The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-01
TO SUBSTITUTE ELECTRICITY.
The Abandonment of Steam ia the
New York Tunnel.

New York Tunnel.
NEW YORK. July For the relief Of
the thousands who live in Park Avenue
along the line Of the New York Central
tunnel and the thousands more who swell
ter in the intolerabIe heat Of the tunnel
every day ". II. Newman. president Of
the system, viii be asked on Wednesday
10 change the motive power Of the tunnel
trains from steam 10 electricity.
The movement was started By the Park
Avenue property owners, and it is said
that 81 per cent Of them viii Join in the
earnest appeal TO President Newman. To
man the thousands Of suburban resi-
dents who pass through the tunnel twice
a day VIII join in the request
Realizing that simple request might
not be sufficient to move President New
man to action, the suffering property own
ers Of Park Avenue have formulated a
bUsincss-like proposition which they hope
VIII result in something being done to
stop the nuisance which Is greatly injur-
ing the value Of their property. They pro-
pose to pay the New York Central At the
rate OF $1,000 4 block to make the change
Morris Putnam Stevens, Of 81 Pine
Street, an attorney representing several
large property owners, is taking the lead
III the movement With him in the effort
he is making are many more big property
owners who have large holdings ia Park
Avenue. Lawyer Stevens said yesterday
that he believed that fully 80 per cent Of
| the property holders on Park Avenue
from Forty-secoad to 1IGth Street would
| willingly agree to pay at the rate Of 81, ce5
| a block TO have the steam trains which
shower coal dust in the air as they pass
abolished. The agitation for change has
/ been precipitated anew by the fierce heat
| OF the past few days, and extends along
| the entire line OF the tunnel. Loud COM
| plants are coming from the passengers
/ who endure the torture OF passing through
/ the tunnel, and they demand that some
| thing be done for their comfort. Owing to
| the terrific heat Of the past five days,
| which has been greatly increased by the
| escaping steam and smoke in the tunnel,
| the passengers have suffered terribly. The
| temperature in the tunnel has been over
| 100 degrees every day since the warm
/ spell started
/ we viii ask President Newman next
| Wednesday, said Mr. Stevens, in the
| name of the Park Avenue properJyOWn-
| erS to abolish the use of steam in the
/ tunnel 1t IS an intoIerabIe nuisance in
| the summer time It drives hundreds OF
| families out OF the houses and apart
nnents along the line and greatly deprecf-
| ates the value OF property along the tun-
| ner- Property would go up p per cent
] the instant steam trains were abandoned
! Since the hot weather set in the n5li-
| Sance is almost unbearablc- Hot smoke
and cinders pour from the tunnel and at
| night sleep IS almost out OF the question
| Then the tunnel IS filed with cars being
| switched, and the shouts Of the brakemen
| and others. added 10 the noise and coal
| dust and cinders from the trains, make
| Park Avenue a EeritabIe inferno
| Certain real estate owners whom
| represent are willing to pay the New
| York Central 81 .e09 a city block as their
| contribution toward the desired change
| The same plan is in use in three miles
! OF the Belt Line tunnel in Baltimore and
/ works like a charm. Giant motors are
attached TO the biggest trains as the en-
| ter the tunnel and the steam is shut OF
| on the locomotives and no smoke IS al
/ lowed to escape and no coal is used while
I the train is going through the tunnel
/ That could be done here just as well 1t
/ ought 10 be done The present way is i
| barbaric way Of carrying passengers
| They have to sweat and swelter through
intolera bic heat. 70 say nothing Of the
| sufferers who live along the line We
| hope President Newman VIII listen to cur
/ proposition and do something for our re-
lief.
Recently they have been relaying the
| tracks in the tunnel and this has added
! TO the troubles Of the Park avenue folk
/ All Of them join Mr. Stevens IN his com
| plant.