New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-27
A YEAR OF THE TROLLEY
IT'S DRAWBACKS AND ADVANTAGES AS
SHOWN BY EXPERIENCE.
GENERAL, DOUBT REGARDING IT AT THE OUT
sET-How THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EDU-
cATED-sUGsEsTED IMPROVEMENTS
RETTER-LAID TRACKS PROMISED.

! CATED-sUG6EsTED IMPROVEMENTS
RETTER-LAID TRACKS PROMISED
The trolley has now been in use in Brooklyn Tor
q vear and IS gradually taking possession OF the en-
tire field of transportation on the surface OF the
! streete The Eastern District has not yet been
extensively Invaded although several trolley hhes
now run there but In a short time' on all 'ne
lines in that part OF the city, horses VIII De useu
no more. There IS one cable line In the city, out
II is not OF large Importance 1t runs IN Montague
., from Court-st 10 the Wall Street Ferry. IL
saves a good many people, however. from the CLIMB
I'D the Monague-st. hill. which. while not e*ceeu-
ngly steep, slopes up at peculiar angie WHICH
makes walking there a WEAKNESS 10 the nes" eSpe-
cialy on hot summer afternoons
1t Is fair to say that public opinion IN BROOKLYN ID
reference to the trolley has undergone cohsluer-
able change In the course of the last year when
the use OF the trolley was threatened on large
scale many people regarded the prospect with gen
ulne alarm. They had heard or IL, II tney hau NV
seen IT, in operation In other cities ana knew '"a'
trolley cars were often at high speed, ana were
n source OF great danger to people IN the stree's'
They didn't like the prospect OF having their streets
lined with poles supporting miles OF wire carrying
powerful currents OF electricity They nad hediu
Of the buzz of the trolley the WIRE and OF the
trolley Jerk which the inexperienced motormah
knows how perpetrate with disastrous eHec'S o'
messengers standing inside a car
The general attitude OF Brooklynltes was adverse
TO the trolley and for a number OF months ai'e.
the electric cars put In use experience so"eu
that the apprehensons which had been aroused were
far from baseess Accidents followed each olher
with alarming rapdlty. The trolley cars ran d.
least twice as fast the horse cars had done ana
neople had TO be educated up the point OF looking
ont for them. especially the case with
children who formed large proportion OF 'He
victims in the first six months OF the geherai u'0
OF the new motive power
/ he alone
N be educated The motormen did not understand
their business thoroughly; frequently they ran 'oo
fast and they failed 10 keep suhlciehty sn"'p
watch upon the tracks ahead Of them SEVERN
lives were lost because passengers allgh'ed from
n car and passed around in the rear OF II 10 cross
tho other track. without observing that car was
coming down rapidly on that track. Then people
took needless risks A policeman was killed Dy
attempting to board the front platform OF car III
broad daylight; and not long afterward druggist
in upper Futon-st met his death in precse'y tne
same manner although this casualty occurred about
midnight.
Gradually however the people have accustomed
themselves to the new traction agent and Its good
points have become recognized the increase III
speed Is an important consideration, and except III
the more crowded parts OF the city 1t Is felt that
speed Of ten miles an hour Is not unsafe. This reel
ing manifested Itself with considerable emphasis
when \ bill was laid before the Legislature few
weeks ago requiring the trolley cars TO run no no
nrienated with the elevated roads. which had sur
fered a considerable loss of business by reason OF
tne H. except the counsel OF one of the ele
waited companies. The opposition to II was 50 strong
however that it never emerged from the coirh'''ee
Since about the beginning OF the year there has
car accidents although within the last fortnight TWO
or three persons have been killed. In one Of these
cases at least the motorman appears 10 nave peeh
running his car far beyond the legal speed d..
No one contends that the trolley is perfect BUT
IN a
strong recommendation TO the surface companies
and of course II should be fo1nd Up euS
st fast az they do now ana the tact3r OF
IS believed by considerable number OF people that
safety in the operation Of these cars would De IN,
creased by the use OF jngling bell, which would
ring continually while car is In motion OF course
there an objection to this IN Fultonost for eT
moving. and where the ringing Of numerous Dells
would add to the noise and produce CONFUSION IN
il is believed that bells of this sort would afford
needed warning IN many or reeedes t Is e
but this is unsatisfactory and untrustworthy as
Such a bell would probably have prevented the ac-
cidents occurring when persons passing behind n
have been run down by the car coming. unseen and
comparatively silent on the other track 1t would
bicycle rider says that it would be of great adj
vantage of his class, who frequently have
difficulty, when approaching car tracks. In telling
whether the way is clear or every rider
slows up and proceeds cautiously when coming to
a street in which trolley cars run but II the eye
could be assisted by the it would be decidedly to
his advantage.
1t is question whether anything is gained by
placing gate the side Of the car platform next
the other track. 1t seems reasonable that If man
could get a clear view forward as he was about 10
alight that side he would not step off II a car
were approaching in the opposite direction. Some |
accidents therefore might be prevented by remov-
ing the gate which is required by the State Railroad
Commission.
ON few OF the lines in Brooklyn there is a re-
quirement on open of a chain or barrier OF
some kind the side nearest the other track. and
the lines TO be equipped With the trolley by |
the City Railroad Company a stipulation has been
made that such guards must be provided on all open
cars. And yet II is interesting fact that few, II |
any accidents have occurred from passengers aligh
ing from open what is supposed TO he the |
dangerous side. The appears TO be that they
look out and whether danger is approaching |
in the shape OF another
There Is a decided difference in the smoothness
with which the trolley cars run on the various lines
This Is said be due largely, II not wholly 10 the
manner in which the tracks are laid. In most cases
this work has been done by the companies them
selves. On the lines OF the Broadway system now |
under the control OF the City Company. which are
about TO be equipped with the trolley. the writer IL
informed. however. that the new tracks to be
put down by firm OF contractors which has done
work Of this in other cities with great success
and which guarantees a more smooth and even track
than any now in Brooklyn