Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-09
PUBLIC UTILITIES TO . CONSIDER TROLLEY SERVICE
inadequaey of Track Facilities Will
 be Particularly Inquired Into.

Following closely the many com
 plaints of the inadequate trolley ser
 pany in the state. the public utilities
 commission Thursday issued notice
 for a hearing March 15, at 11-30 a. m-
 to probe the inadequacy of track fa-
 cilities, shortage of cars and other in-
 convenie1ees. The commission, admit
 ted general shortage of cars was the
 principal reason the service was not
 adequate.
 This commission has had notice
 for some time. through numerous in and personal observation, that the
 service of the Connecticut company
 has been far from satisfactory" says the official notice. Formal com
 to service in certain localities. have also been received and duly heard and such orders issued as the circuTn- stances in each case warranted The red to officials of the company and in many instances a measure of relief secured. The commission has at tempted, on it's own initiative, through conferences with representatives of the company and the travelling pub lie, and by Independent investigations, to discover the underlying causes of the alleged unsatisfactory service, and to assist in remedying such of these causes as were manifested.
 "The conditions complained of have been generally acute since the early part of 1915, although there have been periods since that time when the difficulties have been less have been a time of greatly increased industrial activity in the state, which, by throwing unusual demands upon facilities, has warrant ed exceptional efforts by street rail- way managers to meet the public need. l
 The commission has concluded, af- ter the many hearings. conferences and referred to, that while | of track facilities in some places, and others adverse conditions, have contributed largely to the defects In service complained Of, still the chief 1 cause now is. and has been the past, B gyeneral shortage of cars. |
 'It will be recalled that the con- mission has persistently urged espe- cially for the past two years. and has required so far as it has had legal authority so to do, that the Connecti- cut company should procure sufficient with service reasonably suited to public convenience and necessity. At tention is directed particularly to the l following proceedings:
 During the early part of 1915, the under docket No. 1515 made an inquiry regarding service re- 1uirements in Hartford, from which it 1 appeared that shortage of Aears was he principal contributing factor for | the unsatisfactory service rendered. l Later in 1915 the commission approved | ,lans for ninety-two convertible cars. These cars had been object to appro- l ral of detail plans by the commission. | and assurances had beens given the | be delivered in time to re- l ieve congestion in the winter of 1s15- | L916. None of these cars were act ialiy delivered before midwinter and | he last deliveries were made the fol- l owing spring. places during the winter of 1e15-1s16, | md to delays in securing the new | the commission in March. | L91e. urged upon the company the | litional cars for service the roriowing i winter. Tho commission was inform d that the company was then study | ng future needs and making pFepara- March 2S, Is1e, President torrss stated t a conference with the commission hat in his opinion 100 to 125 to ie0 lew cars would take care of traffic turing the winter of 1s16-1s17. unless really increased demands were ex- 'erienced. On June 21, 1916. the com mission approved plans for 100 new cars, delivery of rders therefor to the car manufac- urers was expected as early as Octo- 'er 1, 1916. None of the cars. how yer, were delivered before Feb. 1, 917, and only four were received by he company prior to March 1, 1917. The failure of the manufacturers to | eliver these cars as expected has con- ributed largely to the unsa atisfactory ervice during the past winter. II
 Past experience as outlined above I the conclusion that adequate ervice for any given future time can . secured only by preparations made ,ng in advance The increasing con estion during the pasht winter, which E ven the cars now on order would E robab1y not have adequately relieved, rouid indicate the necessity for rompt action in providing for next t1 yinter's demands.