The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-27
ELEVATED SMOKING CARS.
WHY THET CANNor DE RUN ON
THE MANHATTAN RhtLWAY.

Appeal from a smoker Answered By the ten-
erai N1annEer-Cnbia Limos Preparing 10
Accommodate snokorH-siSty Stacking Cars
TO ne Put on tho Third Avenue Road.
A correspondent whit wishes to smoke while
he is travelling about this city upon the elevated
railroads writes to THE ScN as follows:
will you give n little space in behalf Of the
smoking community concerning tho use OF
smoking cars on the elevated ruadsi The man
agcr OF those lines advances the argument that
the public has not shown any desire for such
cars. / am certain that In asking for such cars
l am voicing the thoughts OF many, like myself,
who In summer rido on open horse cars and in
winter stand on the front platforms of these
j~aunt'ng carts to enjoy q smoke. Is there any
doubt but that cars for smokers on the elevated
roads would benefit the company financially. es-
pecially during the summer monthsi The way
these cars ars patronized in Brooklyn furthers
my argument"
That there are two sideu to this Interesting
question became evident when q sun reporter
laid the matter before Mr.. Fransioli. general
manager OF tho Manhattan Railway Company.
The question as to whether we should put
smoking cars on the trains of tho elevated roads
has boon talked over many times by those in
authority Mr.. Fransioli said, land their con-
clusion was against 1t. In coming to this con-
clusion they did not in any way neglect to con-
slider that there are among our passengers many
thousands OF persons who are smokers, and who
would perhaps like to smoke while in our
trains. But, on tho other hand, It was necos-
sary to consider the comfort Of the greater mum.
Dor Of passengers. who neither desire TO smoke
nor to sit in a smoking car, and also to take into
account the difficulties which tho introduction
Of smoking cars would mako In the operation of
q railroad which has to handle 600, 900 or
zoe, 600 passengers a day.
AS a negative argument ! may mention that
at the present time we are In receipt OF a great
many times as many complaints from patrons
regarding tho violation. OF our rules against
smoking than we are OF demands for smoking
cars. Still. this does not count for much, lie.
cause II the smokers were stirred up to make
many thousand advocates.
Tho use of smoking cars in Brooklyn does
not offer a fair argument for their use here.
Over there the traffic is comparatively SO light
car they will ride in. and the managers Of the
just what ~Sse c 9srsi they sy wsns. y" W ene eann noa'd do than Mi.n
During p%artiof tho day when four car trains are
trains is reduced. the spare cars are run in
upon sidings in II solid mass. Whom tho rush
As they come II one car in n a train was used u 5di es
a smoker. we should soon have every car smell
ing OF tobacco; and tho public would protest
is not smoking.
Then, il tho passengers had to sort them
selves out into those who. wanted to rldo in tho
smoker and those who did not 1t would make u
delay and confusion at each crowded platform
and on the trains.
I'm summer, when tho car windows are open,
lighted cigars. cigarettes, and Pipe filings
annoyance and danger OF persons In tho street,
and the station platforms and stairways would
be apt. to get n much larger assortment and
quantity of these than they do now.
We appreciate the needs OF the smoker. but
we think that he must give wRy on the elevated
to tho greater needs OF those who do not smoke
Mono OF these arguments hold. good regard.
ing the street car lines. and 1t Is significant that
both the Metropolitan Street Car Company and
the Third Avenue Railroad people arc about to
add to their equipment combination cars in
which each car will furnish Accommodation for
the smoker, and the non-smofer. The Third
these cars in its SiXticih street barn for some
time. and MS soon as spring opens it is said that
sixty OF them will be put into service. The
car and one-half OF its length is fitted up in the
same manner. while the other half is open and
fitted, with cross seats like the summer cars.
The closed part Of the car is entered from steps
at each side of its forward platform, or by a !
door adjoining the open end, while the open
Such cars are run in WASHINGTON. il. c. tens and
some other cities. and have proved to be popu.
lar oven in the winter. In the coolest weather
dressed. hardy persons. az are the closed parts
1t is not alone tho smokers who like these
cars. In fact. If u person will notice the people
who congregate upon. the platforms OF tho
street cars where smoking is allowed outside at
this time Of year. he will be surprised to see
there are smoking. Not long ago the reporter
was nearly thrown off n car platform while
the crowd there. although there was no one
standing inside the car. When he got safely In
he counted ten persons on the platform besides
nor did any others OF them smoke during
the fifteen or twenty minutes that the reporter
on the car.