Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-30
Both Types Satisfactory.

Discussing the experiments of the COM
pany with various types of cars Mr..
Hamilton says i'm his letter:
Both the 'pay-within and the pay-as-
you-enter car have given satisfaction,
and their operation has materially lessen
ed accidents, especially those accidents
resulting to passengers in getting or
and on cars
I'VE were impressed, however. with
the advantage of the cars of the pay
within type. first. because of the more
absolute control by the conductor and
motorman over entrance and exit and,
therefore, the added safety to passengers:
second. because the 'pay-within' cars, by
reason of the absence of bulkheads, was
a more comfortable ear for ali-year serv-
ice, and third, because this car, from the
start, has given absolute satisfaction to
our patrons and has been the subject of
their unqualified approval.
AT the time of the purchase of cars
above referred to the difficulty OF oper-
ating the doors of the pay within car by
a mechanical device rather than air pres
sure was an obstacle to their use on
urban lines.
Mechanical Device Adopted.
"A series of experiments, i'm which this
company participated, during the time
that has interviewed since the Chevy
Chase cars were placed i'm operation, has
resulted in the construction by the Pay
within company of a mechanical device
that overcomes the difficulty above re-
ferled to, and permits the operation of
exit and entrance doors by a mechanical
device. hand operated, and which seems
after practical test to be quite as good
as operation by air pressure
Early in May the company ordered
one of its cars to be equipped with the
pay within mechanically operated de-
vice, and on June % this car was placed
i'm operation on the 18th street line. This
car proved satisfactory in operation.
I'm addition to the safety afforded to
passengers by cars of this type, 1t is, in
our opinion, the most comfortable car
for both winter and summer service.
The absence Of bulkheads, the large
of the vestibule will make it practically
an open car. without its dangers and
disadvantages.
THE 80 cars now under order will
cost not less than $65O,O00.
Meeting Created Necessity.
ITO meet the needs created by the
growth of the companys business, and by
reason of extensions on New Jersey ave-
nue. and Florida avenue, and in the east
ern section of the city, including the ap-
proaches to the Union station. the COM
pany has purchased the site and is now
engaged in the erection of a new power
plant on Water street, Georgetown. The
capacity of this plant will be 11.OO0 kilo-
watts, with provisions for increase. and
it's cost, when completed, will be not less
than 100000.
ITO accommodate and house the larger
cars to be provided for the carrying out
of the cOmpany's policy of uniform equip
ment, and also for compliance with the
orders OF the interstate commerce COM
mission. the Navy Yard car barn has been
and materially increased I'm
size. The Georgetown car barn is being
remodeled, and the 7th street barn will be
similarly treated.
THE cost of the reconstruction and
additions to our several barns will cost
not less than 100000. and the Total cost
of cars, power plant and reconstruction Of
barns will be over s1.5OO.OOO This expen-
diture is entered upon to give to the Dis
trict of Columbia good, safe and suffi-
cient service.
Open Car Not Favored.
Regarding the open car, We submit
cause of the necessity for either two
high steps or three steps of lesser
height Two steps are difficult, especially
for women, and the addition of the third
step tends to increase the danger of get
ting off and on.
1.-The company. in order to promote
care and efficiency in the handling OF cars
and to thereby lessen accidents to pas
sengers and the public, has adopted a
merit system, under which its operatives
are classified according to length of
service. and are rewarded substantially
for each year of safe and efficient serv-
icee. For the year ending June 30. 1910.
the company paid out in awards to Its
conductors and motormen SS,S25."