New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-02
FIREPROOFING IT'S CARS.
Improvements By the &. r. 7. That
viii Cost SIO,OOO,O00.

An opportunity was given TO a parry OK news
paper men yesterday TO observe the improvements
now n progress IN tho equipment. operation and
appearance Of the cars used by tse Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company It's elevated roads. A special
train provided for the purpose. ran from The Park
Low end Of the Brooklyn Bridge TO Coney Island
and back. and during the trip the company's Off
Gals kindly described and explained the !nnoVa-
tons. These ara more numerous and important
Cham are yet appreciated. even BY Brooklyn people
~ large part oc the patronage OF these hHes
comes from Manhattan. there is all the more need
Cor q popular recognition of the advances recent
~ made under the management Of President WIN
tcr and Vice-President Calderwood
Some of Iilose designed to promote the com
fort and convenience of the passengers. ana they
appeal 20 the eye almost Instantly. The gates are
wider than hitherto and open in a new way. Inc
p!a forms are broader than before and those or
adjacent cars are closer than formerly, ana KEPT
Level wish each other owing TO cnange IN tilc
method o. coupinE. The lamps have oeeh rear
ranged and the ceilings painted white to olstFlOute
the light better. By a development OF the AZ
brake control smoother running il made possible
Neither in starting stopping docs one expert
enca any ioltfrg although tho attainment OF tul
speed "acceleration.' tho railroad men call It's
effected quicker than with the old equipment
Several other improvements enhance the safety
Of travel. Along the ceiling and platform canopies
OF each car for instance, runs small blue cord
In anv emergency the train be stopped Win
surprising ease and rapidly by pulling this. Either
ally il Il. happen that platform will be so
crowded that the companys employees cannot
reach the corc Any else is privileged to use II
IN such case. \ single jerk DrlrES INTO pay inc
al! brakes. and simultaneously shuts OF the cur
rent from the motors. . . .;,,,z
consequences after triliug accident 10 the INTRO
ductior Of frrprooS material under the whole eX-
teut o. The floor ana its appnEauoN 10 al Tue
wires IL auG about tie car. The sWltchboa.LGq
aacg Of the motormar, Is also Enclosed IN meta,
place OF wood. This particular group OF al
tera+io-s miEh- never ice suspected by the passel-
Besides perhaps II is wei not to think about
those things too mucr. NeVertEeess. IN the Juu6-
Ient OF soI"e Of the experts WHO were present yes
ferday, the provision thus mace 10Y lNcIedSeo
:afety IS the mos important item n lhe reVolt-
iionary programme initiated by the Kappa transit
Company.
the trained electriCGc5 than the general public
The master controller. with which the motofIIlah
the individual controllers of each car winch, are
regulated by the master controller. have been
placed under the floor. instead Of above, in closet
More space in the car itself IS gained and less
noise is heard by the passengers. Accompanying
the change il the position OF the individual con.
troll r is IN design and mechanism. 1t IS sul
electricity. but to avoid recourse TO the powerful
current used for motive purposes storage battery
Is supplied. giving one of low voltage
Trains BROOKLYN elevated lines are com
posed OF five cars three being equipped with mo-
tive machinery. and the others being "trailers.'
The work Of Representation has been carried so far
lined. They devote 10 the express service be-
tween Park Row ami CoEey Island. By degrees
the improvement is being extended to the other
rolling stock Of the company. and 1t is hope1 that
Il will he completed before the close Of the present
gear. It is said that the cost Of rehul'oi and
freshly equlpprg a single IS about $500 Of
The total OUTLAY for the work in hand will prob
ably be not far from 100000.