New-York tribune., 1898-11-28
SURFACE LINES SUFFER-.
TRAFFIC PRACTICALLY SUSPENDED IN
TIL NOON.
| THE DIFFICULTY WITH TIE TNDTRGROTND
ELECTRIC IINES-CABLE ROADS THE
MORE FORTUNATE.

TIE DIFFICULTY WITH TIE CNpfRGROtND
ELECTRIC IlNEs-CABLE ROADS THE
NOPE FORTUNATE.
With the exception Of the Broadway and
Thi.d-aye. cable lines. the street railroads all
over the city from about 10 o'clock on Satnr-
day night until noon yesterday. and in many
Instances until late last night, were completely
tied IN From an early hour on Saturday even
ing the electric cars in Madison. Second, sixth
and Eighth aves travelled at distrcssinglH
slow rate of speed because of the accumulation
Of snow on the tracks. Blocks We're frequent,
and at many intervals on all these lines rows OF
cars we're continuously stalled for consider
able length of time The officials did the best
they could to keep up some semhance OF run
Ming order but long before midnight they gave
up and travel was practically suspended on all
the underground trolley routes. 1t was the
same way with the horsecar roads, but the
cahle-cars ran without ceasing throughout the
night.
Because Of the fact that the Cable-cars were
able to continue their traffic while the electric
roads were at a standst comments that have
been frequently made before were again heard
to the effect that the underground trolley sys-
TEN is at great disadvantage in wintry
weather for the reason that the conduits be-
come filled with snow and lead either to the
cogging of the underground apparatus or the
burning out Of fuses. H. H. Nreeland, the presi-
dent Of the Metropolitan Street Railroad Com
pany, when yesterday repeated the OPINION
he has given before that the easier stang Of
the electric cars compared with the cable
cars was not due 20 any shortcomings in the
underground trolley system. but simply 70 the
method of propulsion. He explained that the
,Fa elec rip far
in itself and has only it's own power to aid 1t
to overcome distractions in the shape OF snow
drifts whereas car attached to cable is
moved by an external force which could drag
il bodily so long as the grips hold. through the
largest snow banks Consequently, he said, the
sweepers pulled along by cable could be kept at
work continuously clearing the tracks, while 1t
was impossible to work effectively with the cleo
tric sweepers. whose power was sef-contaned'
and less capable therefore, of overcoming so
great resistance.
OFFICIALS KEPT BUSY.
Superintendent Rounds Of the Metropolitan
street Railroad Company when seen yesterday
in his Office at FIftieth-st and Seventh-ave..
was taking a we'll won res: after nearly forty
hours Of unremittng labor in attempting To
keep his cars running despite the elements. He
/ had been rushing about the city regulating the
| traffic as far as he was able. President Nree-
land was also in different parts OF the city dur
ing the progress of the storm. personally direct
ing the work Of clearing the tracks.
REGARDING the loss to the company on account
Of the storm, Alr Rounds said that it depended
on how long the snow lay on the ground. He ex-
plalnod that when the streets were obs;ructed
with snow q car could make only four trips in
ten hours, when usually six trips were made in
the same time. While traffic WAS impeded by
snov he believed the loss to his company
would he fully 20 per cent. He estimated that
| from II midnight Saturday to - at noon sun
day the metropolitan Street Railway company
! lost $1,000 II the storm had come on any
/ other day than Sunday the loss would be still
greater
During the storm the company had over three
thousand men at work, and great number OF
appliances for handling the snow. ON the
mechanical lines alone there were twenty
swecpers constantly at work, besides walk
| awavs" ana snowploughs. special effort was
made to keep the lower ends OF the downtown
| electric roads open.
No denial was made OF the fact that the elec-
trio lines were simply paralyzed. Superintendent
Rounds said that he had to admit that IN this
instance the cable roads had proved themsc, es
superior - the electric lines. He said that II
was one Of the worst storms during the five
years Of his SUPPLEMENTARY. and that thf
II snow simply came down 50 fast that the tracks
could not be kept cl ar. and the wneels OF th'
electric cars revolved fruitessly.
PLENTY or POWER. But HARD TO APPLY
MIR Rounds said that at all times during th'
storm the electric lines had plenty Of power
The only trouble was that in some cases I
could not be successfully applied. The resul
would have been the same If the cars had heei
provided with steam engines instead of cectr
motors.
| General Superintendent John H. Robertson Q
the Third-aVe cable road In a cheerful
frame of mind when hs asked yesterda,
afternoon how his road and its tributaries ha
weathered the storm. None OF his lines, he said
ception Of the Roulevar1 and Forty seconds
line. which had stopped entirely owing 10 i'm
rnense drifts II the upper end Of tho route
Most Of the trouble of the Third-ave road. ac
cordjng to Mr.. Robertson. resulted from III
stalling Of heavy trucks on the tracks. Driver
sought the tracks because Of tho easier going
but when they turned out 10 let a pass the
invariably got stuck and there was work f.
the emergency wagon. on" truck take
from the tracks near Chatham Square six times
Above Seventy -ninth-st.. where the installa
ton Of the electric system IL going on. muc
trench along the tracks. such accidents delaNe
The cars several times. Despite all this. NJ
Robertson maintained that his line had lost onl
one hour in its running time. At o clock sun
dav morning. he said. the cars began TunnIn
On q new schedule and from that time on tn
Third-ave. road cars ran uhu'i 'H'ii uS"n' "V"u
way. ,., .s .