New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-19
ERIE COMMUTERS MEET.
Understood Says Trouble Is Due to
Lack Of Water and Engines.
COMPLAINTS OF BAD SERVICE.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuxE.l

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
Englewood. y. J., Jan. 1S.-A large and repre-
sentative crowd OF indignant commuters Of the
Northern Railroad gathered in Exchange Hall
last night to protest against the condition on the
line and the poor service.
Out Of the large gathering only one man ap-
peared as the champion of the road. and advised
that consideration be shown the president Mr.
Dulles in opening the meeting recited the
numerous hardships with which the commuters
have had to contend lately, and then to prove
the alleged inefficiency Of this branch of the
Erie system. said that from 1899 to 1903 there
had been a decrease Of twenty-four in the num-
Der of locomotives, while during that period
there had been an increase in the travel of 3 IS
per cent, and only sixty coaches had been
added. Letters from. President Underwood of
the Erie Railroad, in reply to invitations to be
present at the meeting were read, one Of which
said in part
William J. Dulles IT.:
Dear Sir: The Erie Railroad has no suggestions
70 make 1t owes and makes 10 its suburban pa
irons an apology for the failure in its service
with and impossible 10 deal with In the bounds OF
letter. are omitted They are remedial
and certainly not fast enough 70 please patrons
served. "'--
The Erie Railroad Is inclined to resent some of
It's suburban ~ service In the first place II is al
it for period OF ten years. No changes in rules
or innovations of any kind have been made. The
TO the faulty condition Of the power. A year ago
last summer the company placed orders for
Der OF engines TO be delivered in season to do the
winters business in the suburban trains. Through
no fault Of this company the delivery OF the loco
motives not made. and the condition OF those
now IN service is principally responsible for the
There are also other reasons such as the failure
usual climatic CONDITIONS and faulty consrG o ON
A further reason is found In the fact that our
water supply az Jersey City. which is furnished
wholly by the city and upon which we must con-
intakes being ciogged- All these conditions are
reflected I'm the tardy train service. The new
ment 10 be made in the station yard will con-
tribute very largely toward the restoration OF the
F. D. UNDERwooD. President
COMPLAINTS OF COMMUTERS
Following the reading of the letters from the
experiences; how they late at business every
morning and how their families grumble be-
cause they late al night for dinner
J. W Loveland, a patent lawyer said that
few nights ago he started for the midnight train
and after sitting in the coach for two hours
went out and inquired what the trouble was
and learned that there no engine TO draw
the train. He reached home at o'clock in the
morning.
Ex-Mayor E A Brinckerhon advised that the
letters of President Underwood be carefully
considered before any hasty action is taken. He
said the Erie Railroad is only developing
and advised tnat courtesy be shown the COM
pany. Charles Benner expressed the belief that
the reported proposed leasing of the Northern TO
the West Shore was only an hallucination.
The following committee was appointed TO
wait on President Underwood: D. Fellows Plat
William Dulles. jr.. Donald Mackay, J. Frank
Howell and Charles Benner