Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-12
Survey of Car Lines
Shows Deficiencies
To the Editor of The star:

Having Just completed survey and
test Of the many street car and bus
lines of the two traction companies Of
the city for the expressed purpose of
trying to find If any give the service
which Is charged for, the writer submits
the following few paragraphs to set
forth the results Of findings to date.
For several months the writer has
made use of the street cars and bus
lines of both companies for the purpose
Of making o comparison with those OF
other cities where the fare Is one-half
Of that charged here and the service Is
three times better. It Is most striking
to note the obsolete equipment that is
still in use during the rush hours on all
Of the lines and the same type Is in
general use in other parts Of the city
during non-rush hours,
The cars and buses are all operated
on so-called schedules which are only
partially followed on two or three OF the
many routes. However, we md the
downtown section of the city with ample
car movement furnished by series OF
cutbacks Just on the bordsr Of the busi-
ness belt. This same movement could
be extended to ether parts Of the city
without adding many minutes to the
runs and would lessen the congestion at
these switches and relieve the crowded
conditions on certain cars that now run
spaSmodically. The writer has found
this condition to exist primarily on the
Washington Railway g. Electric lines.
The cutbacks at Fifth and F streets
and at Seventh and b streets could be
eliminated during the rush hours and
the cars could move along at these two
points with o saving in time.
Oars operating over the Columbia
line of the "wreco' during the rush
periods should be operated directly to
the District Line and Kenilworth and
eliminate the Fifteenth and H streets
run. This would give better accommo-
dation to those in the Northeast and
speedier service to the suburbs. The re-
suits Of the 1880 census show approx
mately $4,000 people in the Northeast,
with possibly more than 10000 within
reach of the Columbia line. Yet this
company makes no effort to induce the
patronage Of these possible fares as they
clutter the line with cars bound for the
cutback at Fifteenth and H streets and
with the old-fashioned -side-seat
cars.
In the Southwest section, with pop
ulation Of about $4,000, we find three
lines of the "Wreco" reaching three
fourths Of the residents running as
many cars In six hours over three routes
as the other company operates in two
hours over one line. According to the
so-called schedule the aforementioned
cars run on q 10-minute headway. If
you can find any Of these cars following
such schedule 1t will be most unusual,
as they fail to maintain any degree Of
regularity. The cars are not kept clean
and are poorly lighted and ventilated.
The Southeast section depends to a
great extent on the one-man cars and
another Of the hit-and-miSs schedules
en- the "Wreco" lines. However, 1t Is
given bit of service over the Capital
Traction by way of Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. Yet in the lower part Of the sec
ton this company operates feeder bus
line that follows a most peculiar route
at one terminus where passengers are
not to be found. During the morning
hours the buses are generally unclean
and Of the Oldest type, almost ready for
the dump.
The worst service in the Northwest Is
found on the Eleventh street and the lie
Droit Park lines, both operating one
man cars In the general run the best
service given on any CT the lines in
this section or any other does not meas
ure up to par.
The employees on a whole are not
courteous and the cars are stopped and
started with a jerk. Fer the most part
they appear as If brooms are at a pre-
MUM and are not to be used on the
interior of them. Of course, the win
dows are washed only at specified inter-
walls, but this can be overlooked II the
floors are kept clean.
The next thing to enter into the study
was the amount Of time required to get
from one point to another where the
use OF the transfer was necessary. At
some points you can make connections
IN two minutes or the time 1t takes YOU
to cross the street. The writer has
spent from 2 to 30 minutes waiting at
a transfer junction for a connecting
car. 1t is common experience for the
people who are compelled to ride the
cars OF three lines to have to wait
this length OF time for a car. At one
OF the stops in questioning a person
waiting for q car, he informed me that
1t was nothing unusual to wait at Ninth
and F streets or any point on that street
for q Wharves car for is or 20 minutes
and then be herded in like cattle.
There are the Eleventh street and the
lie Droit Park lines presenting the same
condition. And as for the car that runs
up Eleventh street southwest from the
as you would think it was an abandoned
line. The time required for transfer
ring on this run would be disgraceful
to any community.
We find the population Of the District
over 4S6,000 and Greater washington
with over 100000, yet the increase of
about 10000 has not in any way in
fiuenced the car companies to improve
the service in any noticeable manner.
It has, however, caused them to increase
the rates several times in the past 10
years. We stop today to notice the mil
lions OF passengers they are losing and
wonder just how long 1t will take them
to realize that the public demands sery-
ice and fair price
The Potomac Electric Power Co. is a
living example that money can be made
on lower rates as We find them with an
enormous surplus for their return after
lower rates for power. Then why is it
not possible for the car companies to
make money on a lower fare? Why is
1t impossible for the same group to
operate them at a profit when 1t does
the ether utility?
What the Washington public wants is
service at the proper rate and they will
rally to the support of the industry or
enterprise. TINS is shown by the sup
port given the power company and the
taxi companies. Then why cannot the
car companies obtain the same? DO
they realize that the six millions of rid
erS that were lost this year were due
to increased fare? Can they figure that
100000 rides at cents cash would
have been a half Of their present loss?
How many millions are required to
make them realize what we want?
HOWARD G. ALLEN.
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