Evening star., 1935-11-24
ENGINEER ASSERTS
MORE BUSES ARE
D. c. TRANSIT NEED
Capital Traction Should Buy
rs to so, Public Utilities
Body Is Told.
COMMISSION WILL AIR !
OTHER SERVICE MATTERS
Company Is Asked Why So Many
Breakdowns Have Occurred
With New Equipment.

From 25 to so more buses should
be purchased by the Capital Transit
Co. to provide adequate service on its
lines, the Public Utilities Commission
was advised yesterday by its chief engi-
neer, Fred A. Sager.
The commission promptly forwarded
the finding to the company and at the
same time called for a report on dis
closures by Sager that during October
there were 85 breakdowns by Capital
Transit busses, go Of which concerned
new equipment
These developments came as the
commission considered a variety Of
matters which may be aired at the
forthcoming public hearing on condi-
tionS of the service of the company.
Chairman Riley E. Elgen tentatively
set December IL as the date for the
hearing. Final decision is expected to
be announced within few days.
More Equipment Held Needed.
The commission as yet has reached
no definite conclusion as to how many
additional buses it may order, al
though commission members said they
were convinced more equipment was
needed. Sager made clear his recon-
mendation was for more buses in ad-
dition to new equipment already
ordered.
Advising the transit company Of
Sager's findings, the commission
stated:
The opinion was based upon con-
sideration of additional busses that
should be placed in service ON various
lines, existing equipment that should
be retired and the percentage of spare
busses that should be on hand"
Taking up the question of bus main
tenance, the commission reminded the
company there were IS bus break
downs during October. so of which
concerned the new type of equipment,
and that during the first seven days
of November, Is of II breakdowns
that were reported dealt with new
equipment.
Reason Is Sought.
'The question was raised" the COM
mission said, whether the detentions
(breakdowns) on the more modern
buSses were due to inherent defects
in the equipment, to the operation Of
busses by men formerly employed on
street railway lines who had little
experience with busses, or to insuf-
f1cient garage personnel.
The commission requests that you
consider the two matters herein dis
cussed and give it full report thereon
as soon as practicable"
The question of extension of the
use of one-man cars by the Capital
Transit Co. is expected to bob up for
action either before or at the public
hearing. The company some weeks
ago petitioned the commission for
permission to convert its 20 new street
cars to one-man operation. They are
designed for either one or two men,
but at the time of their purchase the
commission specified they be manned
by two
A report on this matter will be SUBJ
mitted to the commission soon bv
Sager. He has beer analyzing results
OF QUESTIONABLE sent out to some "a
city and State utilities commissions
and street car operators. The ma
jority of the replies voiced approval
of use of one-man cars, although soma
officials stated they slowed up service
in rush-hour traffic
Stops Are Surveyed.
Sager said he has not found that
locc 70
man cars, if they have proper equip-
ment and are properly employed on
lines o. service where they do not
disrupt service. He said he had not
completed his study of how the 20
new cars here might be converted to
one-man operation.
Chairman Elgen reported that the
commission has completed a survey
of the location of the thousands Of
street car and bus stops throughout
the District. The survey was made
by. A. c. Putnam, assistant engineer
of the commission. The subject may
come up for attention at the public
hearing. Hundreds of locations of
loading stations of buSses and street
cars may be changed in the interest
Of safety and convenience.
The commission has advised the
company changes must be made in
the design of two new types Of buses
ordered, if the commission will ap-
prove them.s Commission engineers
found that in one type the weight Of
the bus was to great for the motor
and that the driver would not have
proper vision. The company was told
the other type of bus also did not meet
safety requirements of the commits
sion.