The Washington times., 1918-03-05
STAGGERING.
.SKIP-STOPS
AND NEW CARS
FOR ". R. e
ny BILL PRICE.

The Washington Railway and Elee-
trio Company has begun a hunt for
twenty to twenty-five new cars. a
fact OF profound interest to the pub
lie, which has freely expressed its
joys over riding on obsolete cars.
The company Is IN communication
with street car construction COM
panies in an endeaYor to ascertain
whether II can purchase this number
OF new cars OF a type type suitable
to Washington Officials are doubtful
just what the outcome will be. New
cars will cost from $4,000 to $4,000,
it is claimed, II they can be bought at
all for a long time.
Nearly two months ago The Times
printed the fact that neither OF the
traction companies OF Washington had
paid out . cents for a new car in
over three years. Since that time the
Capital Traction Company has order
ed, and WILL GET, twenty new cars
of modern type. The Washington
Railway and Electric Company Is
dickerins for. and MAY GET, twenty
to twenty-five new cars.
Cars Are Obsolete.
1t has been apparent to washIngton
people for a long time that all the
recommendations Expert Beeler may
make, and all the orders the Utilities
Commission gives, will not tend to
improve future street
car conditions here unless obsolete
cars and equipment are replaced By
modern ones, thereby making full al
lowance for rapid depreciation in
departments.
Having cleared "the throat" OF the
Capital Traction lines by acting upon
the Beeler recommendation, the skip
stop program OF Mr.. Beeler goes into
effect next It will eliminate 600 car
stops in this city, bringing the stops
Of all cars to an average of eight to
the mile In the city limits and six
TO the mile In suburban sections.
Mr.. Beeler estimates that the lines
ought to give q much quicker and
better service generally and, by short
ening schedules, send more cars over
The various lines each day. The rail-
way companies are unanimously for
Il; the public Is willing to stand for
Il, recognizing that there Is little else
10 be done at this time; certain also
that the Utilities Commission is act
ing for the welfare OF Washington
generally.
To Clear W. r. 4 K. GuIIst.
Mr.. BeeIer will lay before the com
mission in a few days his recommen-
lations for speeding the service on
he F and Fourteenth street line OF
he Washington Railway and Electric
Tompany-that is, from Ninth and F
% Fourteenth and H streets, at which
POINT the lines OF the two companies
ross each other.
Stops In this region are to be re-
iueed in number, loading platforms
and somewhat the same pro-
gram inaugurated as in "the throat"
II the Capital Traction. He estimates
hat this, with the general skip-stop
'lans he has outlined, ought to result
n speedy Improvement throughout
he W. r. and E. system.
On March Is the Utilities Commis-
lion will hold hearings regarding the
line Of the latter company,
md what is to be done about the
Arge cars OF the Washington, Balti-
more and Annapolis coming into the
'ity over this line, Mr.. Beeler having
that these cars be stop
'ed at Fifteenth and II streets north
.ast unless better arrangements can
,e made.
Try "StaEEereds System.
Mr.. Beeler has in course OF prepara-
ion an important report to the Com
mission regarding staggered" openings
or executive departments and business
Of Washington, the OBJ
ect being to spread the crush hours for
he street railways over a long period
ach morning and afternoon Nearly
IL Government depaT TtmentS and bu-
eaus. business establishments as well.
pen at O'Clock in the morning,
hrowinE upon the railroads a heavy
urden In short space OF time