New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-15
OPEN AND SHUT STATIONS

Commissioner Best's administration of bridge
affairs has not at all times been commendable
Indeed, we have recently been compelled
to express strong dis6pproval OF some of his
schemes a disapproval felt by the public. and
| happily, made effective. Nevertheless, he is
capable of doing a good thing now and then,
at any rate when a suggestion Of it is made
TO him, and we are glad to record that lie has
done 4 real and much needed public service
i'll removing 4 lot OF the superfuous glass from
the walls of the bridge terminal, and thus MAX
ing that incommodious structure at least lit
tie more comfortable in hot weather We
have always regarded it as the browning tri-
umph Of the maladrOit ingenuity of those who
made that terminal that in the hottest days OF
midsummer the multitudes who throng the
bridge are compelled to stand struggle and
tramp their weary way under behind her
metically sealed screens of glass, as though
they were early vegetables being forced" In
/ Il hOtbed. That the placing OF those sashes on
swiVels or hinges so that they can be opened
for ventilation. has been delayed until the pres
ent time is an impressive indication of the
supine tolerance which is characteristic of the
New-YOrk public in some cities an indignant
crowd would years ago have smashed every
pane Of glass in the building, and just Judge
would have sent the builder to Jail for down.
right cruelty.
The incident suggests another reform which
we trust will be carefully considered before
next winter sets in, that it may then he
adopted either voluntarily or under the COM
pulsion of the Department Of Health We
mean the reasonable Enclosure Of the bridge
terminals, if not also of some elevated rail-
road stations, so as to protect waiting passen-
gers from the rigors of inclement weather
| There is no more reason for making such n
place in winter as bleak as an Alpine mountain
top than there is for making it in summer
| furnace seven times heated. Hitherto In win
ter, while waiting for trains-at some hours
ten, fifteen or twenty minutes-passenge
have been compelled to stand upon bare plat
forms in building open at both ends and
thus forming a tunnel through which freez-
| ing blasts poured like water through q mill
race. 1t was a good deal worse than standing
upon an open street corner 1t entaled great
| discomfort and probably considerable amount
of sickness and death SO, of course. passenge
have been compelled TO stand upon open plat
| forms at elevated railroad stations, exposed to
! ihe coiu ana TO Whatever storms were raging.
All this has been unnecessary. There is no
good reason why the Park Row terminal Of
the bridge should not be entirely inclosed at
the northwest end in winter. so as to shield
waiting passengers from the winds which
sweep across the City Hall Park. There might
| even be doors at the other end and at both
ends of the Brooklyn terminal to be closed
when trains are run at long intervals and pas
sengers are thus kept waiting a long time
Such reform has been greatly facilitated by
the Introduction of electricity as the motive
power of the railroad. 1t could easily be eff.
fected. 1t should be imperatiyely required
Nor is there any good reason why the most
| freouAnted elevated railroad platforms should