The New York herald., 1876-12-25
HEATED CARS.

ARE WE EVER TO ENJOY THEM ?--wHAr RAIL.
ROAD sUPEgINrENDENTs SAT-.
The HERALD has, within the last few days, been call
Ing the companies to the comior,
of their patrons, during the winter by heating their
The introduction Of warming pans, filled with
hot water for the feet OF the passenger In European
countries and the success attending IT, led to the be-
lief that similar sy stem could be inauguraed here.
AT present there to be three theories for heat
ing the carsby steam, by stoves and by hot water.
Already the first month OF the winter is nearly over,
snow is the ground and cold. wet feet numer-
GUS Yet the horse car managers seem unable 10 cope
with the problem, "What do to make
comfortably warm2" In tact, as rule, thoy have
shown intention OF attending to the matter at ALI
A, HERALD reporter visited tho managers OF several
lesding horse lines Yesterday afternoon, to get
from them opinions the subject The general
answer gwen TO his inquiries that OF the
companies contemplated heating the cars; but that,
a feasible plan suggested, they would be willing
and pleased TO make use OF it,
MArTER OF TIME
Mr.. Bonney. manager and suporintenden OF the
Fourth avenue lino at the Office IN Thirty
second He had tho articles the subject
in tho HERALD, but us ho had experience In the
heating Of cars could positively say whether or
be made to answer the purpose He knew OF no prac-
,cablc plan He had heard Of having
stoves In the end but this blocked up the door and
prevented free ngress egrcss. He willing
10 thus add TO the comfort OF the public II only some-
thing coua be successfully done suggested,
a soon bc heard OF anything that he deemed
worthy OF consideration he would take pleasure in
adopting it. The company had no Intention Of acting
IN the.n,atter, and the cars would be unprovded
before But that this subject would come up again
and receive attenton ana that heat would be sooner
mr. lat int raln rnl hn nvad
FEASIBLE
Mr. Field, OF the Third avenue line, was found in the
office in Sixyihh street, and with him the following
conversation was heidi
Reronrrn-Mr Field, what is your opinion in this
OF heating the carsS Do you not think IL is
subject in which the travelling public is greatly inter-
estedY
Mr. FIELD do. believe that the idea is a very
good indeed; but how are we to carry It outs Not
than TWO years We tried IL in the palace
ana 1t was failure We used alcohol, and II was not
very long before 1t was found TO be onenBvc 10 the
smell
REronrER--But why not try something besdea
alcohol-lor instance, steam or hot watery
Mr.. FiELD-Both poor and neither practicable Now,
for instance take steam That would be offensive
Tho passengers, coming in with wet Shoes would
place lh IN on the pipes, and the smell OF the
would be all pleasant while being dried.
II you we're to put your shoes on that steam pipe
there you could easily poor a suggestion
is And the same STATE o affairs would DO the result ol
using hot water IN pans
REPoRTER-What do you think of stovcsf Would
they be better than steam or hot waterf
Mr.. FmLD-I really think they would. They are, IN
used have visited the car lIcs In Brooklyn and
Morrisania whore stoves arc placed In the cars and
noticed that the was Kept warm. Those horse
cars carried but few passengers and the travel
is nothing compared that The people
admit oil being used 10 keep out the cold the
doors would have " be closed, aud you know that
ours are very frequently opened
some way to prevent the passengers from being
chilled, might say irozenY
Mr. FIELD-We, should like to hear OF IL. We
would gladly make use OF It, We have not any inten.
ton Of heating the this winter, and cannot say
wncn we snail to any action. You probably
think all OF the passengers are IN favor of warmed
cars leave OF sight that dsag reeab.e
tlcman vino is SO often found on tho car VINO s dyna
for fresh air, and who punches here and there with
his stick, opening with IL all the ventilators no
Then there IS tho consumptive, or the person In
weak health from any other cause. Ha
surely cannot live IN the overhcated atmosphere.
The truth Of the matter is he Will not use the IL
patrons nre decidedly opposed 10 this heating.
But this company is willing TO do anything In u
power 10 improve matters. We need some sensible
advice and not OF the sort that Is uEwiss and beyond
our aoility.
WOULD COULD
reporter called on Mr. Bidgood, Superintendent OF
the Sixth avenue linc at the onice in Forty-third
street He would venture on decided expression OF
views, as he knew nothing oil the subject and was in
capable giving opinion. He could say this much,
that Whatever would be- practicable the people might
rely ON managers Of the ~ introduce, hc
hai their interest At heart and always xious
aud ready to improve tho working order OF the luc
What was found worth trying would be tried. HIS
personal peIet was that the different car companic
convinced OF the practcablity Of any suggestion
there not one that would be unwilling 10 give
fair trial
NEITHER STEAM STOVES ANSWER.
Mr.. Leadoettcr, OF the Broadway and seventh
lines, sad that steam In pipes could not be kept
during the entire journey. Stoves wore out OF
the question. On lIne like his carrying many pas
songcrs they would be an intolerablc nuisance Hot
water IN pans he deemed the best OF the things
toned, but he bad not heard OF any American city
having made successful trial Of II lie had
seen car heated with burning kerosone--that 10
kerosene burning In large tank-and AZ far HIS
memory went he thought 1t had been used In car
running Of yhc leading streets of this city, but
no was not favorable 10 such system OF hcatng. He
did intend to make efforts 10 heat hts this
winter.
NOT SEE WHAT TO DO.
Mr. RUSSELL OF the Eighth avenue line, not well
enough posted to whether hot water would
the purpose He had read the HERALD and had seen
approval but he did not have enough faitn in hot
water to place IL In his Until something else
was done the Eighth avenue line would continue to
run as at present
such are the opinions OF the managers Of tho repre-
sentative Of horse OF our city, and, while
the supcrintendents doubt and do not act the suffer
Ing passengers pas many uncomfortable moments
wit cold act andUbodteg.