New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-03

FONTS oNEllhpkE'
The r.psr, - Mlyor SrAlercu's Advisory Commit
too on ID. trolley contains some gooI points. tut IN
one or two respects falls 10 meet pIoc expeditions
The number ~ fatal accidents caused hy trolley cars
In tho lest w,,k serves 20 emphasize ~ least one o.
the ON .sslons Tn" committee had nothing whatever
- "a, on the subject - employing none but com
retcnt m1tormcn. l. is believed with reason that
th. coils 1us AM accidents which have occurred
since TIE strike caused the employment OF "A .arge
number - new men have been occaslonei more than
ANYTHING else hy ilc fact that men without SUN
ci,nt experience AMI without the requisite qualhci-
tons hii bon put IN charge - cars. This i
gross imposition ~" public. and is necessarily
source 81 great danger.
In the opnion % some cool judges. there f. a.
much reason Tor requiring motorman 10 secure
license from some proper city authority as 10 re-
quirc & man who wishes 10 run steam boiler -
submit himself 10 an examination 10 prove his ahh-
ity 10 do MS work properly and with safety To al
concerned The officers OF the railroad companies
laugh t. scorn any one who suggests TO them that
to run trolley requires skilled labor and that
the men on theyfront platform should be engaged on
4 different principle from tracklayers and shovel
crs 1t IL fact nevertheless. 1t Is not the highest
form OF skilled labor. but Il certainly IS a form ana
the man who ls intrus'ed with the responsibility 81
running one ~ thcs, heavy ana dangerous vehicles
through the streets should be required 70 prove his
capacity for doing 50 the satisfaction OF an OIL
cial or board appointed Tor that purpose. but on
this point the Advisory Committee is silent
II prcscrlbcs ten miles hour As the limit OF
speed FOR trolley cars; which is much more sensible
than the clghi-mie limit suggested 10y committte
~ the Common Council Monday. II might be
difficult to define the territory with precision. but
there certainly parts Of the city within which
cars can be run with safety at a higher speed IMAM
one mile six minutes. Take for an illustration the
section OF Fatbush- ave between the main entrance
OF Prospect Park and the WAnk entrance, every
mile "A "A
would not be In the way Of doing any damage To
prescribe too low a limit would he to deprive the
people Of the advantage which They have right to
expect from the substitution of The trolley system
for horses.
II Is undoubtedly wise to keep passengers off the
front platforms Of cars, 10 fur sh no occasion
for dstracting the mOtorrnans attention; but this
- a QUESTION az Ia what shall he done with
raises IIes'ton d" ~ cc,rini Hot ,iIsnc of
vantage. ON or two lines already 10 passengers
are allowed In front, and smokers are relegated To
the rear platform 10 the great annoyance Of non
smokers who cannot escape the odor OF pipes ana
cigars on entering or leaving cars. The smoke too.
cannot be kept out Of the owing 10 the frequent
opening Of the doo- and the arrangement Is most
unsatisfactory. Sp.r Al cars Tor smokers would APP
pear he needed.
1t is question who er much is gained by keep
Ing the gates on the ttck s!le Of the rear platform
closed That Is the present practice and - recon-
mcnded by the comriitt.e yet in some cases "a 1t has
apparently been the cause OF accidents II the gate
on that side were open no one would ,r r5eP on IN
any ne would have opportunity TO see wheth-
| or the track was clear before alighting whereas
the T rear q On the S the to
find sometimes that another car is dangerously close
| at hand.
In the matter Of Tenders the committee is decisive
without being definite: "Al cars should be provided
| a commission Of experts" When Mayor Schicren
vetoed the action q the Aldermen on the fender
| vsory committee a deverance OF this general kind
Is not exactly what the pubic looked for me me
best possible fender already though II Is well known
that IL does accomplish the purpose for which II
| ig In con hectic
last week II stated that the child Killed was
| struck by the fender and then run by the car
company aege. why was not the chld's HE saved?
4 Th G%mmes is r IN ns on caution
points where surface ear tracks ntersect. although
dead stop before crossing another line ON general
| principles 1t Is we'll to recognize AS the committee
that other vehicles should not obstruct the tracks
The suggestion that the companies should provide
depots. and also furnish and coffee at reason
able prices. In order to keep the men out OF liquor
The committees structures on the overcrowdlng Of
eonvenenee delay and danser S se nppr 70,
There Is something naive In the suggestion that the
exceed Its seating capacity by than 80 per
At present II is no uncommon thing to see In ear
down more than that number standing. some hold
ing fast to straps and others having support save
what they get from leaning against the strapho.d-
ers Why should not the number of passengers al
lowed to stand be strictly limited to the number OF
straps supplied?
SAFETY AND SPEED FOR TROLLEY CARS.
| To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: am very pleased to agree with you when
| you say that 1.-The report OF a committee OF the
! Brooklyn Board OF Aldermen that the speed OF
trolley cars in that city should not exceed esh,
miles hour is absurdy. What the people
| ask ~. fret safety. and next speed. the greatest
| that can be obtained.
the Recommendation OF the committee ever takes