Norwich bulletin., 1913-05-06
WANT VEsTiBULEs
 ON THE OPEN CARS. TroIIeymen Also Want Vestibules Heated in Winter.

Hartford Conn, May 5-A hearing was given today by the Public Utili- ties commission on the petition of trolley men of the state for vestfbules on open cars and the heating of yes tibules of closed cars during cold weather The trol1eymen were repre- scented by John P. Murphy of this city, chief spokesman, R. J. Lahey of Derby, W. A. Lewis of New London, James Baker of Waterbury, Nathaniel Sf% mon of New Haven, R. Donahue of Norwich, E. P tLawlor and Joseph Dunn of Hartford, B. L. Spoclx and General Manager Punderfofd appear ed for the Connecticut company in op- position. MT. Murphy gave the trolley men ~@aaSong For the requests, say ing it was for the comfort of the motOrTnen, who on open cars are troubled by bugs and insects striking their faces and in the winter by the intense cold.
 Mir. Punderford said there had been no public demand for the heated yestf- buleS. If these were furnished a, mo- torman might fall asleep on his run, The company has already provided closed vestibu1es and seats for rnot0r- men. He never had heard of heated vestfbu1es on any line. MT. Punder- ford declared that already there are great burdens being put on the troll ley companies and unless halt is called some of them may be forced in to bankruptcy. In 1911 the company paid only 3 1-2 per cent and in 1912 only 4 1-2 per cent.
 No Public Demand.
 General Manager Punderford in his statement said the trolley com panies are interested in the health and personal comfort of their em- ployeS. There has been no public request fer heated vestibules,
 It was part of his duty to examine all the reports which come into the eompany's office of accidents and he has never seen a report which showed that the accident was due to flies. bugs, dust or rain The companies have given the men closed vestibules an dseats He thought that motormen who had lost some sleep would become dTUwsy in 8 vestibule which was heat ed. The men had asked for vestibules and they got them.
 They have asked for seats and they got them. What next? ~He called attention to the fact that the glass in the windows of cars are opaque in frosty weather and that it is impossi- ble to see through them. It would be necessary in order to heat the ves- tibules to install 8 separate circuit as 1t would not do to take heat from the cars.
 0OAAA4I0S4OLCl LI1lc dSh0Q II IL WOU1G be possible to establish heat under the mems feet?
 MT. Punderford said he did not know a trolley line where the vesti- bules of the cars were heated.
 Business Pays Poorly.
 Continuing his remarks Mir. Punder- ford complained of the burdens that were placed on the trolley companies. There isn't a line of business that pays so poorly as the trolley business In the year 1911 they pair only two and one half per cent. and last year they paid only four and one-haIf per cent. The men, the commissioners and the public have got to do something for the interests of the companies or some of them wdl1 go into bankruptcy.
 The government may take them over, but he would not like to see that Considering the risks in the business the trolley business should pay eight per cent. Mr. Punderford referred to the great expense whicf, the matter of construction of permars- ent pavement caused. The company has got to earn money in order to continue in business.