22
Railway Commission Secretary
Backs Up Noise Kickers.
"PREvENTABLE," HE SAYS
Traction Companies Are Slow in
Making Repairs.
HOW ABOUT THAT PROMISES
Twas for New Tracks on Connecticut
Avenue This Spring-Work
Hasn't Been Started.

Flat wheels, defective tracks and worn
cut or improperly adjusted running gear
appear to eb responsible for the noise
produced by cars on some OF the street
railway lines Of the District, concerning
which a number Of complaints have been
received by the District electric railway
commission. There are complaints made
Of noise by cars on New Jersey avenue.
on North Capitol street and on New York
avenue. The crossings at the intersection
of these two streets are the subject OF
special kicks.
In a report on the investigation of the
cars Of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company, made to the commits
sion at its meeting yesterday afternoon
H. c. Eddy, secretary and executive Of
ficer Of the commission. says:
Perhaps the greatest source Of undue
noise is the rubbing Of the gears on the
gear cases, due to the improper adjust
character of the brakebeam hanger on
many of the cars is such that it neces-
sarily causes considerable noise when the
brakes are applied. The company is now
hanger, which, it is claimed, eliminates
this source Of undue noise.
Can Stop the Racket.
"The recent inspections of the cars, es-
pecially those being operated on the
Georgetown and Mount Pleasant lines,
show that some effort is being made
by the company to eliminate the sources
Of undue noise. One cause of consid-
erable noise is the fact that the covers
on motor cases are left on in many
instances. 1t is claimed by the barn
foremen that this is necessary, in order
to have the motors run sufficiently cool.
In this connection 1 would state, how
ever, that IL the motors are OF proper
design and are properly operated 1t
should not be necessary to have the
THE work Of making these repairs
Is. In my opinion, progressing very much
more slowly than 1t should, even making
all due allowance for the number OF
rush work that the company now has
on hand, incident to the equipment and
placing in operation of a number of new
cars, and have the honor to recommend
that a copy Of this report be sent to
the president OF the Washington Railway
and Electric Company. calling atten-
ton to the conditions existing on his
cars. as mentioned above, and also call
ing attention to the fact that his COM
pany Is liable to prosecution II the
conditions complained Of are not speedily
repaired. or some satisfactory explana-
ton given in writing why such repairs
are not being made more rapidly.
Would Like a Reply.
Attention is respectfully called to the
fact that no reply whatever has been
received to the several commune ations
which have recently been addressed to
the president of the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company, calling at
tention to specific cases Of violations OF
the existing regulations.
In connection with this matter the at
tention Of your commission is respect
1908, received at this office from the presi-
dent Of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company through the interstate
commerce commission, In which he states
that 1t Is our present plan not only to
renew this curve, but all the track down
Connecticut avenue as far as 14th street.
with heavy sixty-foot rail as soon as the
work season opens up in the spring. AL
though the spring Is now far advanced,
nothing in the way OF reconstruction Of
the track on Connecticut avenue has yet
this connection what I stated in a report
submitted some time since in regard to
undue noise complained Of on Connecti-
cut avenue-that the condition Of the
track on this street Is responsible for
much Of the noise complained Of.
Tracks in Bad Shape.
Even If the cars were in perfect con-
dition, they could not be operated at. any
reasonable speed over this track in its
present condition without causing a great
deal OF undue noise