Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-10-04
Blame FLAT wheels
ON Leaves. crews
Green Operators" ReSpOn-
sibIe For Much of Damage,
Trolley Manager Says
Is MORE NEW CARS
{ COMING FOR CITY

| l0AnAlM MNAN given ANtAa0Mn AAA knH
numerous fat wheels on cars OF the
/ Wilmington & Philadelphia Traction
Co. last night by W. A. Helndle.. gen.
eral superintendent OF the company
to members Of the police committee
of City Council. Mr.. Heindle had
been asked to appear before the com.
mittee after complaints about the fiat
wheels had been made to Council
3 several weeks ago.
Il was made evident to the Coun-
cilmen by Mr.. Heindle that the trolley
company is edeavoring to abate the
conditions complained Of. He stated
that green motormen" applying the.
brakes suddenly and using sand
often caused the troubles complained
OF, although in many cases leaves on
the tracks would damage the wheels.
he said that one night recently TWEEN.
ty-two cars developed fiat wheels In
a few hours
The meeting was enlivened by
series Of rapid FIRE questions, all OF
which Mr.. Helndle answered frankly.
The Councilmen were surprised
when Informed by Mr.. Heindle, thta the
Lobhell Car Wheel Company and the
American Car and Foundry Company
are at work repairing car wheels for
the trolley company, but owing 10 the
rush Of war work, little progress was
being made.' Mr.. Helndle also stated
that the company has machines at its
plant working nearly all night grinding
r nat places. which in many instances.
b were not larger than a dime, out OF
wheels.
Mr.. Heindle stated that his com
pany is doing all that Il can possibly
do to correct the trouble complained
Of Hle stated that the climax had
not yet been reached, and half tho
people of this country did not appear
TO know that this country IS at war
and that it will be necessary TO put
up with fiat wheel cars for a time
or else have the fat wheel cars taken
from the lines. Members Of Council
did not express an opinion as to
which Of these alternatives should he
followed. It was decided. however,
to withdraw Car No. 30, which was
. said TO be nuisance.
Mr.. Heindle had hardly settled
down in his chair at the conference.
which was presided over by Howard
Ward, Councilman from the Eighth
u NANA a. NuNoNAQMNu AuUuN
. street paving along the company's
. right of way. Mr.. Heindle met this
with the statement thai the Street
and Sewer Department Is boss" on
such questions, that department not
asking the traction company whai
kind OF paving It wants between is
tracks. Mr.. Heindle explained thai
2 labor is scarce, and while he would
like to employ convict labor from
I the County Workhouse. he could moi
(. obtain the prisoners, they not being
= allowed to come into the city to work
D Councilman Atkins asked why the IA
= wheel cars had not been placed on thu
Q delaware avenue lines. To this Mr.
I Helndle replied that they are scattere,
r over all the lines.
!, Councilman Abbergor, at whose re
e quest the Meeting was called, asked Mr.
s Helndle If he did not know that a I'M
could be imposed for operating fla
d wheel cars, and Mr. Heindle said hi
s did not know Mr.. Abberger stated tina
II the trouble Is not abated the com
p pany will be fined. Mr.. Helndle explain
y ed that the company did not desire q
~ run the Nat wheel cars, but II wa
p either a case Of running them or cur
= failing the car service.
Mr.. Heindle explained the shortage q
% labor, saying that where the eompan
3 formerly had a waiting list Of sixt
n men, only two applications for work ha
been made on October /. and one da
n recently fifty men employed by IN
70 company failed to report because q
sickness, death OF other reasons. As
2, result the service that day was curtaile'
20 The question of equipment was the
Ar taken up by Councilman Atkins. VIII
a stated that the COMPANY was trying
10 do business with the equipment Of te
30 years ago. Mr. Heindle stated that thin
=, teen cars now being constructed fC
- use in Wilmington we're to have bee
delivered in July. Councilman Atkir
remarked that Wilmington got poor SCI
IN vice from the Tnction Company bu
~ Councilman Ward did not think so NJ
s' Ward then started to tell about u
n short hauls here and the numerous hill
w heing hard on the trolley carS Presider
iy Of Council Lyons informed him this
III Chester had better service. and for ever
" car operated there licens is paid.
he Councilman Abberger complaine
To that during the hot weather no sun
So mer or open cars were operated o
~ the South Harrison street line an
~. line, nearly, are open summer car
no Mr.. Heindle said there are only tW
81 summer cars on that line.
SO Representative J. Edward McNat
er complained of the operation of q
m No 30 on the West Fourth stree
II line. He said the running of sue
I'd cars constituted a public nuisanc
ed II Is a fiat wheel car. Mr. Heind
he promised that car No. 30 will be wit
er drawn at once.
er Mr.. McNabh said in the summer D,
an irons could not get any open cars O
a. the West Fourth street line and no
to that It IS cool that line Is made n
Al dumping ground for open cars. NJ
&c Helndle said the company VIII buy r
- more cars such as those known
q. summer cars
~ Mr.. IIeindle was asked about n
'iu company's orders to let passengers a
en- by way OF the front door and the loo
I'm ing OF the front doors by the Ct
OF crews. lie said where this happe
IL is due TO the pure cussedness"
led the motorman. He announced IN
IL Is the explicit order Of the compal
THAT passengers be permitted to lea
by way OF the front doors and that
fhaca doora opa oloco1 ouH fba matt