New-York tribune., 1902-12-25
ELECTRICITY THE CURE--SKITIT
PROMISES MANY MORE CARS AFTER COMPLETE
INSTALLATTON.
No Ground for Complaint Rush IHn He SaPresLnnd
U1h1ng To TdH.
SHES 4TLOW'S QUERIES.
Rail5ray Men Tell Cantor They Are
WilliRg to Confer.

Mayor Low yesterday received from n n.
VreeIand. president of the Metropolitan Street
Railway Company, brief reply to his letter to
the presidents of surface companies. The
Mayors letter askeS three questions to the
practicabiity of running at all hours of the
day and evening the same number of cars that
operated in the rush hours. why two
ductors should not be placed on each car in the
crowded hours. and why vestibuIes should not
be placed on the cars for the protection OF the
motormen in stormy weather. Mr. Freeland
does not answer any of the questions. After ac-
acknowledgement of the Mayors letter. and the
statement that he has noted the questions to
which the Mayor wants replies. Mr.. Yreeland
says:
The engineers connected with the department
of the President of the Borough of Manhattan
this company in the investigation OF the condf-
tiOns Of travel in this city, and representative
of this company is to attend before the presi-
dent at his office at D. m. to-day in connection
with the investigation which he is making
The Board of State Railroad Commissioners
have also entered upon official investigation
of travel upon the railroads in this city. and
have appointed a meeting to De held at the al
dermanic chamber in the City Hall, on Tuesday
next at 10 a. m. and have requested this COM
pany to send a representative to that meeting.
1 have doubt that this official investigation
will furnish a satisfactory answer to the ques-
tfons you ask. The subject matter of your
questions is too broad to be discussed in the lin
YOU desire a personal interview the subject,
1 should be glad to meet you in consultation.
and discuss the matter fully with you. at such
time as you may appoint
The Mayor made Mr.. VreeIanG's letter pub
lie without expressing comment oa it. but some
of the officials at the City Hall said they thought
Mr. vreeland evidently wanted to dodge answers
to the Mayors questions.
MEETING IN CANTORs OFFICE.
Mr. vreeland attended the meeting of en-
gineers in the Office Of President Cantor at
D. m. to which he referred in his letter. Among
others present were Alfred Skitt. general man
ager of the elevated roads in Manhattan; Oren
Root, jr., general manager of the Interurban
Street Railway Company, and Wisner Martin,
engineer in charge Of subsurface structures in
this city. The representatives Of the railway
companies expressed willingness to confer ON
any propositions to improve traffic conditions
on their lines and said they were prepared TO
discuss any feature of local transportation. Mr..
Cantor. however, said that inasmuch as the
State Railroad Commissioners had appointed
public hearing at the City Hall next Tuesday
morning he thought the conference should be
adjourned until after the hearing
The officers of the companies present ex-
pressed a willingness to comply with any
sonabIe requirements that might be made upon
them by the local authorities. Mr.. Cantor said
after the conference that he regretted the State
Railroad Commission had been appealed to;
IT would have been preferable in his Judgment
to have those questions determined by the mu-
nicipality, il was better qualified to judge
of present fntolerabIe conditions and the meas
ures necessary relieve them He did not wish
TO be understood as lacking faith IN the ability
or disposition of the State Railroad Commits
sioners TO make an honest investigation. he said,
but he thought the city might get speedier re-