The Washington times., 1910-09-24
MORE HIGH-HANDED STREET
CAR TACTICS


tic Company doesn't propose to be
led away from the straight and mar
row path of selfshness by any such
little thing as public sentiment No
indeed! It's still IN business for some
thing not exactly akin to health Wit
ness its new, PAVE cars. Over the
protests OF thousands of its patrons,
1t IS installing a type of car that Is
about as uncomfortable as any which
the brain Of the car-builder could con
ceive.
What the Washington Railway and
Electric Company Is after is profits
1t seemingly needs the money, has
the power to get the money, and Is
going to proceed to collect Public
protest has about as much effect on
its managers as an stomizer spray
on an Oregon forest fire. Why should
they bow to the wishes Of the people 3
They don't have to! It would be ab-
surd for them 10 consider anything
but the economy and convenience Of
the company. The people have to
ride anyway. so what's the odds2
And what Is the cOmpany's explana-
tion of the discomfort its new cs-s
heap upon the travelling public? Sure
", It must have a reason, OF, at least,
an excuse. Yes, It has, and it is the
eutest little reason you ever heard
List
The longitudinal seats are necessary
on lines where frequent stops are
made to let passengers on and of;
short trip" lines, the company calls
them; lines on which passengers ride
but short distances. Cross seats are
fine for suburban cars, but they'll
never. never, never do for city cars,
They cause so much delay to passen-
gers getting on and of that patrons
complain of the time consumed IN
reaching their destinations
Isn't that cute, though? Doesn't it
lust naturally convulse one with
laughter at its very cunningness?
Could a better argument be present
edg Is there anywhere, IN the realm
Of reason, an answer to it2
Be not deceived There IS The
answer exists. It Is big, and sturdy,
and complete It lives IL St. Louis,
in New York city. IN Philadelphia, in
Detroit. in Baltimore, in Chicago, IN
New Orleans in Kansas City, and in
practically every other large city in
the country.
in the cities enumerated cross sea-
cars are used, on short trip" lines,
in the downtown districts, where traf-
fic Is heaviest, where stops are most
frequent. They are successfully used.
and they are rapidly becoming the
standard street car. They are being
used In greater numbers every month,
Incidentally, most of the cities
mentioned have obtained the cross
seat cars only after much protest by
the traction companies. The same ex-
cuses were offered that are now Of
fered here. Oh, no, the cross seats
are impossible, The company could
not handle the crowds on such cars;
vet the cars have been installed and
the crowds are being handled, not
quite as cheaPly or as conveniently
for the companies, perhaps, but much
more comfortably for the crowds
OF course, the problem Of transport
ing crowds in Washington is much
more serious than IN cities of half q
million to four million population. Ar
infant could appreciate that A lit
tie town like New York, say, natu-
rally, knows nothing Of the difficulties
experienced in huge place like Wash
ingtOn.
Wsshingtonians viii rejoice to Learn
that the Interstate Commerce Com
mission is looking into the Washington
Railway and Electric Company's new
cars. The commission wants to know
whether they provide convenient and
comfortable" transportation. Patron:
of the T street, Bureau, and Nintl
street lines could give some interest
ing and conclusive testimony on thi.
issue.