Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-17
TABLE II.

The seating capacity of this car is
AZ, and it frequently is seriously over
crowded at the start. The evidence
shows, however, that they thin out
very fast after the car crosses the
bridge and that there are usually
seats for all with ten minutes. There
is no demand for running a second
car beyond the first fare limit, and
there would be some confusion in
starting two cars out, one to 60 only
one limit.
Three days in succession show, ac-
cording to Table II, abnormally heavy
loads, March s. 9, 10. No explanation
was offered. The March 8th load APP
parently was increased by some spec
ial party, because it shows ten more
in the second limit and fourteen more
in the third than the corresponding
trip on any other day reported.
The five o'clock trip from Augusta
going south is the heaviest of the day,
and requires tWo-c service. 1t would
be impossible to handle that with one
car The use of additional cars for
single trips means abnormally eXpen-
sive operation, and 1T must be con-
trolled also to some extent by the
amount of equipment available and the
capacity Of the power plant. This
five o'clock service, both ways, and
especially south, ought to be improved
somewhat and we shall expect it to
be as soon as the added power and
equipment already referred to make it
practicable.
General Observations.
Complaint was made in the second
case that cars sometimes went part of
a regular trip from Augusta north and
returned without completing the trip,
leaving persons who relied upon this
method Of transportation. when there
appeared to be no reason for It,
witness testified that on March 9th he
with eight others bound south beyond
Gardiner left Hallowell on the els P.
NJ. regular car; that when they reached
the Maine Central Station at Gardiner,
not more than 400 yards from the
Square. the Lewiston car pulled out,
and they waited until $50 p. M. for
a car the 7.30 being omitted altogeth-
er. Other witnesses testified as to an
noying waits on sdings in Augusta.
None Of these incidents was denied or
explained.
Our Inspector reports that ION
February 10, Car 100 arrived at Au
gusta at 612 Up. M. from Waterville
and should have gone along or con-.
nected with car for Lewiston, but on
account of this car being late. a car
was started from Augusta at 6. p. NJ.
for Lewiston and when car 100 ar
rived, the passengers We're told car
,,.tt1n
eight or ten passengers that then got
off the car, those for Gardiner having
to wait for car due to leave at $50
and any for west Of Gardiner for
car due to leave at p. NJ. Car 100
and Car IL were sent to barn without
passengers. This appeared to me as
extremely poor dispatching, for Car IL
could have been used to Hallowell or
Gardiner to take care Of the local pas-
sengers and the through car waited
for the. one from Waterville or the
through car could have gone along
with the local passengers and car 100
could have been sent along until it
overlook the other car"
Request was made for an extra car
to West Gardiner at night to take
shop employees home SO that they
would not be required to wait for
regular car. We do not think this is
necessary.
The running time. especially be-
tween Augusta and Gardiner. is short
when the maximum number Of stops
are made, and 1t is difficult to make
time on crowded trips. or when rum
ming conditions are not good. II i'm
proved power conditions and the ut
most care are in dispatching and oper-
ating the cars do not result in the bet
tered conditions anticipated it may be
necessary either to lengthen the run
ming time, or to install a block signal
system that will minimize the amount
of teIephoning required. The former is
to be avoided If possible, and it is not
at all certain that the saving secured
by the latter would make any material
difference. or Justify the expense.
For the present We think that an op-