New-York tribune., 1899-11-12
ALL LINES ARE OFFENDERS.
UNSANITARY ELEVATED CARS AND IoO
FREQUENT CHANGES ON SUR
FACE ROADS

While tho Third Avenue Railway Company is just
now being severely condemned especially by those
unfortunate enough live along its routes for the
reprehensble delay in completing the changes on
It's system this company is not the only onender
against public comfort and public convenience Inc
competing surface and elevated companies IN this
city also run their lines in such manner as TO sup
ply good and sufficient grounds for serious COM
plaint Although these corporations have obtained
public franchises OF value that is hardly to be
estimated in dollars and cents. and are growing
daily richer because OF the constantly increasing
pecuniary worth OF those franchises. the service
they give in return is regulated solely to suit their
own interests and advantages, regardless OF the
care and consideration which OF right belongs 70
the citizen For years the traveller upon the trans
nortation lines of this city and Brooklyn has
grumbled loudly and deeply at the bad facilities
that he has been obliged 10 make use OF In getting
from his home his place OF business and pacK
but except from the corporations STANDPOINT con-
| dtions are almost MS bad ever they were. No
matter whether the weather Is fine or stormy or
! what the hour OF the night may be. he is inconti-
| nently dumped in the street and told TO take
another car TO HIS destination; he is often lucky
II he succeeds in boarding or leaving car without
breaking his neck, least limb: In nine cases
out Of ten he is compelled to ride hanging on TO
strap. with his neighbor similarly situated. either
doing a step dance on his feet jabbing an elbow
! inro his ribs
The companies by the latitude they allow their
servants force the unfortunate passenger TO be
servile and abject If he wishes TO escape Insult
from an i'll disciplined boor in uniform If he Is
crossing the the reckessness OF the motor
men and gripmen is q constant menace to his life.
and f-but It is needless TO continue enumerating
the many and grievous hardshps which the rail-
road companies of the city heap upon their pa
irons and the public alike. They have all been
| experienced by all New-Yorkers The only question
! is how much longer they to be endured.
Captain French f. Chadwick, Of the cruiser New
! York has Just drawn timely attention TO the un-
clean conditions Of the elevated railroad cars AS
he very properly says. the cars are badly vehu-
lated. they often filthy. while the mats are al
| ways cogged with dirt. 1T is counting death al
most" he says for delicate or sckly people to
| be cooped up for half hour al time in such
| cars" Considering the wretched management OF
| the line it is not 10 be wondered at that II did
not earn the amount paid In dividends on Us
stock in the last fiscal year. II required legis-
lative enactment 70 compel the Manhattan people
to properly light their at night, while 1t was
| only after years Of agitation that they were in
duced to run trains at night on the Ninth-ave
The night service on all the elevated lines is alb
surdly inadequate and the weary wait on the bleak
and exposed stations for trains that run sc Wide;y
! OF annoyance 10 travellers. Equally at fault In
badly serving IT'S b ins enioyPS the
use Of most OF the main arteries Of the city. and
but little heed TO the comfort of those who are
| Obliged to use its cars. Although daily complaints
are heard from indignant passengers, who. for the
sake OF a little saving 70 the company, are made
10 change cars at the Fiftieth-st carhouse and at
| Houston-st. the company continues 10 treat with
the utmost Indifference the remonstrances Of citi-
zens who object 70 being landed in the street and
| made TO wait until another comes along before
| they can resume their journey. Like the elevated
company. the Metropolitan is also TO be blamed for
the paucity Of its service at night time
| Only during the morning and evening rush, when
the CORPORATION depend upon packing into its
cars at least three times the number of people
| they were designed to hold. is there any attempt
10 put in operation service commensurate with
the needs OF the traffic conditions The result is
| that in every hour Of the day passengers un-
able 10 obtain seats and are obliged 10 travel in
| misery because of the parsimonious policy Of the
| Metropolitan directors. Residents OF Brooklyn
| make similar outcres. They protest without avail
AZ being bundled out OF before their destina-
| tlon is reached Some Of them have taken the ex-
| treme measure OF refusing TO obey the order OF
| "ail out Change for So-and-So District" but
the only satisfaction they have obtained so far Is
| TO be shunted into a railroad yard and left there
10 cool of their Indignation in dark and cold car
! Moreover until recently. Brookynites who hved
| in outlying places like Flatbush. Bath Beach ana
| East New-York were able TO come through 70 tne
| civ for a single fare of five cents. Now they are
obliged to break their journey and tax take an1yhs, Wbsf
car sometimes at a cost OF second nickeL nslae MA,
| they want is a single ride for single rare Two
| rides for two fares two rides for one rare are
| equally distastefui 10 them