New-York tribune., 1902-12-20
TRAFFIC IIEUP
This Time 1t Is the Surface Lines
Pushing the Agitation.

pr.-x car ~ the Metropolitan Street Railway
COMPANY south OF Leonard and Canal SITS stopped
running from to $50 a. m yesterday Ihree ol
the cables which supply power TO the Fronl-s|
S,,t-station from the main power house, at Ninety
xixth-st and East River, were out of use Inc
trouble occurred at the intersection OF the cahes
at Broadway and Vesey-st
The tieup came in the busiest part of the morn
.sne making Il necessary for thousands to take the
elevated trains. or walk to their business AS
result the elevated trains were crowded even inofe
than usual The station platforms were naoe Gl-
safe by the dense and jostling hrongs
All the Transportation facilities of lower New
York were paralyzed. To relieve the consesuon
Broadway were run back when they reacleu
Houston-st. On the DOWNTOWN uachs 'iie 'oh'
were stalled for blocks
AZ the Frootlvn Bridge a Third-ave was stuck
directly opposite roadway. Many cars had to be
pushed off the crossings on which fney STUCK ny
the main strength of motorman and conductors
Engineer Pearson. of the Metropolitan Company
who had charge Of the repair work. Salo aiteT
the block had been lifted:
The trouble was caused by the fusing Of three Of
the main cables As soon as We heard wnat ha9 40
men put work cutting away the ruined WIRE
AT the same dte: te eaos OF Of w6at We cafi
<'oIlick splice which consists of short pieces OF
dent happened cannot tell exactly. but it might
have come from water getting in the subway hole'
The Merchants Association is vigorously pushing
the agitation in favor of decent transportation ia
cilities letter on this subject has been mailed to
fourteen ministers and six thousand physicians in
New-YoFk
Speaking of transit conditions. s. c. Mead. secre-
tary of the committee on franchises and transpor-
fation. said yesterday:
large amount OF delay occurs because the prob
lem of handling the crowds on the approaches 70
the trains has never been properly worked out II
IS no uncommon thing at the elevated stations TO
have the train wait from two to flve minutes while
the crowd fights at the gates to enter the ears,
which overcrowded that no more passengers
can get in, This results in a delay to that tram
and IN interruption in the schedule; EVen win
the same equipment, the company could carry more
passengers with less delay if it could so regulate
the approaches as TO prevent this dangerous strug-
gle which causes the delay
There is another thing which could easily be
remedied- Some of the elevated stations nave only
one stairway. During the crowded hours this re-
suits in congestion and delay. Other elevated sta
tions such for instance. as the downtown station
Thirty-thrd-st. narrow that IL is almost
impossible for two people TO pass each other With
out turning sideways In rush hours, wnen people
are going up and coming down at the same time,
this likewise creates congestion and confusion .
Not alone every train and car is now taxed 10 It's
capacity. but the sidewalks crowded with Shop-
pers. The feminine element predomiDates even IN
some Of the downtown streets. Every woman IN
New-York. it seems, is coming out to purchase
presents at the stores to look around, great
many Of them bringing their children along After
O'Clock elevated trains and cars are all packed
with shoppers and their bundles.