The Washington times., 1918-03-11
NEED OF SINGLE
D. C. CAR line
SYSTEM SHOWN
(cOntluued from First Pasal-

(continued from First Paga)-
adopted, the company says. "the foun-
dation would, be laid for the develop
ment OF the transportation facilities
to meet the demands OF tn future
growth Of the city" W. r. Ham. vice
president OF the company. signs the
letter.
New Cars To BE Ordered.
The letters show that the. Capital
Traction has ordered twenty new cars
which It expects to have hers for
operation by October 1. The wash
ington Railway and Electric has be-
gun negotiations for twenty-five new
cars. which it says viii cost $4,000
each.
Both companies attribute the break
down during the winter to exceeding
ly bad weather, to much sickness
among their car crews. and the great
difficulty of getting additional men.
Each claims to have had sufficient
car equipment, although the Capital
Traction frankly admits that acct
dents due to the severe weather put
more OF their cars out Of business
than ever before. Many men left
WOrA On hSSOunI VI HSN|@SA SO-44A
tions.
The Capital Traction points out
that Il asked permission in 1915 TO
build an extension down Seventeenth
street from U street to Pennsylvania
avenue ard on II street east from
Pennsylvania avenue to Seventh
street IF present conditions could
have been foreseen ard the extensions
permitted the congestion now 50 aD-
parent would undoubtedly have been
mitigated."
Both companies say that with
spring weather and the return TO
work OF trainmen who have been sick
much improvement will follow.
The C0mmIsslOn's Answer.
Answering the Senate the Utilities
Commission states that neither rail-
way company has bought any add
tfonal cars" In the last two years. II
could have said the same thing as 10
the last three years. Both companies
ran more cars than usual, but from
old equipment.
The commission tells Of engaging
the services Of John A Beeler to make
a survey Of street car conditions here
and goes into details as to what he
has done and Is to do. Regarding the
skip-stop program OF BeeIer, adopted
by the commission. eliminating 600
car stops in the District, the eommis-
sion says that this can not be made
effective until about April ! because
the necessary signs to mark the stop
ping places will not be ready before
that time.
Mr.. Beeler covering the operation OF
naNIrrrarr a'r46 ElnNfrIr
cars In the vicinity OF Fourteenth
street and New York avenue and
along F street; likewise regarding
the opening and closing OF Govern
ment departments, office buildingss
and large department stores. with the
view to so staggering these hours a.
to spread the traffic on the lines
more evenly"
should Operate Tive Lines - One.
The commission makes its most iul-
portant statements regarding inter
change of trackags arrangements By
the two companies" II Gays this
important question" Is now being
studied carefully, sufficiently "to war
rant the assertion that u the two
principal street railway lines were
operated as one the present trNekagO
would be ample TO meet traffic con-
d.tions to- the present. at leass," and
the conclusion - reached that -if the
experts convince the commission that
present conditions can be improved
by rerout!ng of cars, the addition os
new equipment, he extension Of
tracks, the arrangement OF sehe5-
ulap, etc, the commission believes u
has Gull power to tAkO ali necessary
steps 20 carry CUT sueh improve
!nsnts."
After studying the results OF ths
improvements to be made the CON-
mission will, As soon as practicable.
make to Congresg -sucb suggestions
for legislation as may seenl to b
desirable or pscsssary."
Cannot Force Consolidation.
In spite OF the suggestion OF the
that the two street rail-,
way lines should be operated as one
and the letter % the waShiagton
and Electric Company also
this, II Is = thoroughly
established fact thar NUTJtING
SHORT OF MUNICIPAL OR Gov
OWNERSHIP COULD
THIS ABOUT.
Congress has no power to compel
the two companies to msrgs: the
Utilities Commission has 10 power.
It's up 10 the companies themselves.
There has been clever manipulation
of stock prices in one direction for
years in an endeavor to bring about
a merger satisfactory 70 certain In
terests. The oIhsT company could
not see IL that way. II the companies
really wanted a merger they could
enter into an agreement to be bound
by the findings Of the Utilities COM
as to financial arrangements.
No merger is in sight through agree
ment or otherwise, and consolidation
is out Of the question unless the
Government takes charge.
Both companies will proceed along
their own lines, pay salaries to tive
sets OF officers and maintain other
expenses that could be cut down At
a time when revenue Is needed. In
stead. the Utilities Commission will
soon be asked to get that revenue
from the people through increased car
fares