Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-01
THE STREET RAILWAYS.

~
connected with the street railways dur
ing the past year has been the work oil
the District electric railway commission
Forty or more orders have been issued
by the commission during the year, chief
ly in relation to Roadway. and it di-
rected in each instance an increase OF
service to lessen overcrOwding.
Orders were also issued prohibiting the
carrying of passengers on the running
boards of cars, requiring that reports
be made by the railway companies to the
commission in every case Of delay OF
ten or more minutes to car. specifying
points at which cars shall stop and elm
mating unnecessary stops.
In addition to issuing these orders, the
commission took up with their makers
several hundred complaints. and such re-
lief has been given in most cases as was
found to be proper. Many of these COM
plants were taken UP by the commission
informally with the railway companies,
and immediate relief secured by action
related to overcrowding, failure to stop
for passengers, incivility of employees,
improper ventilation. unsatisfactory heat
ing, unclean cars, excessive speed, etc.
Service Has Been Increased.
Service has been increased during rush
hours on many of the car lines of the
capital. Overcrowding has not been
eliminated, but when the service in Wash
ington is compared with the service in
larger cities and in other cities of the
same size, it is declared by the railway
companies that substantial progress has
been made.
The conditions of street railway opera
ton at the base ball grounds during the
ball season was brought to the public at
tentiOn during the summer by the killing
of one citizen while he was hanging on
the running board of an overcrOwded car.
This condition was taken up with the
railway company by the railway commits
sion with the result that companies were
forbidden to carry passengers on running
boards of their cars. and the companies
agreed to place flagmen and watchmen
| on duty near the ball park during the
| heavy traffic season.
Through Service to Somerset.
| The long contest to secure through car
service from Somerset Nd, to Washing.
| ton was settled during the year by the
| establishment of such service. Many
hearings on the subject We're held by the
commission and several hundred pages o.
| testimony taken in regard to it, with the
result that on suggestions made by the
! commission. the companies established
| the service and the complaint or cltl'
zenS was dismissed.
| 1t was announced toward the end of the
year that the Chevy Chase residents
| many of whom have for a long time beer
| fighting for an express service to Chev!
| Chase Lake. would be given forma
| hearing by the interstate commerce com
mission January q, the Capital Traction
| Company being made respondent to the
| order.
| During the year the order previously
| issued abolishing the use of trailers or
the various lines was extended from time
| TO time owing to the necessities of the
| Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany many of whose cars were burned
during a disastrous fire in one of it.
barns. and owing to the failure of con
struction companies to furnish new equip
ment as promised. The trallers are nov
ordered to be discontinued by February
| 1, 1918.
New Equipment.
| During the year the Washington Rail.
| way and Electric Company has purchased
| sixty-five of the side-door type of pay.
within cars to replace those burned in
the fire at it's barn. These are being in.
| stalled on it's various lines. Also. the
| capital Traction Company has installed
! 40 new pay-within cars on it's lines dur.
| ing the year.
The Capital Traction Company also de-
! cided during the year 10 equip all of its
| cars with air brakes. the changes all to
be made by January l, 1914 Other inn
| provements have been the electrification
| of the Bluemont branch Of the Southern
| railway the building of a new power
house by the Great Falls and Old Domin-
ion line and the beginning of construc-
ton of a new railway Tine in the suburbs
Of Washington, the Chevy Chase to Great
Falls line.
New Regulations Planned.
No new construction was begun in the
capita, notwithstanding the repeated an