New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-10
4 SMOHING-CAR PROBLEM.
GENERAL. MANAGER l. d. BARTON IN
QUANDARY.
AT A LOSS HOW TO PUT THE SMOKERS" IN
DEFINITE PLACE WHEN BROOKLYN ELE-
WAITED TRAINS RUN AROUND
LOOP AT THE BRIDGE

smoklng-cars have become an established feature
of the elevated roads in Brooklyn. and for the last
two or three years have been run on every tram on
both the brooklyn and ;hc Kings County lines Some
surprise was caused recently at cha nSc OF policy
on the East New-York and Fifth-ave. lines OF the
Brooklyn Company. whereby the smokers nave
been dispensed with during the middle part Of the
day. except Saturdays aud Mondays. Nh"n
General Manager l. l. Barton was ASKED ABOUT '''e
reasons for the change h. said:
yes I have laid off the smoking-cars on those
two lines between 1000 and 23) O'Clock, for several
reasons one is that there are not many smokers
travelling at that time Of the day win TWO pas
seng.r coaches we are able - accommodate all the
people travelling. but could not do II with one
coach and smoking-car. Before deciiing on thiS
course had a careful count made for q number OF
days and found that on the average while nine or
ten men would ride in the smoker only two or
three of them would be smoking. Then another strong
reason was 50 that there could be chance to give
All IN. smckine-cars thorough cleaning. with the
large number Of men riding in them in the morn
ing hours they ct in a frightu condition. ana they
can lie cleaned properly only by laying them Oh II
the end of the route Al the same time, Oh tAe
Broadway and Myrtle-avc. lines. where the class OF
trav.l is not so good. keep the smok.ns-cars
running all day and al night and although some
thing in III way Of cleaning Is done every trip. 1t
is impossible to give the such cleansing as
they really need
Have there been any complaints from smokers
regarding this arrangement? was asked
None have come to me-" replied Mr. Barton
'but understand that some Of the train hands nave
he'd some difficulty in making men wanting TO
smoke understand that they could not do It. On
SATURDAYS and Mondays. when the travel is heavier
than other days. We run three-car trains ana
keep the smokers in operation all day.
do you consider it good thing TO run smoking
cars on elevated trtins?'
Yes / think it accommodates d good many peo-
pie and | DO not believe that the custom could DC
abandoned without causing a howl from i
good many passengers know they do not run
any smokers the elevated roads in NeW-lotK'
but the policy is firmly established in brooklyn
Not only docs it accommodate those wishing -
smoke. but our men have orders to direct wo'kiHe"
with tools. men with packs. and the like into the
Smokers. and thus they are kept out OF the resu-
lar passenger cars and away from people WHO
might object to their presence.
Looking out from the windows OF Mr.. Barton 5
Office. the work on the extension OF the e'eNa'eu
road under his management is IN pam sieht ara
a question naturally followed to when ii would De
completed and the running of trains around the oop
begun. Every one familiar with the conSluCtI..Y
of the nov Bridge station and the Brooklyn Ele-
waited ROAD knows that the latter when finished will
orcrcle the Plaza and pass through the stau9h az
barton. but do not believe shall be able to
run trains the new plan before April J. IheIe rs
a good deal of work vet be done. our pan Is
TO run all trars into the station at the norm end
and all Of them out at tn son,h o yna dreron and
some in the other. but my experience as a rairoau
man tells me- avoid al. switches ana cIOsrpN ~ =
wherever possible. That il what we snail 90 ~
adopting the plan | have referred TO. Ihcre VIII
have 10 be one CrossOver as trains by the TWO
inss vcil discharge their passengers on opposite
platforms but believe in avoiding the crossing OF
trains lust as much we can.
Mr. Barton paused. and after a moment went on
with a smile: "NOW. there IS one thlG that am
irving to arrange which. | suppose. You Won-u
never think Of 1t is how TO manage the smoking
cars after we begin operate the loop Al present
The smoker Is at the rear end of every train com
ing downtown and at the forward END OF every
train nulling out from the Bridge The people kno"
ius where TO look for II. and in the rush hours III
the evening they take possession OF the snlokInss-
car almost before the train has come ID sianistil
Now if we had a loop at both ends II would De
easy TO keep the smoker at the same cnl OF tle
train all the time. but when d train makes 10 y
al this end and into pocket at the other 'hS
.smokar will be first END OF the tram ana
then AT the other, and 1t viii be almost Impossible
10 tell In advance where il is TO be iOunu on any
train , IN e,or,
There Is not time when are running on snort
beadway 10 switch the smokers at the other end OF
The line for there is barely time to run mo IN.
rocket cut loose from one engine. attach anOther a.
tbe other end fasten the bellropes and pull out /
confess that | way out Of the diihcultY mus
far except TO pu; the smoker in the mdlIe OF tle
train That would keep 1t all the time in the same
raIafive position, but don't like the idea. and
know II will be regarded by many as a nuisance 10
have II there For instance. ladies who may ue-
sire TO pass from part OF the tram 20 aholhel
vould find il GisagreeaDle to make thSlr way
through the smoking-car II ought 10 pc kept al
ore end bu, o not yet see how 1t can be donS. l
Gon't suppose any railroad manager ever had 10
grappIe with such problem before. ana 10 me IL IS