The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-25
Washington Street Railways.


Editor The Washington Herald
Your leading editorial "washington's
Street Railways" July p. about Mr.
GUIDES Defense Of Closed Cars" Of
your same issue. is wholesome and time
~. You rightly say that Washington
has the best street car service IN the
country. and is steadily growing better
Il Is my own sonclusion. from observa-
ton IN many cities and the criticism Of
comparison OF competent travellers. You
truthfully say that there are honest DIFF
ferences OF opinion touching the style Of
cars best adapted TO the public needs;
that some people prefer one kind Of cars,
and others another, and that while Mr.
Guide praises the pay-as-you-ente cars;
another frowns on II. Yet, and again, as
you say. we all agree that Wash
ington street car system and service. as a
whole-a system and service. Il by no
means yet perfect, are Infinitely supe-
rior to those OF large cities that depend
upon surface lines. and showing con-
tinued improvement" But after ALL
while the pay-as-you-enter car Is the
best for corporation and patron. city and
public, yet. in its present practice. It IS
wanting in many points and particulars
for public convenience and comfort. some.
If not all. OF which can and should be
remedied. gradually and without loss 70
the railways.
All agree with Mr.. GUIDE that pay-as-
you-enter cars cure fare disputes. pro-
mote safety OF passengers. in boarding
and n1fnhffn~ NJ
mating side boards. thereby decreasing
accidents. and all agree with him in all
OF his nine points OF -as-you-enter
car merit, provided. and always provided.
that the number OF passengers be strictly
limited TO the exact seating capacity. But,
in the prevailing pay-as-you-enter car,
passenger-crowding service, 1 cannot for
one, agree with Mr. GUIDE in his other
so-called points Of pay-as-you-euter car
merit particularly in his praise OF the
type for its greatest space in the aisle
Of the longitudinal seat, than IN any
former car ever devised" That Is what
is Objectionable. Mr.. GUIDE was a pas
senger, perhaps. on an empty car or
nearly empty one. That aisle space. "the
greatest ever devised IN street car" was
devised for passenger -crowding, and
fares for railway company convenience
and profit, and not for convenience. CON-
fort. and pleasure OF It's patrons. That
aisle space, ''the greatest ever devised IN
a street car" is too often too much crowd
ed-overcrowded to sunocation with two
or three times as many strap hangers as
those seated on the longitudinal benches.
The street car is the most democratic
vehicle for democracy's ends. and. as
much as we love democracy, we little de-
sire the common commingling forced upon
US in the greatest aisle space ever de-
vised in a street car" touching elbow
with all kinds-white and black, inteui-
gent and ignorant. virtuous and vicious,
cultured and Coarse-One seething mass
swinging, jostling. jolting; the unman-
nered taking undue advantage OF favor
able opportunity for familiarity attained
in no other possible way; the negro lay
ing hand on fair arm with blubbering
excuse or none. humping about while
forcing his way In and out; the ilthily
clothed whites, soiling and spelling even
ing dresses. elbowing and pushing right
and left strap hangers and those hang
ing on them. swinging and hounderIng,
crushing feet in false steps. and jabblng
faces with umbrellas. often dripping
with water, drenching dresses. causing
colds and sickness.
All of Us have witnessed such over
crowding daily between and Q. 4:sO and
$50, and theater hours. 1 have patron
lied the pay-as-you-enter car from the
start, but have often let It pass for
others. Deliver me from the longitudinal
seat with no alternative from uncon-
sciousiy staring one Wis Wis in the face,
when the great aisle Is clear. and from
having one's feet crushed, eyes poked out
hat knocked off, clothes ruined when
the great aisle" space is full OF strar
hangers, swaying swinging. whirling
wheeling. clutching. clawing, fussy. and
noisy.
Give me the open car with open trailer
the good old summer cars of the Ave-
nue., Fourteenth. and Seventh-and when
they are gone. give me the pay-as-you-
enter two-seat chairs, with center aisle
or bencN for FIVE and aisle on side. with
the chair space clearly drawn. that ]
may take my seat always facing front
in avoidance Of unseemly apparent stare
at people across the aisle. as OF await
Ing the pleasure OF two uncivil passengers
taking the space Of three on longitudinal
bench making room for me.
While Mr.. GUIDE pleads pay-es-you-
snter car safety from sudden summer
rains, Syhe has seen any sudden showers