The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-11
LIMITS SIZE OF CAR
Large Automobiles Barred
by Rock Creek Engineer.
MAY CAUSE DELAY IN PLANS
L. Il. GrabilI Recommends to Com
missiOners that Vehicles for Pro
posed Bus Line Seat Not More
Than Twelve Persons-Says Road
ways Are Too Narrow.

That there viii be a bus line running
through Rock Creek Park in the near
future is assured; but whether only thc
smal-sized cars viii be used. or the
standard type Of sightseeing cars. Is a
question which the District Commits
sioners and the board of control VIII
jointly determine
Opposition 70 the large cars has been
voiced by L. r. GrabH, assistant engi-
neer in charge of the park. and he
recommends that no permit be granted
for machines OF this style. The plan OF
the auto company, which made appHca-
ton some days ago TO operate a line OF
Rock Creek cars. included the large cars.
I heartily approve the movement TO
enable the public 70 reach the entrance
by car line, which is. after all. the way
which will benefit most people" says one
writer to Mr.. Grabiu, thus giving APP
proval TO the campaign which The Wash
iugton Herald has inaugurated.
Many OverhnngIng Trees.
A car seating twelve passengers.
about twelve feet long, appears To be
the only one suitable for use on the
driveways OF the park. The large cars.
on account Of their great width, length.
and height. are not adapted for use on
these roads, which are in places less than
sixteen feet in available width. with over
hanging trees. which would have to be
trimmed 10 allow passageway for
vehicles OF such height. Some OF the
curves of the roadway are too short 20
permit of the convenient turning Of large
vehicles. The most serious objection.
however, is that large vehicles approach
ing on a narrow roadway. would brighten
horses, and endanger drivers and pedes-
trians
The use Of such cars is practicable
in Fairmount and Central parks because
OF the great width of the driveways of
these parks. 1t is not thought desirable
TO increase the width of the roads in
Rock Creek Park. both on account of
the considerable expense Of such in
crease and because It Is desired to in
every way preserve the rustic features
OF the landscape without introducing any
artificial feature. such as a wide ex-
panse Of roadway should present
II have the honor. therefore. 10 recon-
mend that the permit be granted to al
low the use Of vehicles OF a size and
weight not exceeding that Of twelve
passenger cars herein described. and that
the present regulation be changed TO per-
NIT the use Of such cars"
swell Bus Sufficient.
Those who have advocated tie bus lire
have not assumed that the use of the
larger type Of car. seating nearly forty
people, would in any way entail a WIDEN
lng Of roadways, or trimming Of trees.
as is predicted by Engineer Grabm. For
the present, at least. the small bus would
be sufficient for the purposes Of an ex-
pertinent.
AS a short cut 10 popularizng the park.
the bus line would prove effective. and
while not believed to be more than a
temporary measure in lieu of more ade-
Quate transportation lines, it would I'M
doubtedly be widely patronized by the
people.
Whether the company which first pro-
posed the bus line would be willing 10
abandon the large car project and oper-
ate the smaller cars is IN doubt. The
firm recently purchased six additional
large cars from a Philadelphia concern
which utilized them in Paramount Park
AT any rate, restrictions on the type Of
bus may temporarily DELAY the plan