New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-22
COMPLAINTS OF THE BROADWAY LINE

COMPLAINTS or THE BftC9HN - i-i-''''
THE CHIEF GRIEVANCES or PASsENG EIS-sTArE-
MEETS or THE GENERAL MANAGER.
Far 2 long time people have been complaining OF
the way the Broadway streetcar line is manager anu
of the indgnites to which the passengers are SUD
ected bu; OF late the complaints have been even
more numerous and more serious one OF the great
IS; causes Of complaint at the present time IS 'he 'a''
that at night IL Is extremely difficult Tor wouid-De
passengers 10 tell what part Of the city the cars
are going person standing on the corner OF
d,wn,ou.n street finds II almost physical mpossi-
bIlitv 10 tell whether an approaching car Is bro''-
way car a Lexingion-ave. car or Nol"ihouS-aN'
car The only distinguishing marks OF the cars OF
these different lines not very large signs painted
in different coors the tops and on the front dash
hoards Persons desiring TO board one OF these
car. makes guess that the one ne boards IS
the one which ne wants. and in most cases does nol
discover his error until the car reaches the point
where fl branches off in different direction from
tho one in which ne wishes 10 go. There Il only one
oeihcd for him 10 pursue then. He must get of the
car and walt for another and pay an extra fare for
the nr,,ilege of riding on H. There are no transfers
In sucn cases.
Another cause Of complaint; Of which much ha-
heen heard lately Is the discOurtesy ana brutality OF
the car officials Complaints Of hs Kind are Of daiF
occurrence and in NAM caseS they are aired IN me
malice courts The experience Of Robert billiard
appears to nave been only that Of hundreds OF other
persons who ride on me Broadway cars
WIFE "A view 10 learning whether ine oHlclai- OF me
Ne,ropolitan Ira ,rion Company mad considered the
matter and II so whai they proposed 20 do about IT,
= Tribune reporter called their offices. in the Caoe
building at Broadway and Housion-st yesterdaN'
President Vrceland was absent nut H. NJ Il'i"h. the
nrs yc4-presldent and general manager OF the com
,,r,. ,a1k.l freely and said the company id not FOR
r,o,rer u ish people 10 think that it would no, 10
everything possible for their comfort NJ IAitel ma
held mis- present office only iwo days ana ne sah tha'
under the circumstances ne had not nad an o2por-
flny TO look into the things complained o. lie san
.ha, fhe METROPOLITAN Traction Company wanted -
limos 80 maragel tina; the public would ind posi-
tive ples,ur. in pa ron 'zns them But oi course.
continued MI Isttc 1T is a great system and 1t j.
difficult 10 do Jus; what We desire IN all cases was
Of the opinion that the ears Of the different lines
ro,,ld be readily detected at nigh, especially as
Broadway Is well lighted | have been with the COM
nanv Ga shor. a time that II can keep up the great
work accomplished by my predecessors snail be eH-
tremely grathed
III is one of the rules of tn, company that the
conductor Of A car OF the Broadway system shall
oImaus in form passengers when getting on whether
II is A Broadway. I.exington-ave. or tolumbus-aNe
car me M bsinsss Of the conductor to stop /
Immediately for him TO aght , -. :.
TO passenger ana act r IN az
that complaints sent to the company are pigeon
troube IT, however that in the case OF many com
plants we cannot identify the offender. The com
ductor All the conductors wear badge for TINS
purpose solely We do not require the number OF
The car or the time. so long as We have the number
OF the conductor
1T should he remembered that some OF the men
are sorcly tried at times Wo instances OF me
Kind came under my observation this morning.
passenger hailed the open car In which was seated.
and because IL happened 20 run four or five feet
mast the crossing he berated the conductor soundly.
The latter did not know me, but ne made no reply
to the rate passenger at all The passenger was
certainly in the wrong Then woman got on the
car which started up before she had taken her
scat and she abused the conductor. All ne said In
renlv was she on the car before he started
/, We wish TO do everything we can 10 please our
narrons and n there any improvements which
we can adopt we shall be only 100 HAPPY 10 maze
thcno in The future as IN" company has IN the