New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-05
STREETCAR TRANSFERS.

An article recently published in The Tribune
give an account in detail Of the system. or
systems, Of surface-car transfers in ms cry
which have become matter or interest," 10 III
NEWCOMERS having occasion TO travel ABOUT
town in any other direction than uptown ana
downtown. The system is somewhat comhF
Gated. since ut certain points transfers are gwen
in only one direction. and a stranger would nave
10 study /; long and carefully to get clear ldca
Of Just what he can and what he cannot DO
That the companies are consulting the puDic
convenience and at the same time adding 10 the
number of passengers that they carry ny the
liberal policy they have adopted cannot De
doubted We call it a liberal policy, and yet
II is not such from the companies point OF view
They have adopted ii from business considera-
tons only. and with the distinct purpose OF ADD
ing to their receipts, and It's gradual extension
would seem to show that they are satisfied with
the results And certainly the public Is more
than satisfied.
1t Is an interesting circumstance that the idea
of transfers from one line to another was slow
in taking root in this vicinity. and 1t has all been
developed in the last few years. One does not
need TO have been resident OF the metropolis
q decade to recall the time when there was not
single transfer point In the city. in other
cities the system was established many years
earlier, though In some cases at least an extra
charge Of say, two cents was made when the
passenger applied for transfer ticket Here
all transfers are based on the payment OF Il
single fare, and by the exercise OF some ingenu-
ity one may ride over several lines Tor Nickel
but such practice Is discouraged, II not IN
terms prohibited. by the carrying corporations.
Across the river in Brooklyn also general
transfer system has been Instituted in the last
wear or two. but with one or two exceptions no
transfers between the lines OF different COM
panies have been arranged for. though II Is not
impossible that they may come, ut least to some
extent in the future. In that city the acton OF
the surface companies was doubtless stimulated
by the liberal policy Of the Brooklyn Elevated
Railroad. which operates several lines ana mas
never made any extra charge for carrying pas
sengcrs over all Of them. On the lines OF this
company, in fact. it Is possible 10 ride all day
for the cost of half dime, and without violating
any rule Of the company either. The arrange
ment made not long ago by the Manhattan Com
many. whereby passengers may transfer from
the East Side 10 the West Side line and vice
versa at South Ferry, IS another Illustration OF
the same principle
All these things are to be commended both
from the point Of view Of the companies and
from that Of the travelling public 1t Is an
established fact that facilities for travel VIII
stimulate travel and 1t cannot he doubted that
the transfer arrangements already provided nave
added to the travel on both surface and elevated
lines The ideal system has not yet been pro
| vided 1t would permit passenger on any road
| to transfer without extra cost to any connecting
| or crossing line. Such system might perhaps
be abused by some travellers, and 1t would be
necessary for the companies in selfprotecton
to adopt certain precautions. But the broad
principle might wisely be adopted az far as
possible. Such provisions for the convenience
of the public as have been granted are cause
| for gratitude A single carfare is mere triilc
but the total amount spent In twelvcmontl
| in a city like New-York is prodiglOus. Anything
that will reduce the amount in individual cases
while providing increased facilities for move
ment from one part Of the city TO another. Is a
contribution Of Importance to the general wei
| fare