Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-17
Major Transit Lines
Struggle to Run u
Stalled Cars,
Freezes Block
DC. Service

Inc nve major transit COM
panies serving the Washington
area today were waging a stub.
born battle to keep up with
their schedules in the face
Of snow and ice-covered roads
and immobilized cars.
Despite the Government stay
home recommendation, the
D. C. Transit System, Inc,
launched operations today as II
the number of passengers would
be like a normal Monday morn
ing. H. A. MuSson. superin-
tendent of street operations,
said the company didn't know
who was going to work and who
wasn't
The company reported mod.
crate" patronage and decided to
try to get every available street,
car and bus on the street for
the home-bound ride this eve.
ming.
TurnarOund Blocked
One major tieup occurred at
8 am. on the Fourteenth street
car line between Constitution
avenue and the Agriculture De-
partment turnaround when
drifting snow hopelessly blocked
the power tube in the south
bound line.
Mr.. Musson said the com.
pany ceased operating south Of
Pennsylvania avenue after it
was apparent the task could not
be handled in the high wind.
Streetcars were tied up as far
back as H street NV. No cars
were able to go north until
trucks showed them back to
Pennsylvania avenue.
Unless snow fences are
erected on the Mall west Of
Fourteenth street NV. Mr..
Musson said. the snow could
not be kept from blowing into
the crevice where the streetcar
current passes.
On other streetcer lines. auto
skid chains have been break.
ing the current in. a number Of
instances. causing service rup-
lures difficult to repair.
Schedules Delayed
D. C. Transit buses were run.
ming behind schedules. as were
the street cars. he said. That's
because of the automobiles that
stall, can't move or have been
abandoned on the bus routes.
The buses themselves are using
chains and can negotiate their
routes all right if not impeded
by other vehicles.
Things were not running that
well farther out.
The Suburban Transit Co..
which operates in nearby Mary.
land. said only two of its major
routes were open early today
the Glenmont and the Viers
Mill Rockville runs. r. E.
Lowe, company manager. said
he expected the Massachusetts,
avenue route to be running
soon.
But the College Park route
was closed. River road is
blocked. M. Lowe said, along
its entire length by drifting
snow and abandoned cars. He
said even police cruisers were
stranded ON River road.
Falls road also is closed. Mr..
Lo"e cald lle company was
trying to M insain a weekday
schedule buv road conditions
spelled out unavoidable delays.
The Alexandria. Bancroft
and Washington Transit Co,
serving NEARBY Virginia ard
into Washing .ol, was OH a
oeeied-up Saturday schedule.
The Mount Vernon boulevard
and Jefferson DAVIS hignw y
routes were o1en in TO the
Twelfth and Pennsylvania ave-
nue. terminal.
Runs Cancelled
1 The Washington. Maryland
and Annapolis Transit Co.. run
ming into Maryland east and
south of Washington, reported
cursalled service, too. The
Indian Head, Marlboro and
Germantown runs were can
celeo.
The Washington, Virginia q
Maryland Coach Co. said it
was trying to keep 10 schedules
OUT was having great difficulty
with drifts anu sailed cars.
Greyhound buses were rum
ming late on their commuteI
runs and more than the normal
number riders turned out at the
stops because they were leaving
their cars home.
d. c. Transit had some trou-
ble with frozen street cal
switches. Seven of them had u
be thawed out with the built-i
heaters and with blow-torches
The company turned out 35C
workers. 20 snow-sweepers anC
Is sanding trucks to keep IL
routes and lines operating yes
terday. The Cabin John linC
had to be suspended yesterday.
BY and large, however, TIL
mass transit companies werI
J., still the best Way to get any,