New-York tribune., 1902-09-06
BAGGAGE CRUSH CONTINUES
AND SO IT WILL TILL THE VACATION
CLOSING SEASON Is OVER

The army Of people returning from the country
at this time of year continues 10 pour into ths
city at all the railroad stations. Trains have gen
orally speaking regained Their normal running time
which was badly displaced by the congestion of
Labor Day. but the handling of baggage is still
deliberate
is there any possibility of getting that trunk
Tomorrow asked a man At the Grand Central
yesterday as he turned his check over TO trans
fer man. oh yes, certainly" was the cheerful
reply-and then, as the agent bent over his pad
writing. he added. there's possibility More
often the agents would say, frankly. Cant prom
ise this before Monday, You'll be lucky IL you
get 1t then"
and if the unwarned travellers face fell at the
prospect Of so long a separation from his assem-
blcd ncccssarcs of life the check would be handed
back. Usually in tone of utter despair the agent
would be told to do his best
At the Grand Central Station the walls of bag
gage that filed the open platform behind the gates
lately have disappeared or rather have been trans
forred, and occupy the hall opening tho
street, The archways that led out TO the strident
chorus of Hanson cab: hansonH' are now closed
by the large iron gates, the in the east arch
way being set in place yesterday afternoon Tho
only egress now for passengers arriving Is along the
driveway, where the railroad cabs stationed-a
waIk-Or through the old waiting room
The rest of the Incoming station has been trans
formed into a baggage room.
officials in charge see nothing unusual In the
year for about two weeks IL is always So said
yesterday You can't help it Everybody
Seems 20 come home at once!''
The conditions similar the roads running
into Jersey City. Baggage comes in bulk, and is
disposed Of by slow piecemeal process. Such bag
gage as people carry IN the hand reaches its deS-
tlnatiou time. Everything else has to wait
The distribution of trunks and personal baggage
to local addresses Is problem that in Its present
phase leaves good deal 70 be desired said u
man connected with of the large express COM
panies. Il don't think there Is worse condi-
this year than usual 1t is always bad. People
blame the railroads and the express companies
The truth of the matter is that they like 1t least
present to cope with the difficulty. In the first
place, baggage is dumped together at terminal
point from all over the country, and then has to
be distributed again all over the city. stream
OF shipments all damned up at one
point usually with room to spare. even under
deal time. Where this is overcome by check
ing from starting point to destination. much waste
of time and unnecessary effort are avoided But
even So drivers have 10 have special set of trunks
correspond with their bills. and the delay seems
inevitable
There seems to be no prospect Of any relief from
the present state Of congestion at all incoming
points until the press of travel becomes less. The
facilities for transferring baggage are desSned 70
tit normal conditions, and become hopelessly
sWamped whenever unusual amount OF buSl-
ness has to he taken of As this happens reg
arlv at intervals through the people are in
ciued feel that it should be met with SUM
cient preparation. But the prevailing tone seems
o of meek despair on the part or travellers
and philosophc resignation to present conditions
among the baggage handlers.