New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-07-10
circumstances of its preparation recorded with
absolute fidelity.
P4RK-ATE. TUNNEL REFORM.


There is cause for some encourag cement, IL
not for any large degree of confidence. In the
announcement that President Newman and his
lieutenants are seriously considering the ques-
ton of ameliorating the conditions of travel in
the Park-ave. tunnel, are welcoming sugges-
tons upon the subject. and are about to make
some experiments. The New-York Central and
Hudson River Railroad Company has on various
occasions displayed so much energy and enter
prise in the overcoming of obstacles and the
making of improvements that are con-
strained TO hope it will soon effect the reforms
which are so urgently needed within few
miles of the Grand Central Station. And we
IRE confident that If it takes hold of this prob
lem with the same resolution TINT has charac-
terZed it's work elsewhere a satisfactory solu-
ton will speedily he found.
An officer of the company is reported as
nttrlbutng the discomfort of the tunnel largely
to the Pintsch gas lights which heat the air
of the cars. Beyond doubt the dozen gas lights
With which each car is supplied do slightly
increase the heat but We doubt whether they
do TO a degree perccptible to the passengers.
It is 10 be observed that az soon as the train
gets out of the tunnel and doors and windows
are opened. a marked relief is enjoyed although
the gas lights are still kept burning at full
caused not so much by the lights as by the
closing of doors and windows. and thus shutting
off every particle of fresh air and of draught
Therefore. we should say, the remedy for the
discomfort is to be found not in abolishing the
lights but in so altering conditions in the tunnel
that trains may be run through with doors and
windows open and free circulation of fresh
air through the cars.
To do the latter. one Of the prime requisites
must be the abandonment of soft coal fuel
and the use-until electricity can be adopted-of
only clean hard coal such rs gives off little if
any gas and No smoke or cinders. If such coal
used and the tunnel We're thoroughly
cleansed of the accumulated SCOT and dust Of
years. and-in default of white tiles brick
We're treated 70 q coating OF whitewash. trains
could he run through II with car windows wide
open. and the trip would be cool and pleasant
Note. for example the little old tunnel on the
same avenue Just below the Grand Central
Station through which streetcars now run. On
hot day it is veritable place of delight,
which passengers are eager 10 enter and loath
TO leave The railroad tunnel may not be made
quite as pleasant until electric traction is
adopted But it could, without doubt he made
approximately through the processes which
we have described
AS for electric traction. 1t Is Mt once anus
ing and annoying 70 hear men attempt TO Justify
the non-use Of 1t here on the ground that II has
rot been put into successful use elsewhere
New-Iork ought not 70 have to wait for other
cities. 1t ought to he the pioneer in every such
work. Unhappv II has in matters of trans
portat!on generally been content to trail along
in the wake OF others. Remote san Francisco
enjoyed fine cable car service for years before
New-York ventured 10 make the fearsome exper-
iment OF substituting cable for horse traction
And Budapest under far more difficult condi
uons than prevail here had n superb under
ground trolley system years before New-York
could be persuaded to regard such service as
anything more than visionary and Utopian Let
us hope for something better on the part of this
great railroad. Instead Of studying the expert
ence ana waiting for the leadership of Boston
or Baltimore or Hohokus or Skowhegan II
should go ahead and solve the problem for
itself, and cause New-York for once to sol the
example TO others