New-York tribune., 1902-12-21
B. r. T. CARS LACK POWER
Greatange1- Tells Railroad Commits
sion Uhy Service Is Inadequate.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE ]

| Albany, Dec. a-President Greatsinger OF the
| Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company. has taken up
| the gauntlet thrown at his feet by the Manu-
| facturers Association, OF Brooklyn.
| In a letter the State Railroad Commission.
| which has received many complaints from the
| Manufacturers Association and others about the
| Brooklyn service that it determined to hold a
hearing in the Brooklyn Borough Hall on December
20. Mr. Greatsinger shows clearly what will be the
lines of his defence at this hearing. For example.
In reference to a complaint about the Flatbush-ave.
service. Mr.. Greatsinger says:
I'VE continually adding TO the service during
the day on Flatbush-ave.. and confident that
the service that line. except during rush hours
is sufficient for the comfort OF the public. Condi
tions during rush hours cannot be improved at pres
ent owing 20 the lack of power"
Concerning the assertion that the cars not
heated and are dirty Mr.. Greatsinger says:
The statement that the cars are not heated is
sometimes true during rush hours. bur is absolutely
untrue during twenty-five hours OF the day. The
statement that the cars are dirty has no founda-
tion because all the cars are thoroughly cleaned
once in twenty-four hours and are swept at the end
OF each trip
In regard to the complaint that was made
cerning the Putnam-ave. line Mr.. Greatsinger says
that the company this week put additional service
upon that line during non-rush hours. Respecting
service at the time the theatres are closed he says
that theatre cars are sometimes overcrowded be-
cause the company is able to determine exactly
the minute theatre will close. and although there
may be 1--WE or six the line passing the
theatre at about time of its closing passengers
insist upon packing into the first car.
letter signed by the Manufacturers Association.
Mr. Greatsinger says. seems be complaint
to the number Of run but the complaint is
not definite enough. in the opinion Of the officers OF
the company enable them Ito answer it except
by general denial
Mr.. c;reatsinger concludes his letter by saying:
regard the general siiGatiGn In B5 B5Sok 1Ss
we at present operating during rush hours
car for wFa 6 we fe r o new OF
house called for its completion during the last
OWING to the failure to obtain material. TO strikes
in the shops Of @ and various rio Is. other
mower from, ms source for six weeks or two
but bv S middle 6G Ge'@p Of era 0 and fhf from
Others at succeeding intervals Of two weeks 10 a
month <.u 49,, ,..+ ,..,- ..o.,
the power which their plant was able 10 supply
during the rush hours. and have tried. without
additofai Il power is obtained it will be possible
to put more cars in the suburban districts hut
bridge thar are now now opeEa3Iedt es3rdtt Of four aad,
tional loops OF. the Manhattan end Of the bridge |
at the sole of this company. have been placed
which We expect will to degree alleviate the |
passengers upon the different lines at various |
points aGng the system and as rr fast as their the & RE-
nished during non-rush hours we are adding addi- |
The fact that these complaints are made at this
time undoubtedly arises from the condition of |
the streets in Brooklyn during the last two |
three weeks. The accumulation OF ice upon the |
sides of the streets throughout the city forced |
all heavy trucks to drive upon our tracks Very |
many of these trucks were overloaded. and
broke down, and frequently it was necessary for |
one of our cars to push truck for long dis |
tance before it could be induced to leave the track
These delays continually caused cars ito become |
punched upon the lines, with the result that the |
first car of the bunch became overloaded, while
the last would have but few passengers. These
delays universal throughout the city, and
they were so frequent as to cause the time table
to fall two hours behind during a period of ten
or twelve hours. thus materially reducing the ser
vice offered although sufficient cars were at all
times upon the road. We appealed TO the police
to assist in keeping tracks clear
and with their assistance we hope. that such ser-
Gus delays will not be again met with.
With regard to the heating OF the cars. orders
We're given out two weeks ago to heat every
before IL left the barn in the morning
and to keep the heat turned at all hours. ex-
cept during the two hours in the evening. when
owing to the lack of power for the operation OF
the it was impossible to furnish power for
heating.
we would be very glad to have your board in |
vestigate the question of the number cars oper-
ated during non-ruSh hours. and would be very
glad to adopt any suggestions made by you with
reference to an Improvement in the service.
We cannot, he wever, take action upon
plaints such those sent by you which do
not the lines where the service is found de-
heient
No expense has been spared in obtaining new
and brilliantly lighted cars and in |
putting the roadbed and equipment In the pos
sible condition.