New-York tribune., 1903-01-01
HARD BLOW FOR B. r.
Grand Jury Recommends Municipal
Operation of Railroads.

zhe County Court. on the service provided by
The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company. Some or
the points are that the cars are poorly Ven
5ilated and dirty. badly heated and poorly
lighted. and that people are crowded during the
rush hours in q shameful manner. 1t was
recommended that the aldermen pass a law
making compulsory the heating of cars every
where in the city. It was declared that by rea-
son Of its negligence, fnefficiency and unwilling
ness to perform its duty the company had for
fefted its right operate trolley lines. and it
was recommended to the Attorney General that
he begin actions 10 annul the charter of the
company and the corporations under its control
The grand Jury also recommended that the mu-
rlicipanty Of New-York acquire all the street,
elevated and tunnel railway systems now in
use or to be projected. and operate them for the
benefit and profit Of the people of this city
The presentment follows
The grand Jury Of Tngs c0gnty for 3o6%s 6Rs month Of
The attention ot this grand jury has been callea @
ss the travelling public in this borough by the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company and our CO.
were reported to be highly deplorabe evils both in
she management sn6 q The egplpnent OF the
We proceeded accordingly 10 make official inquiry
regret. st- that tie Br6oyn Heights Railroad com
psy S fs 1 s1 t zSr6 owes 9f d On 70 some 5s the
branches OF the company the cars are poorg ven
s5s anc to t menace aa Of the public health cars
are poorly lighted: the service is grossly Insult
ing oapac and The transportation OF ,ai paigSengers sr
9qg seed u'e i'7S
PRESSING REFORMS NEEDED
We consider. however that Of the many serious
IN sse sfrslSs s os 05 attention
First-The non-heating Of cars In cold ana chlhv
second-The extremely poor lighting of cars:
Third-The highly insufficient service in point of
number of cars and extent of seating capac{y,
Traasit cornBgany Sg aieges @ that ali its cars are
well heated twenty-five hours Of every day NeE-
the company is not doing even ali it can to remedy
this evil Cold cars in damp chilly weather are a
menace to the public health The hardship L,-is Is
who are forced TO work for living, and patronlze
InoTning going 70 work when the vital energies
ere at 2 low eOh in the late afternoon return
ea 1Rg % from 0Fs M eRTns es Of he M
hss render @ s the tg human ss % ce I ea sea ann
women and girl passengers particularly sus-
oeptbie to the evil effects of this unsanitary. in
This jury has not rested satisfied simply with the
testimony submitted on this point but has made
observations of its own. For example. on Deem
e sf e at cars S tsg n @ o N Ss @
fcuy was @ heated Is at al aFa 1 no Dfre n
stance was a car found that was heated up TO
The poor lighting is injurious to thousands of eyes
ea IN X reaGg e gess en ae s made It
has afforded. and is affording pickPockets an op-
Fonid be lost IS 50 that the peace county
endangered and the property OF travellers put in
he grand jury regards the insufficient number
Of and the Insufficient seating capacity as the
worst evils OF an During the rush" hours or
7eas Tse are bT IN @ as Sc sS cars 0fgh n nUs shae
1n6nner Many have to stand. and those who get
great strain our women and girls; menace to
1her health and i Is imposed at TINE me @ when: e sf
able resist attack We regret to say. too. that
assume phase Of indeeeaey. repugnant both to the
% r aa foTss me r enre l II
Of such customs must inevitably tend to impair
70 Tecognize such d5ngeTE Of modern 1etroPoiitan
5ts concentrated power TO guard the health ana
morals OF or a E9e9 ta snd sniv glTS rce wnga
COMPANIES LAMENTABLE FAILURES"
AS social organs Of general utility: enjoying the
rghts OF s1eTCSng Fa9sbe & pu5o d IeSer ' as
both to the health and the morals Of tins com
rta5e failures as the trusted organs OF s9Sefy @ b u
sides both the physical and the moral we 1,a md
profits the public welfare. If they are allowed 70
continue it must result in lowering the mora and
after all the most important considera1on loT Us
good heritage not alone OF personal fortune, but
We have eSsTnined the responsible officials Of the
Brooklyn Heights Railroad Company, and learn
unwilling 10 cure the three evils specified
-nsnr copgleorv the heating Of cars everyv here
in the city The present ordinance is not broad
W. recommend. also. that new ordinance sa be
red Fsgn@Sng @ g 5ae PToPer ghtfg m it's 81 6sence
ineficiencv and unwillingness TO perform its duty
s BB9o Espd aFe aTenf oeed b d 4h Y
TO continue IN the enjoyment and exercise of their
charters and franchises. ard recommend 10 the
Attorney General and urge upon him, that with al
due speed he institute action to annul Their
charters and strip them of their franchises accord
Since this topic is now subject Of public ag1ta-
tion al this city we have finally to make THIS
z1ggeson & 20 the 1ion 81 this Vexed pro6lem OF
reefrorolftan transportation is municipal ownership
street ravsays elevated railways and tunnels. all
the facilities Of metropolitan transit that s have
ly. and nractioaliy nothing IN this day should be be
eo-+roI from which fhe passed the ownership
and operation OF the public
MUNICIPAL OPERATION ADVISED.
Tnder municipal control and operation, these pub
liz would be conducted not with the aim OF
making large profits TO enrich few, making OF
,be p.5c the best service at the least price More
over the efficiency ana advisa6liity & Of the parGci i
abundantly demonstrated. as shown by our excei-
n ,I water 6 SyIn, Brookyn Bridge the efcent anc
economical gas plants owned and operated by
Rrtan q by the s:looessf water and electric light
sss Rsnss ey e over enc te Gntsd sa a notng
OF the many ft and CONVINCING examples that might
Te s-e of orinion too from statistics submitted
70 US that experience has demonstrated that under
rs,hIic control, these railway systems wouid not
niv be operated eiciently Tor the public but that
fares could Be neaeGe9 Ts le rsTeue after the cost
Of operation is met which could be applleo TO re
thaf now 20 70 make private illionaires would go
70 beneht people as whole we earn tna'
nicipai aization of public service utilities. We see
son why the public shoqlq @ spber sf 1GT % ece
fzzation when this remedy be availed of
We hsFsfor sce9fe al The '4r Street elevated and
tunnel railway systems 1is now IN use % md - onepate