New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-09
TENDERS ON TROLLEY CARS.
low TIE ACTION or The BROOKLYN
ALDERMEN Is REGARDED

Tho action Of the Brooklyn Board of Aldermen
" considerable degree &c interest and called out
variety OF opinions. IL Is unquestionably the
h,c desire that the best possible means of guard
,c against danger from the running OF trolley cars
=, comparatively hign rates OF speed should be
s,oy,ded That these have not been provided al
LADY Is eviden; from glance in the case OF some
:, the Brooklyn companies, and is questioned even
- the case Of the principal surfacc-car company all
:, whose cars fitted with certain style of
,.,ssr. This company claims that il has done all
,,. Is necessary; and the railroad people generally
,r,and that the Aldermen have exceeded their
,xsrs IN undertaking 10 establish a commission
,,b shall adopt a certain style of fender and force
al the companies to use it.
The resolution adopted by the Aldermen provides
n, A commission, to consist of three Aldermen,
,,,ee representatives of the railroad companies
.,i a seventh man selected by the others which
.hall examine the entire subject and agree upon
fender TO be used by all the companies on all their
ars. II is a question how much power the Common
,auncl has in a matter Of this kind. In the case of
company seeking a franchise for certain streets.
or one of the old companies asking for additional
,ryeges. 1t would be legitimate TO impose con-
Alton OF this nature. The State Railroad Commits
sinners in giving their consent to any company to
u,e electricity might exact the condition that a
certain style of fender should be employed for the
protecon of the public. But it is not contended
by any ore that even the Railroad Commission has
the right force fender upon railroad companies
after they secured the privilege of running
by electric traction. Similar conditions the poten-
tial one Just suggested have been imposed, in
the case of certain Brooklyn lines which are re-
ouirei 10 place guards open cars that pas
ssngers cannot aght on the side next the other
track and also in the general requirement of gates
an the car platforms on the side furthcst from the
a6ewalk
The authority OF the Board of Aldermen in respect
10 street and elevated IS limited. 1t has the
right 10 make rules and regulations regarding the
speed Of cars and the convenience and safety Of
the public but 1t cannot compel the companies to
run cars all night, for instance If they do not think
II will pay, nor can it require certain number OF
cars TO be within certain length of time. II
cannot compel the companies II heat their cars. II
cannot proven; them from tearing up the streets
whenever they please to repair relay their tracks
II is doubtful whether IL has any power 10 require
the use of safety appliances of one specific sort or
another. At all events the companies are not IN
clined to adml; the existence OF any such powers.
This is especially the case with the Brooklyn City
Company which has placed tenders on ali Of its cars
and contends that ii has done all that can reason
ably be asked for
The cars of the other Brooklyn companies have
no tenders worthy of the name they are provided
only with a guard placed directly in front OF the
wheels and only an inch or two from the pavement
Their officers assert that this viii efecually pre-
ven; any one from being over. but It il per
fectly evident tina, IL a person were thrown down
IN front of one Of these he would be badly hurt
By the body of the car the step. the brake. etc.
even II he not actually run over The prob
abilities in such are that the arrangement 10
keep the from running over any one would only
add 70 the trouble Some Of these companies have
made numerous experiments with tenders, Of which
there are large variety in the market. but appar-
emily they have found nothing satisfactory. The
president Of one of them said few weeks ago that
he trying hard TO find something that would
be effective and that his company was ready TO
adopt any fender that proved 10 be so: but up to
that time nothing had been found that would
answer the purpose
In behalf of the Brooklyn City Company one OF
Its officials said yesterday: I'VE have the only
fender that will do the work and have adopted 1t
Of our own free will. without any compusion, De-
cause we thought we ought TO do the best for the
Dublic that we could. This fender has been tried.
and It answers the purpose. That Is the only tnns
10 be said about 1t. This same fender Is USED by
The West End Company in Boston and after they
had given IL thorough trial We adopted It, These
ire the only two companies tnat have adopted
lenders. and at least have done II voluntarily.
In Boston / think they were practically compeHeu
10 do It by the Railroad Commission and other In
huences. Our company has gone to large expense
n providing these tenders. We have some LOO
Or 100 cars every one o. which has two tenders
and the cost has been abou; s35 car. That Is a
very large sum; and now II appears that the A'ue'
men have the right-at least so they claim-to make
us throw all these aside and use something else
that may be agreed on.
Then what assurance Will there be that the next
~ rrstll
Again? Suppose We put on tie device selected ny
this commission. and then suppose an acclue"s nqp
pens We be held responsible II We use E ~,
that has been forced upon US? Ii seems TO me tld
the courts would at once ask the question: ,5n
which ii took? That would so directly to the i0uil
dalton OF the whole matter. have tne Boat
Aldermen any right 10 take such action p'o. ~
the position OF this company VIII De 10 ueny
Jurisdiction. 1t Is possible that the , srS
rules would tend to insure the safe rnnn,ng u.
electric cars but even with such an autnoIF ,nd
doubtful whether 1t would have any right 10 "eo'ue
"A, any rate II would seem only reasonable for
the fender have In use 10 TeceNet ior 20
examine ton. and perhaps the commission II !" 49,
created. might agree that that was the 6esi thins
after all II is certain that it has woTKea onc T.
Win DO every time We have picked up fifteen or
sixteen different persons already mos 81 m"n~
the number. The fender projects in front OF the
car and while 1t will not pick up person Niin E
the track-and | doubt whether any fender can oe
forpd which Will do that-lf it strikes any one
sanding lis tendency is to trip him up ana ca,S yen
M This is what ii has done repeatedly IN , ,he
Fuent condition OF our pavements IL - on, ~ 1917
essston to have fender placed so near se S" me
urface that IL will pick up person ylns VI, 49,
eound II there we're asphalt pavemehts, eHenS
where Of the Tenders could be placer st
70 the surface AS 1t H. some or our Vim me
bent and injured by coming into contact MIN a ~,
pavement, owing to the oscillation OF the 0"'' ~
the unevenness Of the paving-si9nes. ,niov IN the
Our experience has shown that any thins u,
way OF netting cannot be used because ~, ~ "t dh,
licensed yenders and the like seem TO take uensn.
In driving upon our iron tenders and breaking tnei
X they can No network OF cords or ropes "ouiu
stand the racket for more than a few days or even
few trips We have the only fender tnat Eas Ieen o
shown 20 be a success and we don't htehn ~
throw IL aside and adopt another unless we see me
reason why These tenders OF ours fre9Te. s of
them have 10 be taken TO the forge and suagneheuu
out They are a continual expense TO US. thV ,
they can doubtless be repaired more cheapy u h,
Any other fender We don't use them lor Iun, o ou
because We think they will DO the WORK, anu o''
experience has convinced M that this ~ tne
variety OF tenders has been invented anu nIsv
upon the trolley companies but AFTER e1pe,Iie a,,a
mr. loo o.1 al