Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-11

future.
Attached to the commissions report
also was a letter received from the
Capital Traction Company, in which
operations of the past two years and
efforts made TO furnish adequate serv-
ice are reviewed. Both utilities state
that they are negotiating for the pur-
chase of additional rolling stock, twen-
ty-five cars in the case of the Wash
ington Railway and Electric Company
and twenty cars in the case of the Cap
ital Traction Company.
Proposal for the amalgama ton of the
two traction systems was made several
years ago by President Clarence p.
King of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company.
May Follow Other Utilities
The suggestion for an increased rate
of fare, coming on the heels of the pub
Iication last week of the annual report
of the board of directors of the Capital
Traction Company. in which it is stat
ed that necessity for increasing the rate
Of fare may arise. has created the belief
at the District building that the trac-
ton companies shortly may join the
gas and telephone companies in petit
tioning the commission for relief from
excessive costs of operation imposed by
war conditions
Eight of the questions contained in
the resolution are specifically answer
ed, but reply to the ninth, which calls
for suggestions. is postponed until the
traffic survey now being made by John
\. Beeler and a corps Of engineers from
New York has been completed. and the
comm ission has an opportunity to de-
termine whether their reconme ndations
have adequately met the situation.
The first eight questions'in the Senate
resolution call for information as to
now many new cars have been installed
by the street car companies in the last
two years; in the past year: what pro-
vision is being made for new cars; what
other steps are being taken by the
companies to meet suggestion; what
steps the commission has taken to meet
the congested traffic situation; whether
existing trackage is adequate. what ac-
ton the commission has taken to Sc
cure adequate" service and what ac-
tion the commission has taken under
the authority given it ito require and
compel" the street railways to comply
with the provisions of law looking to
the furnishing of adequate service-
In reply to these questions. the CON-
mission says:
Neither Bought New Cars.
81 Neither the Capital Traction
Company nor the Washington Railway
and Electric Company in the past two
years has purchased any additional
cars. The attached memorandum.
appendix a, taken from the
books of these companies, shows the
entire expenditures made by them for
rolling stock and equipment during the
years 1915-16-17
80 Ii the second question refers to
the new cars purchased during the last
wear. il is answered in paragraph
above. If il refers to added service
during the last year. summary of the
detailed statement contained in the at
tached table shows that on November
/. 1917, the number OF cars scheduled
to run on that date in excess of those
scheduled on January l, 1917. was as
follows: Capital Traction Company, 141;
Railway and Electric
120. Total, 261.
For a further statement relative to
this question, see paragraphs and S
below
"3 The commission, having no infor-
nation regarding the provisions the
are making for adding new
cars to their equipment, addressed let
ters to the Capital Traction Company
and the Washington Hallway and EIec-
.ric Company, asking that they furnish
.ached.
Last Years Pay Raiaes.
II The commission is informed that
he Washington Railway and Electric 4
Company @, July 4. 1877. announced an !
Increase in wages of rs i;iattorm men |
pf apprc,, .n'%laiy . cencs Per hour, and !
IN November =. 1ai-. announced 4 !
further inCre 2S'7 =, .-.- form - "A bonus :
Of cents per h3nt. ara that the Cap !
tai Traction c3muany. under The terms /
of the agreement with its employees, :
.ated March. 1917. provided for a fur :
.her increase. effective after October i
-. 1917.
The commission is also Informed ;
that both these companies have been /
and are continuing t. advertise for men (,
10 operate their cars. In order, how +
ever, that this question may be fully |
answered. the commi Ssion addressed /
ettera 10 those companies, asking that
-hey furnish the Information requested !
Expert Beeier Engaged
IS. In December, 1917. the commission
the services Of John A Beeler.
consulting cags:eer OF New York to
make :. survey of the street railway sit
Iaiinn for the purpose Of first. deter
Mining the Necessary steps to be taken
n order to afford immediate relief to
he existing congestion and, second, to
;tudy and submit plans. looking to proper
provision for the future growth of the
District of Columbia. Mr.. Beeler began
work on December IT. 1917. bringing with
lin a corps of assistants. He was in
tructed to submit his report in sections
10 as to permit concentration on and
elimination of the various obstacles in |
IN orderly manner. The first section of
lis report. dealing with the most con-