New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-06
DEATH BY THE TROLLEY.
BROOKLYN's HORRIBLE RECORD OF
SLAUGHTER AND MANNING.


NO AvAn,-A HEARING TO BE HELD TO-
uoRRow-THE RUNNING OF CARS
MAY BE MORE CAREFUL IN
THE FUTURE.
Tho record 81 death and injury made by the
trolley cars i'm Brooklyn since their INTRODUCTION
on the surface railroad lines OF the CITY Is so''
thing appalllng, and concerted eIor's are "'o"'
70 he made to adequately protect the people OF inc
city against the death-deaing engines OF des'ruc-
ton The matter has aroused pupnc a''e"'.o' "
n marked degree OF late by the frequency OF acci-
dents and the failure TO bring any one 10 account
for the fatalities. There have reeh nearly o"'
hundred persons killed since the use OF ,rohey cars
IN the freouented portions OF the city began TWO
years and half ago. The Coroner Ju''eS nav.
held inqucsts. and have censured ho'orn''n anu
companies but without result. The men In charge
OF the cars have been arrested, Dut nave "o' peen
held to answer for their acts. The companies "hich
derive their right the streets from 'he Guy
authorities. have not been brought to account by
public sentiment law for thelr MISUSE an"
the slaughter has gone on unchecked. II inc
Grand Jury should indict motornan FOR muir
der or manslaughter and he should De Uieu anu
punished. a lesson would be learned ny All the
men in charge OF the ears. II company were
compellod TO adequately compensate for damage
done TO life or limb by the reckless running OF the
cars. or lose its valuable privileses' Inc e,ec'
would be most salutary upon all the corporations
operating by electricity
II IS believed that brooklyn has made an un-
paral elod record OF fatalities since the trolley was
introduced In her streets. She Is the largest city
in the land in which the chief propellng power Tor
street-cars is electricity Neither Philadelphia nor
Chicago uses electric traction exclusively as IL the
case in Brooklyn. save for snort nan mile Oh
ca bic road I'm Montague-st. In tho last year horses
we're dispensed with. and the trolley SUBSTITUTED
on all the principal Ines. where the change had not
do unsf he
done on the short lire which runs on the easterly
and southcrly sides OF Prospect Park where horses
were still used month ago. Boston Is the next
largest city making extensive use OF ToHcy cars
They run there In the crowded business PORTIONS
OF the city and far out into the suburbs But
the record of fatalities Is much smaller In pro-
portion TO the population than in Brooklyn And
vet the speed OF the cars. especially In the sub
urban portions OF the city. Is greater than on any
OF the Brooklyn lines which run Into the suburbs
In Brookne and in other outlying parts OF boston
a speed OF twenty miles an hour Is allowed. and
the ears only stop for passengers at certain points
designated by poles set up for the purpose. No
such custom prevails In Brooklyn. and the speed
is limited by law 10 ten miles an hour. bnt
In the business quarters OF Boston the speed does
not exceed six miles hour. While the
restrictions In Brooklyn 30 not provide for less
rate OF speed In the business quarters than else
whore IL IS a fact that seldom goes faster
than five miles an hour In lower Ful'on-st. or
.ower broadway. where a large amount OF travel
"a oonccsted. Some other reason than excessive
81 ocd must be found FOR the LONG is OF iatal ac-
cidcnts I'm Brooklyn.
one reason for the greater number or accidents In
Brooklyn I'm proportion to population than In other
cities is doubtless the fact that cars - excessive
size and weight used upon The principal Hines
The Brooklyn Heights Company which controls
thirty-two lines ont u the Hytwo lines IN the city.
hal equipped mos, Of them with ears considerably
i1roe ND ha he AZ
use. The motor on these cars wcign nearly two
tons each and when hfiy NJ Sky pass ngers are
In a CIR and the whoe IS propelled 80 rate of ten
niles an hour. a MUM is game! which cannot
be stopped in time to avert faia. accidents In all
cases.
When the tremendous power oXoricl In propcllng
the heavy cars j. considered the wonder Is that
more accidents 90 occur Instead OF fewer. II Is
believed that the records VIII show that the number
OF fatal accidents IS less On the Lines whore the
ordinary size % IS used than upon those where
the larger and heavier ones are run II is an object
OF some importance 10 The companies 70 use IN"
larger cars. n tax ot 80 car IS paid 10 tn oliy.
and ~ three OF the cars can OH the pace ~
four Of the Old a considerable saving r. Sc
cured. Bu, this Is more than Offset hy the adm
tlonal losses II persons are Killed At the
rate Of 5000 FOR each fatal accident the ninety Ola
peraons Killed have cost the companies nearly half
a million OF dollars and a Ike sum has had - be
paid out or Will have TO be paid out. in damages
recovered FOR injuries with the repeal OF the limit
OF $500 as damages for causing death. the com
plnics may be mulcted In much larger sums for
fa,allties hereafter. II any case can claim agra
waited damages II IL the causeless killing Of pc
der,rian in "A pubic street by engine propelled
at wanton rate OF speed at the Will OF a souess
corporation
Various plans have been suggested for iessening
the trolley death rate All OF the Brooklyn com
panes have adopted some form OF safety fender.
For a time 1t thought that these would obvate
to great degree the DANCE to persons crossing
| the tracks in front OF the On the Atlantic
Avenue Companys lines board Is suspended by
iron rods just above the tracks and close In front
OF the forward wheels prevent persons from get
ting under the whee.s. On the lines OF the Brooklyn
| City and Newtown Company a V-shaped fender Is
placed In a similar position and aids in throwing
from the track the person who falls under the car
on the principle Of "A cowcatcher on an engine. The
cars OF the Brooklyn Heights Company are equipped
with fender like an enormous gridiron which pro-
jects In from, Of the from beneath the platform
and is about foot above the tracks 1t Is so far
in front that the motorman cannot check the speed
OF the before 1t strikes an endangered person.
an} In several Instances 1t has passed over the body
Ola person. that II afforded no protection from
contac; with the wheels. Many other devices have
been tested but has been found entirely salts
factory. and wholly adequate device Is yet In use
anywhere. To aid the .motorinan III ms constant
gers from the front platforms OF the cars but this
| Is not the case on any OF the lines controlled by
the Brooklyn Heights company. Inc RUE against
conversing with the motorman IN not enforced. ana
besides having his attention distracted by converse,
ton from his duties the motorman has TO signal
the conductor for all passengers who get on the
front platform. that their fares may be regis
| tered
An effort was made last fall by the Aldermen to
secure the adoption OF some improved safety fender
| by all the companies resolution was passed
providing for "A commission Of seven 10 consider
the subject and decide upon form OF fender which
| all the companies were to adopt by January
| under penalty OF prosecution for nisdcmeanor:
! The Mayor vetoed the resolution on the ground
that II not legal for the Aldermen To delegate
| their power a commission whose conclusions
must be compiled with under penalty.
But the Mayor has given considerable attention
TO the subject OF trolley restrictions The questions
| Of INF n