The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-10
Topeka Car Service Must I'M
prove, He Admonishes.
Unless 1t Is Done, City VIII
Consult the State.
MAY TURN yTNEYS LOOSE
Promise That Patrons Must Be
Given Transportation.
"Railway Has Cars That Are q
Hazard to Passengers"

The Topeka street railway company IL
keepings its equipment in an inexcnsably
poor state of repair Some of its cars
particularly those run with brakes not
In working order, are a hazard to the
lives OF the people. The company has
had plenty of time to meet the provi-
sions under which it was granted six
cent fare, and, as whole, has not done
So Schedules have not been improved
satisfactorily. AS to the unsafe cars
they must be repaired, and kept in safe
running order, or the company muse
take them off the lines. If It comes to
that end. Unless the company fulfills
Its promises, made when granted the in
creased fare, however, the city will con-
suit with the public utilities commis-
sion.-Mayor Herbert j. Corwine.
The Topeka Street Railway company
must observe its promises for better
service when granted an increased fare
last June or the city will consult with
the public utilities commission Mayor
Corwine declared today. 1t was IN
timated at the city hall that the CON
sultation" would be in the form of
action that may lead to d reopening
of the case.
The street railway company, after
O-CeHL ldTe, thereby AOQ-
| ing from $33,6S4 to $75,649 a year to
| its revenues. has not fulfilled its prom
| ises of improved schedules, removal of
| flat-wheeled cars and sufficient extra
service at rush hours it was de-
clared today.
In addition to going before the utili-
ties commission to force the street car
company to give patrons better service.
| the city will also turn the jitneys
loose" it was understood at the city
| hall. Mayor Corwine will favor the
latter move, it was understood, and
will take the stand if the street car
| company fails to live up to agree
| ments. His adversion to advance
! threats" it was declared, prohibited
him from making the open declaration
| today.
Disorganized service which Topeka
may expect from the company this
winter unless the city forces better
ments was forecast Saturday night.
Sunday and this morning with the first
! inciement weather Of the season.
Here is the condition as reported to
the mayor:
Weekend Schedules Disorganized.
Street cars thruout the city were
"off schedule" Saturday night. Service
was practically cancelled on the Coun-
try club line for several hours owing
to inability of the one-man cars-in
bad repair-to climb the slight grades
| south of Seventeenth street. Other
lines where one-man cars were used
were in similar, If not as bad, condi-
ton. The "car every fifteen minutes
on practically every line in the city
was myth.
Sunday wet rails kept the cars
from running on schedule again. AT
one period on a line served by the
one-man cars there was no car for
more than an hour. This morning,
loose" schedules, in a more modified
fAr I1d in hun 10
of Topekans were late to work. It
took "a patron of the company from
7 to 8:20 o'clock this morning to get
from Nineteenth and Buchanan
streets to Eighth and Kansas avenue.
Brakes refused to work on some OF
the one-man cars Saturday night and
Sunday. The combination motormen-
conductors -'coasted" down grades. It
was to these conditions that the may
or today aimed his assertion that some
of the street railway equipment was
hazard to the lives of the patrons of
the company, pedestrians and motor
lists.
The Improvements Promised.
Improvements promised by the
street car company when given the
/ increased fare, included:
More cars on regular schedule. Extra
service at busy periods of the day
Removal of all cars with flat wheels
Not less than 15-minute service on any
line.
Cars clean and sanitary.
The company. the mayor said today.
has 'esta blished' a fifteen minute or
less service on all lines. but in reality
cannot be depended upon at all times
in the day to adhere to the schedules
owing to poor equipment.
Smoking in enclosed vestibules of
the one man cars was permitted to-
day with windows closed because of
the cold weather. patrons declared.
Women were forced to submit to this
blue, smudgy fog" Cigaret butts
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