New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-07
MORE AND BIGGER CARS
NEW ROUTES SUGGESTED.
Merchants Committee Urges Use OF
Double Deckers IN BroddScGg.

saN0'NAH-@N+A
m q large pamphlet the report Of the committee
on engineering and sanitation on Passenger
TRANSPORTATION Service in the city OF New
York" Copies have been mailed TO city ofnclaAS
including members OF the Board Of Aldermen
members OF the state Railroad Commission and
President Vreeland. To the aldermen the COM
rnftfee wrote: The issue has resolved itself INTO
one OF deoency against indecency, and we in
tend 20 pursue the matter until the State Rail
road Commission does its full duty by the peo-
pie"
The committee declares that the report Gov
srs the first comprehensive and original study
of this city's transportation facilites. As
such il intends 10 make Il the basis Of move
ment 70 secure the necessary reforms and
thoroughly efficient transportation service
In . preface the committee recalls the trans
portation evils from which NEWCOMERS have
suffered. and the efforts made 10 bring about an
Improvement Continuing. IL says;
The report OF the State Railroad Commission
shows that no data u passenger and movement
sufficient 90 warrant IFS conclusion were Obtained
and that SIS recormendations were based upon i'm
nerfect knowledge 81 the facts.
The orders issued by The commission were we're, ~
ri Tire case. Above an those orders. although os-
a. reaitv feen given such effect as TO aTrod any
substantial relief. and have, IN fact been largely
Moreover the Railroad Commission has MADE no
serious attempt 70 enforce TIE orders lssueq ~
TIE Merchants Association that the commission
lacks the legal powers necessary 10 enforce us
orders.
The legal committee Of the Merchants Asso-
citation drafted a bill for enarging the State
Railroad Commission from three 70 five mem
hers: for securing expert services by requiring
TWO OF the members 10 be engineers: for secur-
ing adequate local reform by requiring those
engineers to be residents OF this city. and for
giving the commission plenary powers to en-
force its orders subject TO review by the courts
This bill failed Of passage
Some az the more important conclusions and
recommendations OF the committee follow;
That more cars be put in service at once during
the rush hours. The committee believes that the
number OF cars now operated during the rush
6ogTs SR 6s Sfns . increased even on 'e
That during other than rush hours the number
az cars be 50 increased that the travel shall be
comfortably accommodate, There can be no doubt
That immediate m. assures be taken 20 reduce %
cars caused by yehicuar travel and stanolng rehl-
Giles. well as by building operations and other
that when this is ione It VIII be possible to in
crease the present number Of cars operated more
than % per cent, even during the rush hours.
That measures be taken 20 substitute at the
earliest possible date on all the congested lines
gers each The present average seating capacity
of the closed cars N Broadway being about thirty
passengers. the substitution Of an equal number ~
ne larger cars would lncTtase ne ssatlls aIo
We recommend uiat q fair trial be given 10
That an cars carry distinct and properly placed
signs showing the route and destination by day
that at the principal transfer stations the cars
he stopped IN sets OF two or more. instead Of sngly
= present
That .upo1 The congested lines. on all cars having
length Of car BODY Of twenty-eight feet and over
two men. IN addition 20 the mOtorman should be
spsctiye duties of eacb nan slio5i5 be TroperIv de-
Med. 50 that one man VIII be constantly upon the
That upon the congested lines cars be stopped 20
take on and let of passengers AZ alternate cross
That mechanical appliances 70 expedite the load
ING AND unloading 81 freight on the congested
s-eels snouia h a1opl'4 v l-eIeNtI
the congested lines. it would be inlEra ctoa bic
70 sny e55- 20 Of P5rs IRON standing
that on the less congesteo .treets there are no
physical engineering difficulties 10 prevent
satisfactory increase Of service. II is question
merely ~ power and equipment. and it is within
the ability Of the operating company to provide
ample 6CcomTnoda tons. such accommodation
should he required az the Interurban company.
The construction ~ surface car subway n
rnended In is ~ present unnecessary and its great
cost. the physical difficulties that would be en-
CURED for TIE rapid transit subway make its con-
The eq1ipnert II uany OF the orosstown surface
ines, esuecay the horseCar lines. is very poor and
fat bst s, ~ hem arc eo oS f6 b SS1as le
electric power IS not Sufficient excuse for their
present nCgegt This branch Of the TRANSFORMATION
service SHOULD be materially improved at once.
el1dss tbat ne exte1s5n ~ ne 5ebsi xtS cen
Inc from Central Park West 70 Amste rdanl-ave.
tracks thence 10 Riverside Drive thus oompletng
ar electric line from river 70 river, are a public
necessity. AID recommends that this be- done as
soon possible
Several new surface car routes are believed 70 be
practicable and desirable. and some changes in
present routes are recommended.
West side clevate5 roads az South Ferry should
s'5e ~ re a-be~ sn5 ~ SoTtb T1er,1 81 stanton
should 10 improved 50 as 10 make this practicable
vided on the secon6-avo line from Chatham
Square 20 the Harlem River; on The Third-ave
F~rrr rN-cF - ha H1~ liver nd on
the Ninth-ave line from Rector-st- 70 one-hun-
The elevated STATION At -hundred-an twenty
Eeventh-st on the Second-ave. line should be ban
De- built a. one-h dred-sr a twenty fifth-st-
Roofing an elevated platforms for their fun length
u IS recommended that the companies adopt a
ME as well IS The eTiStire one against CARVING
enforced
The committee holds that in a crowded street
n r. not safe FOR q car TO exceed twelve miles
an hour. With proper regulation OF vehicular
traffic. IL is thought that an eight mile speed
fright be maintained throughout the day
The committee thinks thar il VIII be feasible.
ny making slight alterations where the Broad
way lines sre crossed by the elevated structure.
70 secure necessary head room for a double deck
car carrying about eighty passengers such
cars n thinks, could be run in Broadway. Sew
enth-sve- and Lexington. for instance.
II is recommended that q double track line
be constructed. starting from Broadway Al Park
Place, running through Park Place and West
Broadway 10 and through Canal-st.. Narirk-st..
Carmine-st. SiNth-ave., Creenwich-sve.. Sew
enth-ave. and Broadway 20 Mania ttanvflle and
beyond. n practicable. to Kingsbridge Road.
where could Join the line already in Kings
bridge Road
The committee considers that New Elu-st
should be kept free from railroad tracks
Much needed relief for Broadway and Twen-
ty-third-st.." the report says. would be OBJ
tanned III the IeginEron-ave road should be ex-
tended southwardly along Lexington-ave. and
around Grarercy Park 70 and through Irving