The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-04-16
AN ORDINANCE PRESENTED
REvONNG CAR FRANCHISE

and We suggest that an additional car
enable the cars to go slower and to
carry more passengers, and relieve the
congestion at the busy hours.
We also suggest that the North
Eighth street car which at present
stops at North Sixteenth and streets,
go to Twentieth street. BY investiga-
ton we find many who walk rather
than wait at Sixteenth street after
walking from their homes TO the end
of this line. They prefer walking all
the way to the heart of the city, rather
than walking to Main street or Six
teenth and f streets to catch a car.
This step has been advised by the
| residents of this section of the city.
The committee found by investigation,
that the car crews in a majority of in
stances, run fast to Sixteenth and E
streets and then wait there for from
four to six minutes before going back
to the center of the city. This would
seem to enable them to go to Twenti
eth street within the time limit and
make their schedule easily.
| In Difference to the demands of the
public and for the safety of the lives
of the children of the tax payers of the
city, conductors should be placed on
the Easthaven, Fairview and West
Richmond lines, the conductors to re-
main on the cars for the entire round
trip. Just recently small boy was in
jured so that he will probably be a
cripple for life. He was stealing a ride
on an Easthaven car, which would not
have occurred had the car been in
charge of a conductor. This condition
exists in Fairview and West Richmond
also. Several accidents have been re-
ported, which although they did not
result fatally, caused much anxiety,
annoyance to patrons of these three
lines. Small children ride on the cars
jumping on and off when they are 60
ing at high speed, because no conduc-
tor is there to stop this practice. The
motorman cannot do so and retain con-
troll of his car. The motorman cannot
watch his passengers alight and be as
sured they are safely off the cars
thereby endangering their lives by
starting too soon and throwing them
to the ground. Although this change
cannot be compelled by law, the law
of common justice and regard for the
life and safety of fellow man, demands
that this step be taken by the traction
company.
We found also that the motormen
and conductors after arriving at
Eighth and Main streets, continuously
leave the cars to mingle and talk to
their fellowmen, it resembles family
reunion. This practice should be stop
ped.
We also find upon investigation, that
the Fairview line, which is admitted
! ly one of the best paying lines in the
city, is not given the service the re-
ceipts seem to warrant. The residents
of that suburb are at present, only Civ
en- thirty minute service. They de-
mand and want fifteen or twenty min
ute service, and it seems that this
should be given them. Also, the cars
! to Fairview, do not run to that suburb
| late enough. The last car for Fairview
leaves the center of the city at 1890,
giving the residents the option of leav-
| ing functions and business in the city
at an early hour, or walk home. We
recommend that the service be contin-
ued in Fairview until later hour.
| The cars, as regards general condi-
tons are very bad. They are an eye
sore to our otherwise beautiful city.
Why the residents of the city continue
| to ride in them is a mystery. They are
too small to be of any material value
in a rush They are for the most part,
dirty and unsanitary. They are stuffy
and i'll ventilated. They are of the an
tedated type found only in corporation
ridden cities. They are source of de-
| rision from the visitors to our city,
| who ask why they are allowed to run
loose" over the streets. Vaudeville
| Jokes are aimed at the cars and car
system, they are the subject of car
toons and criticism in the daily press.
They should be superseded by better
cars.
In our investigations We found many
cars that were really filthy and fruit
full source of disease. The windows
showed very few traces of ever hav-
| ing been washed. The seats were so
dirty in some of the cars that white
handkerchief one of the members of
the committee thoughtlessly wiped Off
the seat WIFI, was
Women with good clothes disdain to
ride in some of the cars.
The heating system in vogue is such
as to be a fruitful source of complaint
and jokes. When the weather is warm
the cars were too hot and passengers
who asked that the windows or doors
be opened for the purpose of letting in
pure air, are liable to be refused. On
the other hand. when the weather was
cold, the interior of the cars were so
cold that the frost would collect in a
solid mass on the window panes. The
only warm places in the cars We're di-
rectly over the heaters, and occupancy
| of this favored seat was liable to re-
| suit in burning of clothes. This hap
pened in one case, and the street car
company was forced to reimburse la
| dy for, ruined coat Then, the motor
man at his post in front of the car. in
| the Titles vestibule, is not given any
| heat He is forced to stand the severe
weather without any protection from
the weather except the variety afford
| ed by any common COW shed.
| The appearance of the cars is detri-
mental to the reputation of the city