The Washington times., 1917-05-10
WOULD SAVE TIME
FOR CHEVY CHASE
Capital Traction Company In
tends Skipping Close Stops.
600 FEET WOULD Be LIMIT
Secures Approval Of Citizens As
sOciation as First Step.

Plans OF the Capital Traction Com
pany to inaugurate on the Chevy
Chase line a skip-stop car service
which, IL successful, is to be extended
to other lines throughout the city
were announced by Vice President ].
H. Hanna at a meeting of the Con-
necticut Avenue Citizens Association
at the Army and Navy Preparatory
School last evening.
Mr.. Hanna was present at the meet
Ing by invitation to explain the COM
pany's plan for emitting a number Of
stops on. the Chevy Chase line. He
said that the company had reached
the conclusion that the omission Of
a portion Of the present stops on con-
gested lines offered the only means
q even partial relief from existing
conditions, at least until additional
trackage can be secured. No consider
able extensions of trackage in Wash
ington are looked for in the imme-
date future, with the result that the
company contemplates the installation
of skip-stop service just as soon as
proper authority can be secured and
the cooperation OF the public enlisted.
May Extend System.
After the installation OF skip-stop
service on the Chevy Chase line, 1t
is expected that It will next be ap-
piled to the Fourteenth street line,
which is recognized as the most con-
gested line in Washington. and one
of the most crowded street car lines
in the country. Officials OF the com
pany believe that IL will be absolutely
necessary to have such skip-stop serv-
ice apply throughout all daylight
hours. but IL seems likely that IL will
first be tried only during rush hours.
No endeavor will be made to install
this service in the downtown business
districts, not only on account OF the
convenience of passengers. but also
because the company does not believe
that a skip-stop service would con-
tribute any alienation OF congested
conditions in the downtown areas.
As a result Of Mr.. Hanna's presen-
tation of the problem confronting the
company and its plan for attacking
II, the association voted its indorse-
ment OF a trial OF the skip-stop ser
vice on the Chevy Chase line. with
a view to its ultimate extension to
all lines Of the company. The meet
ing favored the application of the
plan throughout the day, rather than
its limited application to the rush
hours OF morning and evening.
Would Save Three Minutes.
Mr.. Hanna's estimate OF the time
the new plan will save in the period
affected is three minutes. 1t is not
proposed to alter the schedule for
the run between the Loop and Chevy
Chase terminal. as q result OF this
-.
of the run. II Is the belief OF the
company that the saving Of the three
minutes will enable cars to maintain
schedule time, whereas under present
conditions they are rarely able to
keep to schedule during rush hours.
1t il expected that passengers will
get the full benefit of the time thus
saved. Extension OF the plan to other
portions OF the line, as actual expert
ence may indicate is advisable, Is
contemplated by the company. 1t Is
believed that unless steps are taken
now to inaugurate such a system OF
car operation that running time will
be heightened very considerably in
the near future.
Mr.. Hanna declared that practical
problems left no other means of IA
cilitating service on crowded lines,
as IL is not considered possible TO
operate express service efficiently
over the same tracks used for local
service. Omission OF certain stops.
he asserted. gave the only promise OF
an approximation to express service.
This plan is now in use in other cities
with satisfactory results. according to
responses received by Mr.. Hanna to
his inquiries OF street car companies
In those cities. Cleveland inaugu-
rated such n system five years ago.
while Baltimore installed a skip-stop
service on two OF its congested lines
on April 10 last.