The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-16
TROLLEY PARTIES TOO NOISY.
A Forna or Entertainment That Ipetertornted
After Reaching BROOKLYN.


Brooklyn is certainly unfortunate with tho
trolley. When tho trolley has been introduced
into other cities and villages 1t has been found
to be a benefit and a blessing. with Brooklyn
II has worked badly from the start. 1t began by
killing or both youth and age at a rate so reck.
less that Brooklyn now holds the record for
trolley slaughter, and several lawyers are for
on the way to fortune owing to the number Of
suits for damages which they have been able to
bring. This habit Of running people down tho
trolley cars still keep up. Then, In remote. un-
progressive towns, such as Philadelphia and
Rockland, Me-, riding on the electric roads Is a
smooth, pleasant mode OF travel. In Brooklyn
IL has always been entirely different. There it
consists Of jolting, a series of sudden PUSHES,
followed by more sudden stops, and then the
trolley pole flies off the wire, or something else
breaks down. There seems TO be something in
the climate Of Brooklyn that is detrimental to
the trolley. The managers of tho roads recognize
the fact that something is wrong. and bring men
from as far away as New Orleans to remedy
matters; but, however successful these men
may have been with trolley roads in other cities.
they seem to DO able to accomplish little in
Brooklyn.
Citizens Of Brooklyn are now up in arms
against q trolley feature which in other cities is
considered an entertaining and valuable part Of
the system. but in Brooklyn has developed pos
sibilities of hideousness previously undreamed
of. 1t is the trolley party. In Paterson, n. j., it
is considered a desirable and praiscworthy in
stitution. of especial use to Sunday schools and
W. c. T. Y. excursions; and down in Philadel.
phia some gallant and ingenious conductor add
ed n tinge of spice 10 It's harmless joy by invent
ing the trolley tunnel, which consists in pulling
down the trolley pole and so shrouding the en-
tire car In darkness. as OF a railway tunnel, when
the Youths and maidens are returning. home
gayly after the ice cream. One might have
adapted to Brooklyn, but 1t has deteriorated sad
" since its arrival there. and so citizens are call
ing upon tho police to tame its cxuberance now
at the beginning Of the trolley party season.
to ten big trolley cars, each with from forty to
seventy passengers. Sometimes the passengers
are Sunday school pupils; generally they nre
not: but that Is n mere detail, for u good boy Gun
one else. Each OF tho passengers has a horn, a
rattle, or some other noise-producing instrument
of torture. and the combined effect Is hat OF tho
New Years din downtown at Trinity Church
MUM on wheels passes your house at any time
between 10 p. NJ. and 3 A. NJ. there Is reason
why 1t should make itself disliked By people
who don't go on trolley rides. At ciose range,
In the streets through which the car tracks run.
the roaring. shrieking, and blaring is deafen-
Ing, and even a quarter OF n mile away the noise
Is sufficient to wake people up. So petitions
have been sent to the police authorities in
Brooklyn begging them to enforce rigidly the
ordinance against tin horns. and to preserve
It's funny said a trolley official in discuss
ing the subject OF the complaint. Now, where
! came from the trolley parties did more than
anything else to popularizc the system. They
were as quiet and orderly as. a church picnic.
I've never seen anything like the way they hayo
BROOKLYN air."