New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-27
THE"SfOKERn IN THE MIDDLE
HOW SUPERINTENDENT BARTON HAS
SOLVED HIS RAILROAD PROBLEM.
THE ONLY WAY. HE THINKS. TO ACCOMMODATES
THE PEOPLE DURING RUSH HoURs-TRANs-

THE ONLY WAY HE THINKS TO ACCOMMODATE
THE PEOPLE DURING RUSH HoURs-TRANs-
rERs OF TICKET AGENTS.
Since tie publication n The Tribune few weeks
ago ~ the ouandary that confronted Superin-
tendent Barton, OF the Brooklyn Elevated roao III
reference TO the running OF smokinS-cars on the
trains OF his road after the loop at the bridse
terminus Is put In operation he has received nu-
merous suggestions to the solution OF the prop
lem but none OF them have proved 10 De OF prac-
teal value.
AT nresent the smoker" Is the on down.
town trains and the front on uptown trains.
II there were loops at both ends OF the roao' !.
would be easy keep It at one end or the o'her All
the time But with loop at only one eno' '"e
smoker" would be alternately first al one emo
and then at the other unless 1t were switched
each time at the outer terminus In the ouss
hours there Is not time enough 70 permit sue"
switching The moment a train arrives the en-
CINE Is cut loose from one end anotner engine is
attached at the other end. and the tram pui's OUT
with as little delay possible. Besides maSihs
| this switching necessary, the company would nave
to supply an extra set Of smokinS-cars n case inc
attempt made TO keep the smokers a'""''
In the same relative position
So Mr. Barton has decided that the only prac-
ticable way e 10 put the smoklns-car III .he
m ddle OF the train during the rush hours Al o'He
times when .Nese are run they VIII take 'her
place either the front or the rear Oh t"e ''a'''
as the case may be- and the trainmen VII nave
TO direct smokers to the right car ms VIII cause
more or less confusion, OF course ana some p'sseN
gers will be sure 10 be annoyed when smoRers
with Cigars cigarettes or pipes IN their nou'ts OF
hands pass through the regular cars 10 rea'h '"e
smoking-car Superintendent Barton appreciates
all this bu, sees no other way OF dealing with the
matter He also sees clearly the practical oo,ec-
ton TO having the smoker" In the middle OF
eva-car train for several hours each day. FOR IN
case Messengers wish TO go from one END OF the
train to another they Will have 10 pass through
the smok.ng-car Talking the matter over yes'ef-
day. he said:
People now know Jus: where the smoker IS 10 DC
looked for and they govern themselves Accordingly
Dur,no the rish hours In the afternoon all the men
who smoke make for the forward end OF the tram
and pile aboard soon as train comes IN NOW
II we were TO have the smoker at one END on S
tr,in and at the other end the next one, they
would mng,e with the other passengers ana couil
not possibly be directed TO the right car III uie ~
! ger aboari % Il before the train started There
Would be endless confusion and complaint Durlni;
when travel Is light ho"eVer ~ M, WI.
and when three-car trains run have no nt en-
ton of putting the smoker IN the middle In The
smoker In the middle OF the train although
the objections 20 mat arrangemen as cieas sstS az
the smokrg-cars at the other END OF me ROAD anu
che only may w 10 Ge be t to have loops at the other
end OF both our lines that run TO the Bridge. .
II was expected rev weeks ago La' tlie 10y ~
the Bridge would be in readiness FOR use oy the
beginning OF April There have been NUMBER Jun e OIL
causes and while Superintendent Barton Is no' pre-
| pareI to set any ta;e FOR the opening or me Ieop
he does not EXPECT that VIII he ready betoTe
! June l. - ..-
! Mr. Barton has had occasion recently 10 TRANSFER
ali the ticket agenfs the Pr5ok.yr system ms
ne deemed necessary because few were oeNeVed 70
be engaged IN crooked practice The great majority S
he regards perfectly honest. but IN ORDER not 70
! make any discrimination he made general trans
fer Some of the agents had been In their PAGES a
| long time and decidedly averse 10 any changc
Women as well men are employed IN TINS ca
/ pacity When they complain 10 the superintendent
! on account OF the change lie has ordered. ne mas
way OF notifying them by saving that our doctor
has advised that IL would be 5000 TING 70 give
! the employees "a change OF air and water FOR the
benefit O. their health.
1t is not unlikely that n will make general trans,
| often as once a month-ln the future He considers
/, bad thing for ticket agent 10 get 100 WEI
acquainted with the regular patrons or the ROAD al
any station. since some OF them may nave thel,
interest aroused by the agents account OF me ni.
! the company