New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-18
the practical consideration OF tho American
AN "INHTMAN INVENTION"


The peoplc of Brooklyn, it is pleasant TO OBJ
serve are at last aroused against the apoiiiiiia-
bio vehicles used as strcetcars by the Nassau
ComDauy When these cars were hrst put
upon the roads The Tribune called attention to
their radical and serious defects. and denounced
them as unit for use. To-day nine-;cnths or
the people of Brooklyn who are compelled To
use them take the same view of them that we
then expressed. The Womens Health Protcc-
tive Association the other day called them 'the
most inhuman invention ever put upon Wheels
and we are not inclined to consider its words
too strong Other organizations and numerous
individuals are formally and vigorously de
rmuncng the cars and protesting against their
fuather use And tomorrow the President of
the Borough will give n public hearing 10 APP
meals and arguments for legal action against
them We are by no means confident that any
Immediate relief will he obtained. The all-
ance of INSCRIPTIONS politicians and public
bedamncd" corporations that now rules this
CITY. and especially the Borough of Brooklyn.
has too strong grip TO he broken until It's
corsing of public plumber causes il to relax
through sheer hypcrtrophy of Doodle. After
the cynical infamy of the Rape Of the Bridge
no decent regard for public comfort convch-
fence or safety IS to be expccted-until the
Deluge which will come.
This action is gratifying. however. as we
have said because whether Immediately sue
ccssful or not it puts on record the fact that
such monstrous imposition was not inflicted
upon the people of Brooklyn without a protest
from them The people not so base. 50 SUI
pine. so enslaved III spirit as to accept insult
and DEGRADATION as their due They stlll re-
volt against it. They are Ong-suffering. There
is probably not another community in the civil
lied world that would endure what New-iork
is enduring and has long endured at the hands
of the creatures of its own making. But there
is n limit even TO New-lork patience. Ana the
all but incredible brutality and tyranny OF the
Nassau Company appear to have strained IL
nearly to that limit.
There is this TO he said, however: mat II
this action does not succecd-if, that Is 10
say. the President Of the borough or the
Local Board of Improvements, or the Health
Board or the Railroad commissioners, or
the courts or some other authority. cannot
and does not compel the Nassau Company 10
remove those cars 1.-THE most inhuman inveh-
ton ever put upon wheels. and 10 put on
others that are fit for men and women I" rlde
in-eithcr the authorities will be dercllct III
duty or the law in the ease VIII u" SHOVE 10
be absurily inadequate. The company under
its charter is presumably bound To provide pas
scnger cars in which people can rid" with
safety and comfort. At present it provides
nothing of the sort. lis ears are modelled
after anr1quated freight or cattle cars Ahy
one who wants 10 get aboard one has To cIaiil-
her ND on a narrow footboard that runs along
the side Of the car, support himself by hanging
with one hand To a perpendicular poi'' ana
with the other hand tug open heavy, clumsy
sliding door while the conductor at one ehn
of the car is yelling. step lively. there. ana
the motOrman at the other end *, likely enough
starting the car with jerk ana Sehhlhg u
ahead at full speed For an athletic man II
IS n trying and indeed dangerous task 10
compel woman 20 do it IS simply dlaDollcaL
Moreover half the people in every ear are
compelled to ride backward, and the car Is so
arranged that every time door is opened
cold draught sweeps all through the torture
chamber striking the unfortunate occupa.i'S
IN the back of the neck. 1t Is vastly w"s'
than II would be in an ordinary closed car j
the front door were used for egress and lngresS-
The seats face each other and the occupants SIT
with knees almost touching. AMI then others
are compelled to stand between them, in direct
uncomfortable and indecent physical contact
with them. Finally. when any one leaves the
car as every one is glad to do. he has to tug
omen the clumsy door. which Is NOT even
cauippcd with decent hande for the purpose
and tumble out AZ best he can. leaving the
door open for the remaining passengers 10 drag
shut if they can. And the beauty of IT - from
tho companvs point Of view. that the Nassau
lines have an absolute monopoly of tranSporta-
ton in large and important part OF the Dor
ouph. so that If people want Ia ride at all they
are compelled to patronize these cars.
If does not seem possible that such detestable
inventions fulfil the terms of the company
charter or meet the reasonable requirements
Of the Board of Health. Every day they are
ncrmittcd TO remain in use is an insult TO the
ncoulo of brooklyn. a menace to puDlr heaIth
and safety and foul rcproach 10 American
civilization.