The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-13
STEAM REPLACES THIRD RAIL
on WEST SIDE ELEVATED-SLEET
BLOCK KEEPS Up.
Plight OF the Fast Side Lines Was worse
Manhattan t1inEs 10 Its Brush and
OH Device. but can't Equip All
Its Trains for Three Weeks.

The blockade on the elevated road,
which started early on Thursday evening
when ice began to form on the third rail
continued Yesterday morning and half the
downtown population Of New York go,
to business late and out of sorts.
The situat ion on the West Side 80 far a.
elevated traffic was concerned was trifc
better yesterday when the business rush set
in than on the East Side. In the early
morning hours the Manhattan officials had
succeeded in getting every electric train
of the line. The motormen who had once
been engineers went back 10 their old work
aud by 7o'clock the system was on steam
basis. The engines were brought over
from the East Side 10 replace those that
had been sold.
According TO the managers Of the road
there was normal service of steam trains
ON the West Side during the morning hourN.
but no one else seemed 10 think 80. There
were no express trains, blockades were fire.
quent and the trains We're 20 crowded that
men and bows rode on the tenders of loco
motives. only about half the usual num-
Der Of trains seemed to be running and on
many stations there were almost riots.
on the East Side, whore electricity has
been installed exclusively, the DELAYS w"r"
longer and trains crawled. II took some
trains three hours To go from The Bronx to
Civ Hall.
With the rse in temperature things began
TO -traightrn out gradually on both sides
of town. Gangs OF men -Craped the rali~
and by O clock electric trains were again
running to fiity-eighth street. The Harlem
service was not rest med, however On
the East Side in the afternoon second ave-
nue. trains We're on time and 1hlrd aNenu"
trains We're about FIVE minutes late. Last
night there We're bloCkdde-. however. and
people were late In getting home.
Vice President Skitt and Assistant General
Manager Grape of the Manhattan had the
same explanation 10 oIer-that their trains
We're not vet equipped with devices TO keep
the rails clear. Furthermore. they wouldn't
Ice equipped for three weeks
The return of the steam trains led 20
report that the elevated would dispense
with electric service during the winter
This was positively denied lay the company :
Tepres.ntatl- Mr.. Grape hsi '@t- "a raN
"Thr blockade was very serious, but TO
regard II as demonstrating the faiure
Of the electric system i ridiculous. III"
Manhattan j. still confident regarding the
success Of the system. When the road l.
properly equipped no trouble VIII be eN-
perienced. II j. not true that we are going
To use -CraperS. Our device IL simply a
steel brush, which in storm II Kept pressed
against the rail by compressed air. Then
! on each car there j. a tank Of oil and tank
Of salt solution. The salt is put on FIRST
| and that -oftens the ice, which the brush
| throws of The oil then keeps the rail
| from freezing again.
| I'VE have l 200 cars 10 equip with four
| brushes each and thGt is a big job. 1t will
| take at least three weeks. Our men are
working night and day in putting them on,
80 we cannot help but be all right soon.
| MotOrmen who We're seen yesterday
| did not seem half 80 optimistic. They
| agreed that the oil had not worked well and
| without something to soften the ice the
| brushes did not work at all.
| Despite the advantage claimed for the
| scraping device used on the electric trains
| in Brooklyn the congestion Their" yesterday
/ morning was almost a. bad as in Man
haitian. What il known a a hot hrin"
| car was run constantly. This il "A car from
which hot salt water l. sprayed ON the rail
This was ONLY partially effective. and steam
trains We're run part of III" day Genera
| Superintendent Smith said that he had
| Electricians at work trying to perfect a
remedy and something that would prevent
loss Of current by ice formation.
We do not think much Of the brush de-
| vice used by the Manhattan" said Mr.
Smith in our opinion the iron scrap'
il better and We certainly have not had the
trouble they have had ia Manhattan