The New York herald., 1879-10-25
HEATING THE CARS.

EfFFCTfD.
The approach of tho freezing New York winter
suggests to many thousands OF citizens the question
whether the street and IL" railroads are to be made
any more comfortable in tho matter OF heat than
they have heretofore been. Tho "I." roads, to be
sure. nave since their opening attempted warm
their cars and have in degree succeeded. par
ticularly the metropolitan road; but, beyond one
Or two sample cars. which for the most part wero
miserable failures, the surface roads have utterly
Ignored the fact that their patrons were susceptible
10 the freezing blasts The travelling public-and
30 far this city is concerned almost every man
ma woman may be thus classed-consider that they
have some upon the managers of surface roads,
It is now pretty generally believed that their charters
were given them for nothing their roads built at
ridiculously small cost compared with the al"
roads, aud that for years they have reaped pecu-
mary harvest EAR beyond the most sangune expecta-
tions OF the managers. For this the public have re-
reived dirty and cold cars and have had to hang
to a strap during the crowded hours. This last
cessity was happily ameiorated by the opeuing of
the ~ roads, but the receipts of the surface roads
have in most cases. been almos; as large rs ever.
1t would seem that New York city has been pecu-
liarly unfortunate i'll roads. Brooklyn has
had for somc time lines of comfortably heated
by small stoves. HERALD reporter, in converse
ton with official OF Brooklyn road. was assured
that the expense OF these stoves WAS trihing. and
fully covered by the increased travel over
the line. His observation of tie matter
had led him to believe that passengers
his road in preference to others because of the heat
The stoves did not interfere in any way with the
ventilation of the nor with the comfort OF tho
passengers. Williamsburg is also provided with
heated cars. Tho liues in the Twenty-thi and
Twenty-fourth wards also warmed with stoves.
but when the Harlem River is crossed into the city
the passenger has full opportunity to appreciate the
fall in the thermometer. Philadelphia, Boston and
tho country has before the L roads started Of
tered nothing but cheerless freezingly cold vehicle
tor the riding public.
THIS WINTERS AnRANGEMENr.
1t would appear that the public are to have better
treatment this winter ana the chances very fair
pretty general adoption OF good heating facilities
even on the surface roads The reporter called upon
SUPERINTENDENT Van Brockln, OF the Western di-
vision OF the Manhattan Railway Company, and
saiG:-"Of course, Mr.. Van Brocklin. the cars Vi
your company are to be heated this winterY'
Certainly they will be-
"By what system!
'sThe one now in use with some improvements"
''Were there not some complaints last year that
the cars were not always heateI?
''I did not hear OF any. There may have been oc-
casioIis. OF course when coupling would break,
and until it could be fixed the steam would have to
be shut of from that car. But then that was not o
frequent occurrence by any MEANS"
'.What is your system of heating?
1--WE have continuous systom of steam pipes and
the all around the train. from the engine
back to it again..
"There mast be some condensation In SO long
eyes, of course there IS but we have an exhaust
pump at each terminal station by which the water
is taken Of the pipes and prevented from falling
into the street below This is done just as soon a.
the train reaches the station"
You consider your steam system. then. as better
than that of placing stoves i'll the cars?
''Oh, yes; avoid the dust and dirt, the trouble
to us and the Inconvenience to passengers. car
heated by coal stove is mover at an even tempera-
ture. It is either too hot or too cod.'
THE EAST SIDE LINES
Superintendent Stewart, of the Eastern division
off fha Manhattan HALLWAY. which COmDrfSos the
Third Avenue and Second Avenue al" roads, said
that the system would be in use on all the cars
as was used of the cars last winter, and ts
considered by the officials to be the best in use
The steam is forced from the engine through pipes
in each car and. on the Metropolitan road makes
a complete circuit of tho train Tho steam pipes.
however when they enter tho pass through large
cylinders OF IRON which are packed with sand: Inc
sand it is said, becoming thoroughly heated once.
will retain the heat for hours. Tho temperature in
the cars by this system can be regulated very easily
and kept uniform. The company are now busy
putting the heating apparatus on all the cars and
It is expected that all will be ready by tho 1st Of
November.
Tho question of heating tho surface roads is II
anything moro interesting one to the public gem
orally than that concerning the IL" roads. On the
latter the public have had fur coan and most
generally dry ones, while the former clean and
dry in winter has been the exception and not the
rule 1t would certainly seem from tho interviews
the reporter had with some of the surface road OFF,
cias that they had very little idea OF accommodating
the people who with foolish generosity allowed the
roads to take possession of the public horoughtares
for nothing The Third avenue road is the first ex.
ception to this The reporter called on the presi-
dent. at his Office in the company's building. Sixty
fifth street and Third avenue, aud after brief pre-
iminary conversation said:-
care you going to heat your cars this winterr
1--WE are"
.How are you going to do itY'
1--WE have taken into consideration great many
methods and systems, and have finally como to the
conclusion to use u hot water system
what Is the desgn?
"rhe apparatus consists of a single good sized
wrought iron pipe placed close to the front Of tho
the floor the whole length Of the car This
pipe is screwed into cast iron heating chamber at
one end and expansion chamber at the other end,
both these attachments being under the seats and
out of sight.
How do you get the water IMP"
''The pipe, heating chamber and part OF the cx-
papson chamber are filled with water saturated with
salt. which prevents freezing in any weather. Tho
pipes fillod are expected to last all winter.
Now, where is the heatY
two minutes to do it. We will have furnace at the
Sxty-ith street depot and will heat iron slugs to
s ths end Of the car There is no fire or any
thing OF that Sort but tho slug heats the water and
the water the car
''Yes it Isl and expect it to give great satisfac
ton to patrons. 1t will cost us considerable to
fix our up in that way, but we are busy at 1t
now and will have them all ready by the time the
cold snap comes."
What is the cost of heating car after the sp-
paratus is all UP and rcady?"
''The cost then will be very trihing-about one
and half cents q car per twenty-four hours for
men attending to it, &C., 1t will cost about tour
cents q day of twenty-four hours"
The president of tho Second avenue line
stated that while the company had not yet
adopted any system 1t would certainly do SO before
the cold weather set in.
LINES
The president of the broadway and Seventh Avos
nue. Railroad Company smiled when he was asked
II his company intended warming their cars this
winter.
"a number OF plans have been submitted to the
Board, but nothing has beon determined upon" he
said
"whyg"
"weil il is very dificult matter to decide upon.
You may get the too hot too cold and may in.
convenience the public rather than do them good.
We have had u number OF methods under considera-
tion; for instance, tho hot sand method sending
hot oil through pipcs into receiver In tho centre OF
the car, and others
"But do you think your road will adopt any of
these heating sysemsY
81 really could not say am glad the matter Is to
be brought forward. We will certainly do some.
thing IL we can find any feasible methodY'
The reporter went and saw the superintendent OF
the yixth avenue line.