The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-31


dent of the Capital Traction Company.
that 80 new cars OF the pay within"
type have been ordered for that system.
and that the first delivery OF twenty OF
them will be made about December /
This means that the type Of car now
used on the Chevy Chase line and on the
/ Fourteenth street line viii be used as the
principal form OF rolling stock, the older
cars 10 be put into service only in case OF
emergency and on special occasions. In
other words. the pay within" car viii be
the one of daily use, and all forms OF the
older type Of cars will he placed in the
barns as reserves.
The special type OF car referred TO in
4 Mr.. Hamnton's letter 10 the commission
Is an Improvement upon the pay-as-you-
enter" type OF car The bulkheads are
removed. and the front and rear plat
forms are not separated from the body
/ OF the car. except by rods. which do not
( obstruct the free passage OF air in sum
mer and give freedom Of movement for
/ the passenger greater than in the pay
as-you-enter" car.
One Type Has Air Brakes.
The type Of car in service on the Chevy
I Chase line is fitted with air brakes
and a device operated by compressed air
! for opening and closing the street doors
The type operated in Fourteenth street
/ has a mechanical device for opening and
closing the doors. and the brakes are
7 operated by hand
I Mr. Hamilton states in his letter that
/ the mechanical arrangement Is to be in
stalled in the new cars intended for
/ the system. He explains 70 some
length some OF the advantages OF this
arrangement. but does not impart 70 the
/ commission any reasons for the prefer
/ ence OF the mechanically operated de-
vices for managing the doors and apply
I ing the brakes 10 the wheels.
( Nearly all experts are agreed that the
air brake is the best for the street car
as well as for the steam car. and
that It is only a question OF time when
the air brake will be in operation every
where. as il already is in many cities.
notably New York City.
Il would seem that the change from
I the air brake 70 the hand brake on these
new cars was not in the interest Of the
| best form OF equipment, unless il is shown
/ that for some good reason. like cost OF
| installment or cost OF maintenance. the
! air-operated car IS objectionable.
Air Brakes Ideal.
The type Of car on the Chevy Chase
/ line has seemed 10 laymen TO be the
] ideal type Of car for Washington. The
\ car IS under absolute control by the mo-
\ torman. and the operation Of the doors
\ is equally easy and controllable. and yet
/ this arrangement is 10 be superseded by
/ a hand-applied mechanism. according 10
/ the letter Of Mr. Hamilton.
Discussing the experiments the com
peny has made with several types Of cars,
! and the conclusions arrived at Mr. Ham
\ ilton SAYS,
/ Both the pay-withln' and the pay
| as-you-enter' cars have given satisfac-
/ ton, and their operation has materially
! lessened accidents. especially those acct
! dents resulting 10 passengers in getting
of and on cars.
I'VE we're impressed. however, with the
! advantage OF the cars OF the pay with
! in type, FIRST because OF the more abso-
/ Lutte control by the conductor. and mo-
torman over entrance and exit. and.
/ therefore. the added safety 20 passen-
gers, second. because the pay within
/ car. by reason OF the absence of bulk
heads, was a more comfortable car for
! all-year service. 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
| pressure was an obstacle TO their use on
urban lines.
Mechanical Device Adopted.
"a series of experiments. in which this
company participated. during the time
that has interviewed since the Chevy
Chase cars were placed in operation. has
! resulted in the construction by the pay
/ within company Of a mechanical device
| that overcomes the difficulty above re-
/ ferred TO. and permits the operation OF
\ exit and entrance doors by q 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 2S this car was placed
( in operation on the Fourteenth street
line This car proved satisfactory in
operation.
in addition to the safety afforded TO
| passengers by cars Of this type it is in
our opinion, the most comfortable car for
both winter and summer service. The
absence OF buIkheads. the large and low
side windows. and the opening of the
vestbule Will make it practically an open
car, without its dangers and disadvan-
tages
The $50 cars now under order will cost
not less than S65OOOO.
| Meeting Extension Needs.
ITO meet the needs created by the
growth of the companylS 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 APP
proaches toNthe Union Station. the COM
pany has purchased the site and is now
engaged in the erection OF a new power
plant in Water street. Georgetown The
capacity Of this plant will be 1900 kilo-
watts. with provisions for increase. and
its cost when completed, WIFI be not less
than 100000.
TO accommodate and house the larger
cars to be provided for the carrying out
Of the companys 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
reconstructed and materially increased in
size. The Georgetown car barn is being
remodeled, and the Seventh street barn