New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-31
TROUBLE IN TURNSTILES.
HERDED LIKE SHEEP.
Interborough Saves on Ticket Chop
pers, Though.

Of all the petty nuisances imposed the
public by the PETERBOROUGH company these turn
stiles the limit" declared one of the sadly
tried patrons of the elevated road who has To
board trains a station where this form Of
petty economy is in force
1t was yesterday morning. and the station was
Eighth-st and Sixth-ave. The turnstile had
been directly responsible for his missing train.
and, as he was late for his Office already. the
annoyance was great.
AT this and many other stations Of the ele-
waited system the services of ticket choppers
dispensed with. There is a runway into which
prospective passengers supposed to herd
themselves. 1t leads TO the ticket window.
through which one must pass d nickel, young
man sits there high stool and operates
lever. At the end of the runway is a turnstie.
which records the number of passengers who
pass to the platform.
a woman, strange to turnstile methods.
the cause of the blockade yesterday morning.
She passed dime to the ticket agent and de-
manded two tickets expecting to drop into
the box and save the other for her trip uptown.
The agent handed out one ticket and pulled the
lever.
Where is my other tfcketf" she demanded.
Instead of explaining respectfully the agent
growled back. You only get one ticket"
but gave you diner' cried the woman II
won't stand it. Give me my other ticket
BY the time the men who were IN line behind
her had explained the working of the turnstila
the train had gone and it was four minutes be-
fore there was another.
The men passengers held an indignation meet
ing the platform. and brought out many OF
the nuisances OF the turnstile.
Look at this overcoat" remarked a tall. slim
individual
Across the front of it were two worn lines
where the brass arms of the turnstile had left
their marks.
II ruin an overcoat every winter and couple
Of suits every summer getting through that
turnstile.''
That's right" agreed another. ~ can tell the
who get on at turnstile stations any where I
meet them
There are people in New-York who are so
stout that they cannot pass through the turn
stiles. They have to go to the ticket window.
pay their nickel, back out Of the runway and
pull the turnstile around until it registers. all
for the privilege of riding on the elevated.
At station on the Third-ave. elevated line
deshy woman walked into the turnstile trap and
other day and became fast there 1t took the
combined efforts of several passengers to get her
out, and her dress was torn in the operation.
Any or9 who has tried 10 get through a turn
stiIe with hand baggage knows how much
trouble that means. Mothers with toddling chill
dren have considerable difficulty.
One does not have to go far to the object
OF the Interborough in using such antiquated
methods. Each turnstile saves the small wages
OF two ticket choppers. The corporation has
thoroughly mastered the idea that dollar saved
IS a dollar earned. and 1t would be difficult TO
convince It that many nickels are diverted TO
surface cars on account of the turnstiles
Nor IS there any great prospect Of reform
which will replace the turnstiles with ticket
choppers and boxes There is nothing in tho
railway laws, a Tribune reporter was told
yesterday at the office of the State Railway
Commission. which applies TO turnstiles Tho
public is beginning to lose faith in the effective
ness OF protests where the marlborough is con-
carn6d.