The Washington times., 1911-09-01
WHY NOT MODERN STREET
GAR SERVICE.

The Times took occasion yesterday
to contrast the interurban and subur-
ban car service of Washington with
that of progressive cities. 1t pointed
out that the physical transfer of pas
sengers from one car and company to
another, at outlying points, in order
that they may get down into the busi-
ness section, is an archaic performance
which is no longer permitted in other
cities. The cars come down into the
city, those of one company enjoying
trackage rights on the lines of other
companies, for which of course proper
payment is made.
The remote suburban transfer station
is analogous to the tollgate of two
generations ago. At the entrance to a
city it is a snub to the incomer. Wash
ington ought not to be cut off from
its tributary territory by tollgate i'm
positions.
In the census of 1910 Cleveland pass
ed Baltimore in population, and great
was the rejoicing of the Ohio town.
Their newspapers have been exchanging
persifage on the subject, and here is a
suggestive bit of it from the Cleveland
Plain Dealer:
After strenuous efforts Baltimore has
succeeded in getting rid of all but one
of the tollgates that till recently have
shut In the city from the outside wori-.
One of these barriers still remains, and
a struggle has been started for its
elimination.
1t is no wonder that Baltimore has
been passed by Cleveland in the popu-
lation race. A city so far from up-to-
date as to allow tollgates to be main
tanned at its boundaries is certainly not
sufficiently energetic to hope to keep
up with the march Of American prog
ress A tollgate anywhere in America
is an anachronism, but one at the en-
trance to a great city is a monstrosity.
Everybody will see that the Plain
Dealers point is well taken. Now let
us inquire how far Washington is in
advance of Baltimore in this matter
of the tollgate anachronism.
Ohio and Indiana are criss-crossed by
interurban electric railways. Many
hundreds of miles of these lines con-
verge on Cleveland. y
Do they bring their passengers to a
transfer -tollgate on the outskirts Of
the city, there to be dumped out and
left standing in the weather for q
car on a connecting line 10 come along
and gather them up for the trip down
townf
That is what they do in Washing
ton, and the analogy to the old
fashioned tollgate is complete. It is
an invitation to keep away.
A progressive midwestern city would
have a riot If its street railway barons
tried to revert to such medieval
methods of handling people. The street
car companies are regarded as public
conveniences, not mere toll-gatherers.
Originally they didn't like the view,
but, bless them, it was imposed on
them long ago, and now they are
glad of it, because it has been good
thing for them and for the cities whose
prosperity gauges their profits.
Suppose the Rockville cars were
switched at Thirty second street to the
Georgetown line of the Washington
Railway Company, and run, via P, Con-
necticut avenue and F street, to the
Union Station and the Capitoli
Does any business man in this town
doubt the RESULT It would increase
the traffic of the Rockville line almost
unbelievably, just as the same policy
made the interurbans pay all over the
West.
1t would result in such an incre-
ment of business and profit that within
five years the Rockville line would be
extended far into the interior of beau
tiful and prosperous Montgomery
county, to bring its people, its bust
ness, and its products here.
| Until continuous service Is secured,