The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-09
All-Nioht Street Cars.

A city ordinance was passed by the Board
OF Aldermen about ten days ago requiring
all surface car lines In this town to run cars
all night at fifteen minutes interval. Sew
eral of the street lines have been doing this
for wears. No opposition to the ordinance
was manifested at the time it was proposed,
and it duly became law.
Now the representatives OF some OF the
railroad companies affected want to have
the ordinance either modified or repealed.
Their request for a reconsideration has been
granted, and pending settlement the oper-
alton Of the law has been suspended. The
whole matter has been referred to the Rail
road Committee OF the Board, which has
been holding public sessions regarding an
amendment Of the ordinance, and will hold
another Oh Wednesday. The modification
is that the ordinance shall apply only to tho
lines on Second, Third. Sixth, and Eighth
avenues the FOrty-secOnds street, Flfty-ninth
street, Twcnty-thiDd street, Christopher and
Tenth streets and Grand street cross-town
lines, the One Hundred and Twenty-ffth
street cable the Belt line, the Broadway line,
and the Fourth avenue line below Eighty
sixth street.
There are, OF course. two sides to this
question The side viewed by the railroad
companies is the undeslrability of increasing
their expenses at hours when the patronage
of cars Is sure to be light, and when no profit
Is to be expected. Naturally enough, they
do not desire to run cars at such times.
On the other hand, the rights OF the public
are to be considered. In the first place, more
than 100, 600 persons in this city pursue their
ordinary vacations at night time Many
OF these labor at some distance from their
homes, and most OF them down town or at
or near the ferries. There IS also largo
travelling public obliged by the schedules OF
the railroad companies either to leave or to
enter the city between the hours Of mid
night and sunrise. The majority Of the
railroads connecting New York with other
cities have their terminus in New Jersey.
For such travellers, clearly. there should DO
some accommodation.
In the interest Of public order, too, all
night cars would be n boon. They would
add, especially for women, to the security OF
the streets through which they run. and
would lesson the labors Of the police.
The street railway companies which are
already running all-night cars at first op-
posed the proposition just as strenuously as
the lines to which the new ordinance applies
are now opposing it. But, having arranged
their schedules to run cars at night, they
have not since seen any need Of discontinue
ing them, but are dlsincined to do So
Acouple OF years ago, whenlMayor HEWITT
recommended to the Board of Aldermen the
adoption Of an ordinance for the abolish
mont on certain surface roads OF the So
called Tiger cars. and for the employment
Of conductors on the one-horse cars which
were permitted to continue, there was a
loud cutlery on the part OF the companies
affected. Many fears were expressed that
such an ordinance would rob these compa-
MES OF the profits which they had hitherto
made. But the change has been carried for
ward without any OF the consequences which
were apprehended. On the contrary. the
roads have found the change most de-
srable both for the public and for them
selves. On account OF the improved accom-
modations offered they have had an Increase
Of traffic. The Seventh avenue line, for in
stance, had scanty and motley patronage
during the reign Of the jigger cars. Its
business has vastly increased since it put on
improved two-horse cars.
In the same way the new ordinance, which
is now so vigorously opposed by several of
the companies is quito likely. II 1t goes into
effect, to benefit them considerably. Its
modification. 30 that 1t may apply only to
those roads where the public requirements
Justify all-night cars, is opposed by no oneI
but against its enforcement on the principal
lines, and moro especially on those running
across town, no good reason for opposition
has yet Appeared. except In the case of the
Ono Hundred and Twenty-fifth street line.
which, Tor mechanical reasons. demands