Evening star., 1938-03-20

the neU-Style StTedmlined car.
Many people have expressed alarm
over the quickness with which the
rear doors close as they are getting
out, but they need have no fear. Hid
den in the rubber edges of these doors
is sensitive mechanism that pro-
tects the passenger. Suppose you are
getting out of car through one of
these doors and after you have stepped
off the treadle your arm is behind you
and party inside the door The door
starts to close, but the instant the
sensitive rubber edge touches your
arm COR whatever part of your body
it may be- it reverses the mechanism
and the door Immediately opens wide
again. 1t is almost human, and GER
tainly uncanny.
Another safety feature is that these
back doors won't open while the car
is in motion, nor when standing still
until the operator throws the lever
in front of him. But once open. the
current is automatically cut off so
that he can't forget and start the
car until the door is fully shut!
Later, seeking further information
I talked with one of the executives of
the Capital Transit Co.
What training must man have
before he is given a street car to op-
erate?" asked.
"All men are given from IA to 20
days of training, depending on how
quickly they catch on and show that
they can properly handle a car. Some
OF this is classroom work and much
Of it is practical operation of street
car The training consists Of, first, a
dummy control set-up in one of the
shops, where they learn how and
when each of the controls works They
practice with this under simulated
traffic conditions until they can han
die the controls quickly and surely,
their reaction time and responses be-
ing carefully checked.
after that they must spend three
days on a practice track-usually
one of the suburban runs during non
rush hours. Then he spends two days
in traffic. During these five practice
days he carries no passengers, but is,
OF course. accompanied by a compe-
tent instructor. After this two men
at time 60 out on cars under the
eye OF an instructor, taking regular
turns at operation.
The next step is for a man to take
a car on a regular run. handling
everything himself, but with an in
structor along in case Of necessity.
During all this time there is class
room instruction as we'll as the prac-
tical work, and every man Is trained
to be an 'operator'-that is, both a
motorman and conductor"
What sort of pay does a man get
for this work." I inquired.
On two-man cars, that Is where
there is both conductor and a mo-
torman, each man gets paid at the
rate OF 81 cents an hour. but on buses
or one-man cars they are paid I cents
an hour more-they get "A cents an
hour"
And how long do they work." I
asked
They will average s1s to Q hours
day-to be real exact, the average
figures to S hours and 40 minutes-or
1852 per day"
THAT is for experienced men, of
course"
"Yes." he said. 'they get q little
less per hour for the first three
months, then little more the next
nine months and the full rate after
they have been on the job a year."
I also learned that altogether the
company employs nearly 1000 people.
with pay roll of over half a million
dollars month, and since the merging
OF the Capital Traction Co. and the
Washington Railway g. Electric Co.
on December l., 1888, they have spent
$l1 100000 in improvements, which
includes both vehicles and track work.
So you can readily see that in addi-
ton to providing transportation for
18 to 20 million people each month
an average of 30 rides a month for
each person in the District-they play
an important part in the economic life
Of the city.
RUT getting back to the operators
themselves, I asked another one
how he liked his job.
Fine" he said, except that It's a
nerve-racking sort of work. You
have to have sensitive foot on the
accelerator because If you stop too fast
or bear down too hard or fast and
speed up too quickly it throws of bal
ance people who happen to be stand
ing.
Then, too, you have no idea how
foolish people are about running In
front Of street cars, or stepping out
from behind another car, nor what a
strain it Is to have q motorist run
ming alongside just few inches away
and then try to cut in on the tracks
ahead of you! So many things can
happen. They might misjudge a lit
tie, or skid slightly, or have a blowout
and crash right into you. And Ger
tainly street car can't dodge EN-!
Even II they are little ahead Of you,
all you can do is apply your brakes
and pray!''
They say that q postman on his
holiday goes for long walk; how
about you-do you take car rider" I
asked.
He grinned.
MOT exactly. But do like to take
an automobile. and 60 for long drive.
But mostly ! snaslad enough to get
home and stay there"