New-York tribune., 1902-12-24
THE STREETCAR ABUSES

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: New-Yorkers have long suffered from tb.
wilful neglect and msmanagement of the Metro
politan Street Railway Company, which runs its
with entire disregard of the convenience and
manifest rights OF the public which it should serve
The writer does not use the elevated cxcept
rare occasions therefore its abuses not well
known to her; but she is unfortunate enough to be
compelled to endure the indignties put upon the
public that the surface cars. Three expert
of the last twenty-four hours on these roads
when brought together are somewhat startling.
though not at all unusual
On Monday night. having boarded at Nine
teenth-st and Sixth-ave. at 5:45. the writer and
friend, who is far from well, were compelled TO
stand in swaying mass of men. women and chill
dren through which the conductor showed back
and forth. knocking awry ladies' hats and sticking
his elbow into their faces. Thus swung with
the jolts Of the and the plunginGs of some
hundred other human beings who were paying
the legal fare. for threequarters OF an hour when
with great difficulty. made our way to the door.
Forty-fve minutes from Nineteenth-st- TO Forty
eighth-st- on Sfxth-ave. seems long time TO one
standing
On Tuesday coming up Madison-ave.. the writer
transferred at Thirty-fourth-st. Every one IS ac-
quainted with the inconvenience of that transfer
as Of all others The writer stood on the northeast
corner for d westbound 1t was raining, and
the gutter with melted snow The first car
Pessed. The motorman of the second pointed back
ward down the hill Thinking. in her innocence.
that perhaps because of the up grade the could
stop just where she stood the writer went back
a few feet. The motorman Of the next car waved
his hand before Now. this car was crawling up
The hill behind heavy truck, and had come al
most to a stop. man could easily have boarded
IT. but. encountered with umbrella and a craven
cite, woman was helpless. The writer eXpcstu-
lated with the motorman and received an insoent:
We never stop here Are not CroSstown cars
compelled to stop on both sides Of avenues when
summoned, not only when they choose? Be-
ing in a hurry, the writer waded across the ave-
nue., which was above the ankles in slush and en-
numbered with blocked trucks.
Later going uptown SiXth-ave-, an East Side
car was wanted. Having missed one the writer
waited patiently for the third car, which passed
with d rush. spattering sush all over her skirts.
Again she waited The rain still fell steadily driv
ing under the umbrella. Two One-hundred-and-
twenty-fifth-st cars passed then the writer took
Fort George car, being already ten minutes late to
an engagement, and compelled to change, OF
course. and wait at Fifty-ninth-st-
These everyday occurrences. but when one
puts them together and considers that they took
place within the space of twenty-four hours they
seem considerable. They Isolated cases
Has the public redress? Must on being
imposed upon so outra geously? II Is time for
every one who suffers which is every one In New
York, to utter protests continuously that the
companies, who have sense OF propriety, are
shaned into proper conduct. - - 49, 49,
A DAUGHTER OF NEW-YORK-
Nevy-YorlI. December Il. 1901