The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-21

en- travelling in cars in New York than In
London and 1t is more difficult for men
to board the cars when moving because
of the speed. New York cars would
really-to use an Irishlsm-get over the
ground faster in the end If they went
slower. as in that case stoppages would
be fewer In London the buslnessman's
favorite means of locomotion Is a ham
som. which gets over the ground swifter;
hansonis are few in New York.
The streets of downtown New York and
the streets in the old city OF London
two quarters which are somewhat SINH
lar in character-Iorm a striking con-
trast. The distance near the Bank OF
England and the Stock Exchange in Lon
don consist of numerous small courts
and alleys. only few feet wide In some
cases, not always with room for a cart
or cab to pass, and intersected by wider
streets, such as Cornhin, Lombard street
and Old Broad street. The courts are
again intersected by numerous passages
and culs-de-sac. 1t Is difficult for the
light to penetrate into some of the mar
row alleys. and rehectors are generally
used. The office buildings are not high
six or seven stories, at lie most Tho
downtown streets in New York are wider
than the London courts, but the ground
is well covered, and if the buildings were
not skyscrapers it is difficult to see where
the light could come from.
Notwithstanding the colossal size Of the
New York buildings, each one full Of
hundreds Of active workers, the streets
cd Of
London. Why? Not because there are
fewer people in a given area. On the
contrary the day population In business
New York is UNNECESSARILY denser than
in the similar districts In London. Only,
the New York office is practically self
contained. Once in the office the staff
has little reason to go out during the
day. They have everything they need in
the building. In London. on the other
hand, much OF the activity one sees in
the streets would be regarded as sheer
wasted energy in New York. There Il
a continual rush of message boys, with
letters and kilograms or parcels, rum
ming errands, of people making business
calls, going out to luncheon, etc. The
New York office has its letter chute at
hand; much more use is made of the
telephone; many business calls are paid
within the building, without going out
side; restaurants and barber shops are
frequently within the little world of the
skyscrapers.
New York carries economy much fur
Their. The offices are adapted to save the
greatest possible labor and trouble. One
a..
the different departments communicate
ing easily with one another. In London
similar offices would be on three or four
floors of the same building, or of diff
ferent buildings, and there is much waste
OF time and energy in running to and fro.
While the New York business men,
therefore, can sit comfortably in his
chair, in touch with all his staff and in
communication with all the CITY, with
out moving similar staff in London is
distributed over several floors, and the
men spend much of their time in finding
one another.
Most reasonably high buildings In Lon
don have lifts, but many of these eleva-
tors are often of an antiquated type.
Most of them are hydraulic, not electric.
The tall buildings of New York have
made the constructors of elevators rise
to the occasion, and the modern elevator
is a fine example of combined comfort
and finished Workmanship.
The owners of the office buildings in
London are still Indifferent to the needs
of women. 1t is not many years since
women began to be largely employed in
business offices in London, and now they
are not employed to anything like the
same extent as in New York, nor at the
same responsible work. Visitors to New
York are struck by the enormous num-
Der of women employed in downtown Of
fees, and admire the splendid type which
has been evolved. Apart from factory and
shopgirls and mattresses, women in Lon
don are chiefly clerks, typists and secre-
taries. The London office girl is a frivo-
lous creature. compared with the New
York ,usiness woman. The London girl
obviously does not take to office work
seriously, does not look upon 1t as a ca
reer. She thinks far too much of dress,
spends too much time over ner hair.
The New York office woman struck me
as a fine type of self-reliant. business-like
person-independent, vigorous, assertive
She is quick, alert and ambitious This
equality of the sexes which work intro
duces rubs the edges off old lime chivalry.
Londoner cannot quite get used to
women standing in the New York cars
when men sit. He has to be told that he
is not expected to offer 4.-s seat toa lady.
She might accept it, but, l was told, 1t
is just as likely that she will resent the
offer. In London women expect to be
offered seats. and they are rarely allow
ed to stand.