New-York tribune., 1902-03-08
MORE CARS AT THE FERRIES.

The announcement of the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company that it will on and after next
Monday run all Fifth-ave cars to the ferries
and none across the bridge indicates an inter
esting experiment in the solution of the traffic
problem. In general, as we have hitherto urged,
an increase of service at the ferries is to be
commended, is anything that will tend to
divert traffic from the overcrowded bridge The
making of the experiment is. therefore, to be
approved, and it's result awaited with sympa-
thetic interest and with hope Perhaps we
should add that there should be no illusions
concerning it. but a frank recognition of the
possibility of failure and of the certainty of
complaints 1t will be said, for example, that
Fifth-ave. passengers are compelled to pay six
cents for getting to and from Manhattan, while
those on all other lines can do so for five;
and also that the Fifth-ave lines are the very
ones whose patrons can least afford the extra
cent. In this there will be some undoubted
truth, and the question may be raised whether
it would not have been better to make the e1-
pertinent with some other lines. We shall not
be surprised, too, if many patrons of the Fifth
ave. lines, instead of henceforth going to the
ferries continue going to the bridge and take
the Fifth-ave. elevated road, thus adding TO
what is perhaps the worst congestion in the
whole situation.
For such results the company and the public
must be prepared. Even at worst they will not
necessarily condemn the change. There will
certainly be something gained in other direc-
tons- Crowding at the Park Row bridge loops
at night will be lessened, and congestion of We
hicles on the bridge will be relieved The pas
sengers on other lines will be enabled to get
to their cars and to their homes more COM
fortably and more promptly, and their gain is
to be considered as well as the loss of anv one
else. Or If the experiment with Fifth-ave. cars
shall prove to be unsuccessful it would still be
possible and indeed advisable, to make it again
with some other lines in the case of which the
same objections might not prevail. Certainly it
is desirable to make strenuous effort to divert
traffic from the bridge to the ferries and if that
cannot be done in one way another way should
be tried.
There is one other point in connection with
this experiment which it seems fitting to en-
phasize. 1t is hinted at in the placards an
nouncing the experiment in request that the
public will cooperate with the company in re-
ieving the congestion of traffic With all due
criticism of the car company for it's shortcom-
ings, it is frankly TO be said that the public is
in measure responsible for the evils COM
planned of. There is ON the part OF MANY n
perfect mania for getting from place to place
in the quickest possible time. Rapid transit is
doubtless good thing. But 1t is not the su-
preme achievement of civilization Comfort
safety and decency are superior to It. There
are thousands Of men who are ready to iump
upon the first car that comes along and hang
on by the eyelids rather than wait thirty sec
onds for the next car and get a seat. To spend
thirty-one minutes in getting home instead of
doing 1t In thirty seems TO them the crownine
calamity OF utter desoiation. We have no doubt
that many will object to having to 90 TO the
ferries, because they viii thus have to snend n
few seconds more on the road. Such people are
usually those whose time is really of the least
value and who are readest to waste their time