New-York tribune., 1902-07-02
OPEN CAR NUISANCE.
NO RELIEF IN SIGHT TILL. SUBWAY Is
FINISHED, SAYS MR. ROOT-WOMEN
PLEAD WITH HIM IN VAIN

Il really do not see. ladies. any possible OF
relief until the subway is finished
That was the suave conclusion Of all the argu-
ments Of o. Root. head OF the transportation de-
partment OF the Metropolitan Street Railway Com
pany. yesterday afternoon.
Mr.. Roots position contained elements of both
humor and tragedy. He had been invited by
representing numerous organizations to
meet them at the home of Mrs Ralph Trautmann
president OF the Woman's Health Protective As
sociation. and 10 tell them If there any hope
at all for relief in the open car nuisance.
Mr.. Root thought there was not-was, in fact
quite sure there was not. The women put him on
the witness stand. and each one acted as counsel
for the plaintiff in the cross-examination Mr.
Root flushed, but firm, and came smilingy up
with an objection TO every proposition. According
20 him all proposed remedies contained elements OF
danger not to say anarchy.
But trailers. Mr.. Root, trailers." chorused the
meeting.
Mr.. Root said that they tried trailers four years
ago. but no one could remember it. Mr. Root said
the company did, though, and that the percentage
of accidents was greatly increased.
.rYou know how many accidents now, with
a conductor looking after one car" said he; what
do you think Il would be with enc man looking
after two cars7'
"But have conductor for the trailer" said the
women
"one man must look after the signals for both
car and trailer" replied Mr. Root Furthermore,
he said more people ran into the trailer because
when one car had passed they were not looking
for another the end OF IT. This seemed very
strange to the women, who said they should think
q person would wait till the car had passed, no
matter how long II was; and they also could not
understand how under the circumstal ces, trailers
were used successfully in handling cars In
other cities, notably Chicago
THE percentage Of accidents is great deal
higher in Chicago than here" said Mr. Root, ''and
the trailer is generally discredted over the coun-
try because Of its dangerous qualities"
Then the women tried him on the subject of
different construction Of the open Could 1t
not be made with two rows of small seats. and
an aisle IN the middle so that the standing which
all allowed to be necessary could be done in the
aisle? Mr.. Roots objection TO this was the time
IT took for people to leave a car of this make
when il got crowded.
But, Mr.. Root, couldn't you make every other
car q closed carr" said some one
Mr.. Root smiled politely. and said that the
closed cars were earning go day, while the open
cars were earning &0-proof conclusive that the
people wanted the open cars.
IF you increased the closed cars It would simply
result in the still further crowding of the open
cars he declared, for the people would wait to
take the open cars. And, really. you know said
Mr. Root, confdentially. outside the rush hours
enough cars are passing given point in the city
TO accommodate all the people that to ride"
"oh, Mr. Root" chorused the women, more in
eE to d eae wb WI her. and ssd 6s6 N ns
And, really. you know, Mr. Root" said Mrs
you could your designers TO TO find some
safe safe & trailer You are making the money out Of
Another proposition advanced by Mr.. Root was
that any scarcity Of outside the rush hours
was caused by teams blocking the track.
Il went down to Fifty -third-st. myself and caused
the arrest OF man who blocked the track with his
truck for thirty-fve minutes" said he "and the
morning the court discharged him.
The women asked If il would do any good to have
ordinance requiring policemen keep teams off
the tracks, and Mr.. Root was OF the opinion that
II would aid materially.
Would it do any good to have certain points for
getting the cars?' inquired one
mo; required by law stop at every
signal replied Mr.. Root.
"But they don't! they don'tl" said the women
why don't you issue order that there shall
be no standing in open cars Mr.. Root?" said one
cross-e2aminer.
Because the people have got TO get their des-
tinaton," replied Mr.. Root
The women Will write other cities and secure
statistics before holding another conference. Aside
from those mentioned there were present Mesdames
4 Young, Gerry, Slade. Charles Brush, G. Wilson,
W Noyes, Sidney Rosenfeld, NJ. J. Herbert, Mary
CSeWton, Mary A. Phillips, j. Hedges and H. P.
Mr. Root looked a little exhausted when he went