The Washington herald., 1911-11-09
BRIGHTWOOD CAR
SERVICE IMPROVED
Interstate Commission Or
ders Changes.
TRAFFIC TO BE ACCELERATED
investigation DisclOses Average
Excess of Twenty-fOur Pas
Eengers Per Car, Condition
Which should Be Remedied,
District Board Reports.

To remedy what the District railway
commission reported as the worst in
stance of overcrowding in the District.
! the Interstate Commerce Commission yes
terday ordered pronounced changes in the
running schedule on the Brightwood line
during congested hours.
Effective tomorrow morning, the order
directs that the headway on the Bright
wood line, which runs up Ninth street to
Florida avenue and out Georgia avenue
to Takoma Park, be cut down from two
and one-quarter to one and one-haf min
utes between the hours of 7:3O and $50
in the morning, and from two and one
half to one and one-half minutes between
the hours of 4:S0 and 5:15 in the evening.
This is one OF the most pronounced ac-
celerations of traffic yet ordered by the
commission on the recommendation of the
District railway commission, 1t is be-
lieved.
Complaints from Residents.
The condition called for several COM
f, plants from residents of Takoma Park.
and the District railway commission was
greatly impressed with the necessity for
! remedial measures. The report of the
District commission to the Interstate
, Commerce Commission reads, in part, as
follows:
"On the lines of the Brightwood Rail-
way Company and the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company, it was found
that there was an average excess of
twenty-four passengers per car for sew
eral days. This is the worst condition
of traffic which has been observed by
the commission upon any line in the city,
a condition which is believed to be un-
yI-ay Mt cd ha fa1 IN
the interest OF the comfort and con-
venience Of the patrons Of the line
The proposed schedule, as embodied
in the accompanying order, will call for
large increase in the number of cars
operated during these congested periods
and 1t is believed will give the necessary
relief with the proper cooperation of the
public"
Order of Commission.
The order of the Interstate Commerce
Commission is as follows:
That the Washington Railway and
Electric Company and the Brightwood
Railway Company shall, on and after
Friday, November 10. 1911, operate be-
tween Ninth street and Pennsylvania ave-
nue. northwest, and the Brightwood car
barn, over Ninth street and Georgia ave-
capacity of not less that thirty-four
adults, on headway Of not more than
one and one-half minutes leaving Ninth
street and Pennsylvania avenue north
west, between the hours of 4:3O o. m
and 5:15 p. m, on all days except Sun
days and holidays.
That the Washington Railway and
Electric Company and the Brightwood
Railway Company shall. on and after Fri
day, November 10, 1911. operate between
the Brightwood car barn and the Ninth
street and Pennsylvania avenue north
west, over Georgia avenue and Ninth
street, southbound cars having a seating
capacity Of not less than thirty-four
adults, on headway Of not more than
one and one-half minutes, leaving the
Brightwood car barn between the hours OF
7:SO a. m. and S:29 a. m. on all days ex-
cept Sundays and holidays"
In a letter to the District railway
commission. complaining Of the over
crowding of cars on the line in question,
]. d. Kiefer, resident OF Takoma Park
wrote:
Between the hours of $50 and Sis
o'clock in the morsing, the majority Of
patrons leave Takoma for their offices
downtown, with the result that every car
leaving the terminus at Takoma between
those hours is nearly filled to its seating
car between that point and Florida ave-
nue., downtown. is compelled to stand for
from forty to forty-five minutes"
Motorman Is Relieved.
OF no less Importance in its effect on
the street railway situation here was
secon1 order given out yesterday by the
Interstate Commerce Commission. The
order amends the regulation requiring
street cars to stop at crossings for pas
sengers as long as there is a vacant seat
in the car by transferring the RESPONSE
bility for infraction of the regulation
from the motorman of the car to the
company The order reads as follows:
THAI section Of the regulations be
amended by striking out that portion of
the second paragraph Of section pre-
ceding the word provided where it first
appears in said section, and in lieu
thereof insert the following:
Every street railway company or cor
poration shall cause its cars to stop to
take up passengers at any street cross
ing or other regular stopping places IN
less all the seats in the car or train are
occupied, and every street railway COM
pany or corporation shall cause its cars
to be stopped 10 let on passengers at
every street crossing or other regular
stopping places"
Lieut.. FouloIs Improved.