New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-12

clash upon the comparatively narrow platform
almost equal those which used TO disgrace the
Brooklyn Bridge before it was broadened and
improved. but II is confidently expected that
they Will be as thoroughly banished.
At the present time, with steam locomotives
IS the motive power one train Of five cars is
pulled cut OF the station every two minutes in
the rush hours. This means that $50 carloads
Ct passengers are snatched from the platform
every hour. With electricity, six car trains
win be run. so that the crowd on the platform
VIII be depleted more quickly by thirty carloads
70 the hour than can De done now. This ad-
vantage might seem 70 be completely Offset by
the fact that the incoming trains viii deposit
passengers with equally increased celebrity,
thus keeping up the crush 10 the original degree
OF intensity; but the engineers Of the road, who
have studied the problem. declare that a large
factor in the overcrcwding there consists Of
those who are only waiting for trains. and
thus constantly in the way of others who are
actually arriving or departing. The quicker
train service which electricity will give viii
duce the waiting throng 10 a minimum,
pe-ts declare. and thus virtually double the
space upon the platform available for the two
streams Of passengers which are constantly
moving.
AN AMAZING SIGHT.
Strangers in New-Tork who have watched
tie seething. struggling mass Of men. women
and children at the City Hall station. consider
Il one Of the most characteristic sights of the
metropolis. and say there Is nothing just like
4 anywhere else in the world. They see a long
wooden platform in the centre OF two railroad
tracks. An iron fence runs along each side Of
the platform broken by openings a car length
apart The fence is TO keep the passengers
from pushing one another upon the tracks.
Probably a thousand persons are waiting on
the platform. 4 train stands upon one track
filed 70 the gates with passengers who have
forced their way into II and waiting to be
carried north. Those who are left behind glare
a. the lucky ones as If the privilege Of being
packed Ike sardines in box were truly en-
viabIe one. Just before the full train starts.
another one equally packed arrives from up
Town a. the opposite side Of the platform. The
waiting throng surges toward il as one man
and banks up fifty deep around the gates. They
know that the passengers inside the cars must
get out before any one can get in and they also
know that the longer IL takes those inside 10
get OUT the longer must be the delay in reflling
The seats; but 50 close DO they press to the
gates. each intent on getting in before his
neighbor that the aIighting passengers who are
also II 2 hurry 70 reach their destination have
literally 70 bore their way through the ranks
more Ike football players IN rush IhaH lI>e
stsid citizens.
bruised elbows skinned. skirts ripped pretty
giTls squeezed. Corns trampled on ana IeIhptfs
lcsr II The struggle. often while 1t IS raging
e. It's worst a broad strip Of bare and vacant
platform may be seen behind the cornbaIahts;;
II those desiring 70 go uptown Would onig SldiIN
upon this space until the cars were einpLeu OIe
half the e--g7vdine would be obviated- But they
would nor be Nev-Yorkers II they did that
Every real New Yorker wants TO go by the nTsI
train ers lac ne frsr man 10 enter ii. If possible
Transports lion companies are often ureeu 20
establish rule that conductors anu = Ial 70
EFrrr oar =
the c0nseouences The New-Yorker holds the
privilege Of clinging TO strap II ne %a anrs
70 almost as dear as liberty ltseII' anu M IT,
Complaints and kicks and chickering's come from
Passengers who are excluded from the eIes d1ol
a. the guc-hUudTed nd-SlXTeenth-sl hlhtiol u
TIE Ninth-ave elevated road. after the mus ar
Is fun as their safety limit. but not their actuaI
capacity, allows than from all otheI points o--
he Manhattan Railway put together.
REASONS FOR STANDING STILL
Many times the management Of the Manhat-
tar Railway has been urged TO enlarge its ter
EinaI facilities at City Hall, but its answer has
been that The natural difficulties Of the situation
were well nigh insuperable. For ore thing, the
street vas so narrow that more Of its space
ccuId be ercrOached upon they said Wheh
stsiFways at the north end Of the platform iead
lnC 70 the street were suggested II was declared
mat the people could not be driven 10 use IheIl'
because they would have 10 go out OF IheIi na9
70 90 50 TVber II u-as argued that the com
pany could buy rent private properly on tIiS
east side Of the street ana let the people ascend
and descend stairways erected upon II, as Is
Cone al the FutOn-st station Of the second
ave elevated, the company retofteu ina az a..
tutOn-s ST. approach was dislked by the roau
Patrons because II was dark and tortuous They
&c not say II was also expensive eA1eu4eitl
bat no doubt they thought So and the thought
-tnt weight 70 the objection. and now thAl tlSs
nave decided 10 change the motive power OF the
read 70 electricity IL Is highly improbable that
anything else viii be attempted 70 reileVe b.Ie
pressure at the City Hall station until the aDi.ttS
o disability Of the new power 70 FeAIFuS lAS
esl mas been fully demonstrated
Two other causes VIII soOE be operating 10 iS-