Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-12

times of the day and night. In every
case the car must take the first berth
II empty; if not. there should be no
hesitation, but the car should be stop
is essential to the success of the plan
that the movements of the cars be
made with certainty and that no am
biguity shall exist among the tralnmen
s to what action is to be taken.
THE streets in this area are com
parativeIy narrow. and it is impossible
to obtain sufficient width for loading
platforms at all points. However. they
must be constructed, and it is essential
to have them at the following places:
"Fourteenth street. midway between
G. street and New York avenue, for both
directions. F. street at 14th for both di-
rections. f street at 18th for both d.
rections. F street at 18th for both di-
rections- + street at 9Th for both direc
lions. G street at 9Th eastbound. 9Th
street midway between F and q streets,
northbound.
Comparatively few of the cars of
this company have been used with pre-
payment of fares, and are not equipped
with doors which can be kept closed
while the cars are in motion. The CEN
ter entrance type, which is the largest
prepayment car used by this compare,
has only a single door. so that sep
arate collector on the street could not
help in collecting fares from passen-
gers as they board the cars. An in
spector on the loading platform could.
however, aid materially in loading by
holding back entering passengers until
those leaving are all out, and by assist
ing passengers, as in providing tickets
and change, before the arrival of the
car.
While it will be comparatively diff
cult to modify the open-platforru cars
to make them into the regular prepay
ment type with inclosed platforms. it
will be quite simple to prevent passen-
gers from entering the cars at the
front end. This can be done by issuing
instructions to the motormen, and with
the corporation of the public it should
not be difficult TO use the front plat
form for exit only. AS a matter of
safety passengers should not be al
lowed to ride on the front platform.
Favors Rear-Door Payment.
the only regular entrance to these cars
Will make IL possible for the company
to use them, with a modification of the
prepayment system, so that the con-
ductor will always remain at the rear
entrance and collect the fares as the
passengers board the car This will aid
in keeping the cars moving, as the
conductor VII always be in position
where he can see the rear step and
know whether it is safe for the car to
proceed. 1t will also tend to reduce
accidents, as the conductor will be
where he can to a certain extent super
they board.
Another advantage of this arrange
ment is that in the congested zone
front-end collectors can assist in load
ing the cars by standing on the loading
platform or in the safety zone, and col
iect fares from passenger entering the
car By the front door. Frequently
these front-end collectors will also be
able to assist in loading passengers al
Inc rear entrance, as y man on the
street can assist in directing the move
nents OF persons entering or leaving
the cars better than the conductor
apparently the lines Of this com
pany are not so arranged as to give the
best possible service to all parts of the
city which are included in its territory
especially when non-competitive In
order to accomm odate all districts TO
the best advantage. considerable re-
routing is desirable. SO that some sec
tons now under-serviced Will receive a
proper proportion Of the available
transl,o la~tton facilities