New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-05
4 MAIN ARTERY OF TRAFFIC.


history of cable cars in Chicago. with me ap
palling record of accidents. the beginning Oh
| the work of preparation for the running or Sich
cars in our chief business thorouShfarc must
excite thrill of apprehension. People WIN"
| make trips by tho cable line in Harlem ma II
| hard to convince themselves that cars Oh inns
sort can be used with safety In so crowded
street as Broadway. c-hundred-and-twcn
| ty-ffth->t. is uncommonly broad. There IS
| compa,ltively little movement of heavy tralhc
| in it. and such thing as a blockade or Jam
| between IFS ample sidewalks is unknown. In
the big open spaces of Onc-hundrcd-and-twcn-
ty-ffth-St the cable cars have been run with
few mishapS. and the ritconS sight oi cripp'r>
manned for life hy cable system has rarely
been observed, although it was shocklnS'y IRE
ouent few years ago in Chicago. But the
cable lines in such road as Broadway. although
too narrow for its present uses. chokcd with
| trucks and wagons through the business horrs
Of the day will hc an altogether different aialr'
and the introduction of this scheme OF trans
por,ation cannot fail to be attended with serious
| perilS.
The Broadway Company has complied with
the provisions of tho law, obtained the consent
| of the municipal authorities TO make IN" change
| has agreed to compensate the city treasury III
| some small measure at least, and under the
protection of the law is now at work getting
ready for this important change As this chang"
is now inevitable, is it not the conspicuous duty
! Of the city authorities TO be hcStlrrinS them
| solves TO relieve the congestion Of Broadway
during business hours?
| Even in One hundrcd and twenty fifth
the swift approach OF n cable car with It> r1nc-
| ing bell its rattle and lis bang. Is enough I"
>rar,lc n nervous horse. What confusion. terror
and dire consequences such cars may 'al>"
when they come daShinC down upon tanGlc
Of trucks. business wagons and privat" car
racr> in thicky damned part of Hr'li-
| way must stir tho most sluggish Imagination.
| The Broadway Company may make larger
| profits hy the use &C. cables than II now makes
| and there will hc one advan,ac" AZ least +" In"
community broadway will be- cleaner "h"n
| the horses that now draw the cars are all re-
| moved That BrNdway. however. Will to lar
lo>, Slfo for the crossing Of l"'i">'liin~ ah"
the passage of vehicles is TOO evident T. r'H'll"
| discussion There i nnrhing elastic. th"i" i
| nothing swiftly ol"cd"nr tactlh" ot d"1h'
| about cali" c1r>. IL they have h''n u>"d ~
| Chicago and in Harlem. When collision with
an ordinary hor>,'-car is Threatened any a''if
ard nIml,lc diver can pull mp hi horses an"
turn them ~ ono >I" with such sWIi'n">> ~
| 10 avert tn" worst con>' qu"nC.> of III" shock
| Even when horses ran int and knock d"WN a
| ca,o">, lcl.>tii: I'm h. chances 80 "e'1l" h"n
| fatal t,lmpn. hy their houf> and from bong
| run over hv H." wheels ar" much greater than
they can hc If h. j. struck hy an uny"ldln"
! mass Of metal Tx" tho foni platform OF =
| cable car An ideal system Of cry government
wond meyer permit cable cars III crowded 'h"r-
ouChfarc>
II i, evident. thcn that III" city o! New.
Ymk ourh; n"W t" J." en-! i'lc 'N meas t''
,c.>nriug tn. pl">,li" in Er"ll"a'. TIE plaza
! which tue IEIiJ NJ las atI"'I''d h".":'. 80
cX,cndin. to.iil...>r. a.iol.!> practical IN
charlottesville. useful and efficient method 81
llincing about thi> n","->1rv r',H.t. C"n'r
T. ought l., l." o>,"n,"d 10 Lafayette Pace.
| Mos, of III" property on this I'm" could l." a.
uiiicd ~ a l..t>"ial." evp'u>". ard III" ont .tl'
f. the civ would be vastly l">> ihan Tho -
| urudi,ul. for In. >r-oall"t l.,m->i. improve
rlcui. II "-uI:.->t veg" '.,t"n' i 10 l.a'ri''' '
p.ac. and paved ,h!pu,hou, with The hc> pos
| ,iIIo uI'cIIt! II Wut..I i.'n" fl an Iu:u.rI~''
percentage IF tie traffic q EralNIH ami
would aT.ld rIof "f tn" lG.l-,i iini,'I'1p"'
I, that thorpugh'arc. cur city uiIl'i.- should
take thi, matter III hand. Tn" cl'm"l.t> O.! tn"
prohcm are already thoroughly ul@oi>t""d.
The und"rtahln. c"ud b" carried "n ~ a
v.,y short lime The benefits t. ia" city would
| be almost inc>ilma'Ic.