Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-01

9th street lines. eliminating trahers ex-
cept for what is known as "tripper Serv-
ice"
Pay-within cars of new type. pro-
nounced to be superior to any heretofore
used. and to meet the demands Of both
the warm and cold weather. have been
installed by the Capital Traction Com
pany. Among other Improvements no
ticeable in them are the transverse seats.
which. it is said. it will be the policy Of
the company to adopt in all cars here
after placed in service. The company an
nounced that it had given an order for
40 of the new type of pay-within car,
and this type is being installed on its
several lines fast as the new cars are
delivered.
Car Crowding Still Continues.
The remedy for the crowding of cars
has not yet been found by the local COM
panies. and an effort made during the
year by the interstate commerce commits
sion, through the District electric rail-
way commission. to put stop to the evil
by Police Court prosecution resulted in
a decision by the District Court of APP
peals to the effect that the act OF May
%. 1908, under which the prosecution was
begun. is so general. indefinite and uncer-
tain as to be incapable of enforcement.
The courts decision did not indicate.
however, If the deficiency of the act
lcould be supplied by regulations passed
by the interstate commerce commission.
and that question is still unsettled.
The evil of car crowding. it Is claimed.
has been cured in part by orders Of the
interstate commerce commission In re-
quiring the local companies to run their
jcars with less Roadway between them,
thus necessitating the use OF more cars.
Complaints to the District electric rail-
way commission during the year de-
creased to seventy-twO in number. all but
thirty Of which. it is declared, have been
disposed of either by direct action or by
the interstate commerce commission on
Recommendation. Matters complained of
have been the crowding Of the cars, seat
ing arrangements, types Of cars. the
operation Of closed cars in summer, in
adequacy Of service. indifference of
motormen to those who wish to board the
cars, uncivil conduct of employees, lack
of heat, especially in the trailers and
poor ventilation.
Inquiry Of the District electric railway
commission ELECTED the information that
on certain lines the maximum number Of
cars than can be operated during the
daily periods of the heaviest traffic Is al
ready attained. yet the traffic on these
lines Is constantly increasing. The belief
from the addition Of new lines on new
tracks.
Trailers Are Doomed.
According to a regulation adopted by
| the interstate commerce commission
during the year. trailers Of the single
truck pattern must be done away with
on and after January l, 1912, or, If
| double-truck trailers are used, sep
arate conductor provided for the
trailer.
Strong protest was made during the
! summer against the use Of closed cars
during very warm weather on GER
tain lines. This was found to be due
| to the fact, it was explained, that one
company was not operating all it's sum-
mer cars because they did not comply
| with the regulations, and by another
company, 1T was stated, experiments
| were being made with a new type of
| semi pay-within car which
1t was expected would meet all de-
mands. The former company was re-
| quired to get it's cars in shape and put
them in use. The latter. after salts
factory trial of twenty of the pay
! within cars. it is said, decided to add
$50 more to the number for it's lines.
The District electric railway commits
sion announced some time ago that in
it's judgment the new cars are suit
able for summer and winter service
and meet all reasonable demands.
| In the matter Of transverse seats, the
policy Of one company to use them in
all new cars hereafter put upon it's
lines was announced. The other COM
pany. however. had fifty new cars
| constructed with seats lengthwise.
| Recently the District electric rail-
way commission made it known that
a late inspection OF car equipment
| In a systematic manner disclosed that
1 while the equipment was generally In
q fair condition. there was indiffer-
/ ence shown in maintaining proper ap-
paratus for wheelguards and tenders.
Later, however, 1t was stated matters
1 were found to be much improved and
| the apparatus in proper condition.
! Transfer arrangements have been the
subject OF some complaints during the
year. Although the new Washington
Spa Springs and .Gretta line termi-
mates at 18th and II streets northeast,
a point where it joins the service OF
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company's II street northeast line, the
tracks have not been connected and no
transfer arrangement between the two
companies has yet been effected. The
new company. however. it Is stated. Is
expressly placed under the 1urisdic-
! ton OF the District Commissioners Dy
the act Of May Is, 1908. The two rail
way systems OF the District still refuse
to recognize the District electric rail
way commission or its authority IN
matters affecting street car operation.
Most OF the reforms that have peen et.
fected it is claimed. were brought
about only after the District commits
sion had made its recommendation
to the interstate commerce commission
and secured regulations for their en-
| actment. ,,...;
The Washington Railway and Electric
Company reports the following improve
ments in the roads under Its controi out.
on $4,000 feet OF conduit track: the In,
stallation of new special Work az severe,
important intersections. such as nth and
F streets. 9th and F streets. 9th street
and Pennsylvania avenue nortnWest'
Delaware avenue and B street northeast.
etc; the purchase and installation OF NIFTY
p. A. Y. E. cars to take the place OF
trains previously run on 9th street and
the Georgetown line: on the City and and
Suburban railway, the extension OF the
BrookIand line to 18th street and Mich
isan avenue and the replacing OF surface