New-York tribune., 1901-03-18
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
ONE PLAN FOR BETTER TRANSIT.
A CORRESPONDENT FAvoRs AN ORDINANCE
GIVING srREErcARs THE
RIGHT or WAY.

TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: IL must be = source OF great satisfaction 10
the public at this time to note the discussion In
the press OF our city OF the question or transit
the OvercroWding Of the cars. the crush AZ the
terminals and the question or more cars during the
busy hours OF the day.
IL surely is a question OF great Importance 10
the entire city. and one the press can do much to
help 10 a solution. have not in The Tribune,
or IN fact any OF the papers that 10 my hand,
mention made OF what 10 be one OF the
causes OF the slow and congested conditions that
the railroad company has 10 meet refer TO the
use OF the tracks by trucks and carriages am
not aware OF any city ordinance bearing on II
either and n there II Is enforced. Should
rot the trolley lines have the right of way over
trucks and wagons OF all kinds? Is not the time
OF the hundreds OF thousands travelling our city
lines Of more value than the load OF merchandise
that blocks the way day after day? And yet what
DO We see and experience all our lines OF city
tracks2 Trucks. wagons and carriages one and
all seem possessed 10 use the car tracks. and will
not remain that portion OF the street which
naturally belongs TO them. The motorman spends
large portion OF his time ringing the bell for right
az way and only after his patience IS exhausted.
ana often much strong language used VIII this
'king OF the way" our city truckman, permit the
car 10 pass. The result is. running on
all sorts OF headway. for when one is held back
a short time the others all have 10 hold back:
we have a condition OF congestion. 0r We are forced
& wait our street corners for the car.
Thousands OF passengers delayed, missing
their trains boats. for how you expect the
Taotorman make his schedule time give head
way the following car? I ask in all fairness II
one-thrd OF the street does not riehttuly belong
10 the travelling public?
Would II be asking too much OF our city fathers
that they pass ordinance forbidding trucks and
carriages the tracks. other than for
simply passing? II you viii send one OF your repre-
sentatiVes any Of the city lines he VIII be
able 10 report much; not that IL viii be 10 you,
but n may help TO emphasize the facts. Take, for
Instance. the Twenty third-St. crOsstOWn line. The
West Twcnty-third-st. errEbOats leave about every
twenty minutes. passenger, allowing hYe or ten
minutes leeWay, certainly should expect 10 catch
the boat, but how the railroad company guar
ftntee make the time IL 1t has not the abSo-
lutte right Of way? II was only a short time since
] read In one Of our papers Of the holding up OF
line OF cars by truck driver for many minutes Only
after his arrest was traffic resumed Why, even in
allows the trucks bat moment 10 respond 10 the
bell on the track and IN This sO-called fast
town the public seems 10 be helpless.
The truck hog must so. and can be made 20 go,
II the papers viii help in the fight. ] can tell OF
many instances caused by this one right held by
the truckman 10 block travel. hut viii not longer
take up your time space, but feel sure that an
ordinance covering this right OF way, properly n
forced. would enable the companies 10 put
more cars and also TO a little nearer 10 rapid
transit II would also relieve the great strain on
fhe motorman and on the thousands OF passengers
who have important engagenents aud trains 10
catch c. NJ KELLOGG.
New-York. March Il. 1901.