New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-16
FUNERALS BY TROLLEY.
IyNDERrAKERs FIND LITTLE TO COM
-, MEND IN THE WESTERN
INNOVATION.
FIRST A SENSE OF DIGNITY PoRBIDs. AND THEN
t., INCONVENIENCE AT BOTH ENDS OF THE
porr1-.-NCxsr A SMALL. ITEM.

FIRST A SENSE OF DIGNITY PoRBIDs. AND THEN
+. INCONVENIENCE AT BOTH ENDS OF THE
RoUTE+cosr A SMALL ITEM
Some time ago the idea was carried into erect
IN chicago Of having funerals move to the ceme-
teries by the aid OF urolleys. The DID, s'aio anu
decorous method OF the regulation funeral, win
a hearse and attendant carriages filled with sor-
rowing friends and relatives OF the deau peisoi'
was too slow for the Windy CITY, where NO" vi.
Inhabitants not only live and die unoer ioi0eu
draueht but are apparently buried under one as
we'll The idea however. had merit ana CON
,,or,ence and became popular and successful IL
has since been adopted in Cleveland ana bunaio
and IL is said that Brooklyn Is ABOUT 10 IAN ih'o
line as we'll while there is possibility 'hat 'ne
trolley funeral may be introduced into some Sec
tions OF Manhattan.
Cuoton I Rossiter of the Brooklyn Rapid Tran
81. Cornanv does not favor the idea and recently
declared himself against II; but while IL does not
appeal T. the average mind, the scheme mas SUI"
merit. not only in the saving OF expense out also
IN the facility oil transportation, that 1t is hkey
10 compel It's adoption in New-York CITY. below
oro given the opinions Of a number of undertakers
on the subject .,
John r. Mooney. OF No. 400 East Iwehty-sNtn-
st said: 81 nave given the matter no thought
and As hire my horses and carriages for funerals
the question of transportation "ouio ho' ""eo'
me" "a,
Charles 7 Cooke of No 437 First-ave.. SAID:
"probably II might save expense for people living
near trolley lines. but for those living remote II
seems TO me it would increase the expense as
they would have TO hire the hearse ana carriages
10 get 10 the trolley cars.
Mrs Michael p. Daily, OF NO So East Iweh'y
sixth-st seemed TO deprecate the idea. Il don't
believe New-Yorkers vii ever adopt It, she salo'
"as II savors too much of excursion. The pres
ent way seems to very right and very just
A FUNERAL OMNIBUS THAT FAILED.
Samuel Sloan, of No. 200 East Twenty-eigh'h-st'
was absent but his assistant said that he was sure
he would not approve the Idea. as II was lacking
in solemnity.
said. I'VE dent think New-Yorkers will take to
the idea as they not educated up to IL. Ihey
may eventually adopt IT, but In our opinion II
will take long time IT may do for western
towns like Chicago and Cleveland but 1t Will hard-
" do for New-York City
Donohue Bros, OF No. 400 Third-ave., salu; many
things take out OF town that would not take In
New-York and we do not believe the plan would
have popularity here. As undertakers we would not
be financially affected a all, as we hire our horses
hearses and carriages. finding it the cheaper way
/ don't see where IL would be an economy as you
would have TO have a hearse and carriages any
way 10 convey the funeral to the trolley cars, ana
I'm anv event there would have to be hearse or
some other decent way of getting the body 10 the
grave As rule. the Irsh-and they constitute
most CO trade-haNe raclal pllue' anu VIII ui-
doubtedly stick the old form of funeral The
Americans ard Germans. though. may take to the
idea. Another reason why dont mink the luea
VA friend Of mine r X Campbell. is vice-presi-
dent Of the stephen Merritt Burial COMPANY ana ,
two years ago he bought funeral car, 10 be drawn
by four horses and capable of carrying thirty per
sons besides the body II LOOKS Oda IKE ag bae
OMNIBUS than anything else, DIT people Woua nave
none OF II: they objected TO It's publicity ana at
ib aS'hs they We're component part Of circus
parade. 1t was supposed to take the place of
hearsc and six coaches.
FUNERALS NOW FOR $50
Daniel J. Sheridan. of No i4s Third-ave.. said
What would they try it for in this city? 1t
Wouldn't hurt me- but 1t would the undertakers
owning their stock don't believe 1t would
be much of economy You can get funeral as
low as $50, which includes the hearse and one car
riage and don't believe where expense counts
that the trolley could chop e much l, of said
ut might be possible in the upper portion Of this
city. but not in this section. As to economy, II
between the cost of the carriages and hearse and
cost Of the trolley. suppose II VIII De ultimate
n,bsr pserakers about it, OF course we must
look after interests. Undertakers In this city
a and pro he this question viii be brought up
fore their association when there seems any mme-
v: E. Ensle., Of No. PSI East Tenth-s ;ss said;
o Bes%e n Is at all ndsf
It wouldn't save money, as the surviving relatives
Il Would be ruin for the undertakers who own
coaches. | own mine. and II this idea were adopt
ed might as well shut up shop, as they hardly pay
me II is. Besides, IT would be too inconvenient
for the people TO reach the trolley cars with the
corpse. II might of course take along the trolley
lines but you couldn't expect people to move upon
a trolley line when they about to die. just to
save dollar or two for their relatives. Take this
section, for example. You have TO go up 10 Second
ave. to get 10 the trolley. and | don't think II
would be popular. anyhow as II would be too much
on the order of cheap excursion
John G. Meister, of No. 2S1 East feminist, said:
81 don't believe II would do Funerals, as rule,
are not prompt enough and delay impedes and con-
gests traffic. You can't ill funeral car as you
can an ordinary one The passengers on the former
would be more or less weighed down with grief, and
this would in all proba bility cause delay In loading
them on the trolley. | suppose II would hurt the
livery business IL generally adopted but that seems
10 be doomed anyway, and this would be only
straw"