Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-08-18
CAR COMPANY TO
TAKE ACTION TO
EASE UP Crush

Street car patrons can aid to a
great extent against the over-croWd-
ing during rush hours, and the COM
pany is willing at all times to do Its
best to see that all passengers have
seats.
This was the sentiment expressed
yesterday afternoon by L. Tenney
Peck. president Of the Honolulu
Rapid Transit & Land Company,
during an informal discussion Of the
question between company officials
and the public utilities commission.
Two concrete suggestions which
the company is willing to try out
and report on as to practicability re-
suited from the discussion. These
were % that the leading car OF. two
running close together during rush
hours carry two flags at the rear in
stead of one on the rear left corner
as now. and (2) that some sign such
as Take the Next Car" be carried
on the leader to be displayed when
the car is filled.
1t was pointed out at the meeting
that the human element enters large
ly into street car service. Persons
are always more anxious to Chamber
aboard the first Car, even though
the one just behind it is half empty.
This is one Of the unexplainable
things of human tendencies said
Attorney D. L. Wilmington of the
car company 81 do it myself. Some
inward voice calls me to get on the
first car, even though there is one
directly behind it."
Commissioner Will P. Thomas
thought this was due to the fact that
the public is not entirely informed
as to how to know if another car
is coming. The red flag that signi-
fies an extra is carried only on one
corner, he said, and half of the peo-
pie cannot see it. Commissioner A.
J. Gignoux suggested that publicity
in the matter of recognizing extras
should be given.
President Peck stated that the
plans are worth consideration and
that this will be given them.
The company showed during the
discussion that 1t is constantly in
creasing service to accommodate a
growing public. Since May five
extra cars have been placed on the
Waikiki line for rush hours, and
other additions have been made.
Some amusing incidents were told
at the meeting. Alexander Pratt
superintendent of the company,
brought laugh when he related how
he had tried to be polite to q
stranger he saw boarding a crowded
car.
II was on the front car" said Mr..
footboards. Another car was immedi-
ately behind with, not more than. q
dozen persons in it. AS this man
approached our car looking for a
place to hang on l suggested to
him that he would find a seat on
the car behind"
What the h--I does it mates
to you what car I get on?" asked
the other, and clambered up with
the crowd. $50
President Peck said he used to
be connected with a company in Chi.
cago which classed the three rush"
periods during the morning as the
works" the clerks" and the
'shirks." E%5 .-.'>.-
That apparently inexcusable act
from the passengers viewpoint-of
making him wait at functions, is one
OF the big problems, it was stated.
It comes from q variety of reasons
including sudden rushes of passen.
gers Of which no notification has
been given, Q drop behind in SEIZED.
ule, or an attempt to keep all the
other cars on the switches ahead
from waiting. In such instances one
carload must be sacrificed for a
considerably larger number <; z