Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-04
CONSERVATION TO
HELP SH|PYARDS
Car Service and Electric Lighting
Energy to be
Diverted.

For the purpose OF assisting IN the
conservation OF electric power OF the clsy
so that greater amount may be iurhlsheu
the shipvards and munition plants en-
s.g red in making supplies for the govern
rnent il was decided at meeting OF the
Rnard of Public Utilities Commission and
a Committee from the Chamber OF Com-
rnerce, Saturday afternoon to curtau the
use of electric power on the street cars
hv making fewer stops and to cut out
some of the unnecessary street llghts
n,w in operation. instructions were
issued to the Wilmington ana fhlladclphia
Traction Company to Abolish seVelai
hundred car stops now made on the vari-
o,ls lines on and after next Saturday. 1t
was likewise decided to take up the
question of eliminating some OF the
street lights or st least to use current
for street illumination halt an hour iatef
each day and to shut the same OIL carrier
Tb,s matter. however, was referred to the
Street and Sewer Department, that BODY
having jurisdiction over the city streets.
The session which lasted from o clock
u,t;I : 80 O clock. WAS attended by Mayor
LAWSON. CITY Councilman Forwood, OF
the Ninth Ward, Representative j: T..
NcNabb, City Engineer HOPES, VIII
liam Heindle. OF the Traction Company,
, number of citizens, the special committee
, of the Chamber of Commerce ana the
F,ihlio Utility Commissioners. The ma-
,ot;ty of those present advocated the
! elimination of the King street and the
s.1uth Harrison street trolley lines, bus
n w.. decided that before this action be
, t.kon. the Traction Company should
f,irnish the Public Utility Commission
xti,h a chart showing the average number
f Messengers carried by these and all
I other city lines. :.
Iu adopting the motion to eliminate
many car stops, the commissioners also
ordered the trsction company TO nave
signs prepared and posted, showing the
soppinS points The order becomes
effective on February 8.
John B. Bird. who vas chairman oil thc
s,,ociA COMMITTEES Of the Chamber OF
Commerce, wa, accompanied 10 the
meeting by Clarence G. killen. secretary
rf the Chamber Of Commerce, John ).
Mulin, Jr., John c. Sayior and Chester
Hubbard. members Of the special COM
mites. The conference was opened by
Nr. Bird. who had the secretary, James
A. Cory. read the following statement
sod suggestions as TO the car stops to be
Animated.
Wilmington, Del, Feb. 2, 1918
Board Of Public Utility Commissioncrs,
Municipal Building, Wilmington, Della
ware.
Gentlemen: Al the suggestion of
ofhcisls of the United States Shipping
Board snd other government officials
ST Washington. our local war shipping
committee, headed by Hon. George
GRAY recommended TO the president OF
the Chamber of Commerce that special
committee be appointed TO investigate
vays and means OF supplying continuous
~ 10 locsl shipyards doing government
work. their required amount oil electric
current for power and lighting purposes
The sole aim of the war, shipping
committee Is TO facilitate and speed
up the production of ships so badly
needed IN our national crisis. The special
Committee for want of better name has
been termed the power COMMITTEES and
consists of the following: John B. Bird,
,aairman, John s. Mullin, Jr., Lew l..
tialoncy, John c. Saylor, Chester Hub
ard
&C give this explanation by way OF
preface n order thst you may understand
The spirit in which the suggestions con-
tanned herein are made.
Your board, as individuals, hiss GER
iainiy for sometime been aware OF the
fact that the Wilmington and Phila-
deluhia Traction Company has been
experiencing difficulty In generating suf-
icient current TO supply all their custom
ers and the different utii.ies with sufficient
electric current. The opinion Of several
engineers who have investigated the sItua-
uon shows unmistakably that the central
&c y.r,Hay too
. load. ] think If does not require argu.
Inent 70 prove that the shipyards should
receive without interruption all the cur
rent they require for continuous opera
ZION. Our committee has been inveStigat
nS several WAYS by which the total loac
o. current may be lessened. 1t has no
been deemed advisable 10 suggest any
.hing that would decrease production L
the local manufacturing plants. Nor ha
Il been deemed wise TO make any sug
-cstions relative 10 limiting the domestl
consumption OF current for lighting
beating and power purposes. It woulC
scem, then, that relief can come only from
making changes In the manner OF operat
rne different trolley lines.
We respectfully request, then, tina
your honorable body, after investigation
take under consideration the advisabiht,
Of issuing an order looking toward tn
elimination of unnecessary trolley seryio
on lines that are little used, with tn
exception OF the early morning and tn
ate evening hours, such lines as the Kim
street line, the South Harrison street lin
and the Front street and du Pont stree
Inc.
II is also recommended that you
honorable body investigate the feasibIit.
of eliminating unnecessary stops whicl
trolley cars now make. With this end /,
view we beg TO suggest that your bod,
consider the following suggested elimi
nation plan and make such orders AS seen
Wise 20 you:
Wilmington-Chester DARBY linel
That stops be made only at Front ant
Market, Fourth and Market, Sixth an,
Market, Seventh and Market, Eight
and Market, Ninth and Market, Teptl
and Market, Vandever avenue, Thirtietl
and Market and Shellpot Park. with tn