Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-31
compared with the suburbs. is clearly


Discussing the character Of peak loads,
the report goes on to observe that Wash
fngton as a while goes to work prompt
mendous demand for transportation to
land the people at their places of bust
ness on time. Counts of pedestrians
were made far enough from the business
from work This showed that the maxi
mum peak was reached at 8:37. which
would on the average permit the walk
ers to reach the downtown section at or
before 9 o'clock, indicating that the
walkers peak downtown Is at 8. OBJ
servations of walkers in the afternoon
did not show any marked peak, due to
the fact that many employees shop AFTER
the closing Of their Offices, while others
proceed home Immediately.
To determine the exact number OF en-
ployes that would be involved in any
staggered hour arrangement the utili-
ties commission, the report points out,
sent out a questionable to the various
government departments and business
houses. The returns are summarized In
exhibits.
The principal exhibit. which shows
the number of people and the hours at
end their work. is believed to point out
the trouble. On this chart there have
been drawn blocks, each representing
1000 people. The solid blocks repre-
sent the employees of the Army and
Navy; the hollow ones all those OF
other government departments, and the
shaded one those working in private
offices and department stores.
Stacked Too High.
Commenting on what is shown by this
chart, the report says: AT 3 O'CLOCK
the blocks are stacked 100 nleh IN
government employees furnish 1852, or
considerably more than enough, with
out the addition Of about 10000 going
to private offices and stores at the
same time.
s"The enforcement of these hours has
proved Impractical, and any close OBJ
server viii note that this stack OF
blocks has literally toppled over. A
considerable number come early: many
others are late. Many who desire to
ride are forced to walk, through sheer
inability to get on board the cars at
this hour in the morning.
I'm the afternoon the problem is de-
stacked at various hours. and none or
the piles is nearly as high. SO that the
travel is much better spread out.
Discussing times of arrival and De
parture of employees, the report says
vealed by the curves and comments at
tached thereto.
Some departments are quite prompt
in arriving it continues anv indiyiduals
come away ahead of time. Some de-
partments show clearly defined lines
for opening and closing. while otners
do not. Quite a number work late,
especially in the departments vitality
concerned in the conduct of the war.
Proceeding with a discussion of other
charts, the report says that the morning
curve inbound is about 25 per, cent
higher than the evening peak; 1t 1t
nil
due down town shortly before y
am. On the other hand, the after
noon peak of street car traffic is shown
to be of a different character and de-
pinnacle, due to the fact that employees
do not all go home at once.
Work Resources to Limit.
In order to provide for the tremend-
Gus morning load the street car COM
panies, the report continues, have
found it necessary to work their re-
sources to the limit. Were all the peo-
Pile shown in the exhibit on hours for
arrival and departure of clerks to ride,
the problem would be worse than 1t is,
it is stated. Each block of 1000 people
would require about twelve cars,
carrying eighty persons. To carry the
entire load would, therefore, mean to
operate the cars so that 720 would ar
rive down town just prior to 9 o'clock.
which is clearly an impossibility. If
but half this number desired to ride
360 cars would be required
when 1t is remembered that the
function of street railway system Is
to provide regularity and continuity of
service at all reasonable hours for the
regular and normal as well as the alb
normal movements. for those outbound
as well as those inbound, for the occa-
sional rider. the stranger and the entire
community generally, the magnitude of
the task of attempting to bring such q
large proportion Of the population
down town for universal 8 o'clock
opening hour is apparent This task,
long established by custom, has now
unconsciously grown to proportions un-
der which the community as well as
the companies stagger."
Exhibit III shows summary of the
cars scheduled to arrive down town by
fteen-minute periods In the morning.
The greatest number 10 recorded be-
tween $3.50 and 8:46 am. when 161 cars
are due. The normal number Of cars