New-York tribune., 1905-07-09
POOR TROLLEY SERVICE.
WESTCHESTER IN ARMS.
Moant Vernon and Nesc-RocheHe
Residents Blame Huckleberry Road.

This is the time Of the year when the trolley
service imposed on the people of Westches'er
County by the 'FIuckleberry" Railroad COM
pany is at its worst The public schools have
closed and the rush Of children and parents
every day TO the suburbs seashore has al
most doubled the traffic
Yet the company viii not put on sufneieht
cars TO accommodate the crowd Cars are al
lowed 10 remain idle in the barns. while passen-
gers are crowded together like cattle and are
fighting and pushing for seats.
The municipal authorities seem TO be indf-
ferent TO the interests of the public in the mat
ter Of better trolley service. They permit the
company TO crowd the cars TO suffocation and
maintain any kind Of schedule it peases. The
only remedy seems be in appeal the
State Railroad Commissioners.
The worst conditions prevail ct the transfer
points, Mount Vernon. New Rochelle and Larch-
mont. The service between Mount Vernon and
New-York is fairly good. at least il is much
better than il a few years ago. But be-
tween Mount Vernon and New Rochelle the
company does not run half enough cars. and in
IN rush hours from 10 o'clock in the morning
10 4 o'clock at night travelling with any degree
OF comfort is out OF the question.
During these hours cars are supposed to run
every ten minutes. but they do not make the
ing capacity for about fifty, are used and when
they come in there is generally crowd OF more
than q hundred people waiting. The result is
rush for seats in which women and children are
often trampied.
The seats belong to those who can push other
people Of the way and rush in first These
usually the men and few women who are
skilled in the art OF ducking under the side
rails and getting in behind those who are get
the journey between Mount Vernon and New
Rochelle
Even those who succeed in pushing others out
OF the way. however. do not always enjoy the
seats when they get them. Somebody who has
been crowded out is almost sure 10 stand in
front OF them and cut of all OF the pleasures OF
the ride. The most inhuman part Of all is that
usually after a car is packed TO suffocation il is
held at the starting point for FIVE or ten min
utes, waiting for to come in from the
branch lines with more passengers.
The employees say that the reason the company
does not run larger is that il has only
twenty-five Of the larger size, and that these are
needed between Mount Vernon and New-York
At New-Rochele the people are dumped out on
the street and compelled to stand I'm the hot sun
or the rain waiting for The cars TO Larch-
mont and Hudson Park invariably over
crowded They are not half often enough
tc accommodate the crowds waiting for them
There is also constant complaint about the
Vay the cars are run on the webster-ave line
in New-ROchee. This line is patronized by
many New-York business and professional men
who live on Lsthers Hin The cars are sup
posed TO run every twenty minutes but such an
irregular schedule is maintained that nobody
knows when TO expect one. The people depend
ing on this line have had 10 put up with the
most misers ble service in New Rochelle for the
last five Years because the company will not
build a switch and run a sufficient number OF
cars.
Another placo where people are dumped out
and subjected to inconveniences is at the Larch-
mont tegminal OF the 'Huckleberry" road. Con-
nection is made here with the New-York and
stamford trolley cars for Larchmont Mamar-
1neck. White Plains, Rye Beach Port Chester
and the towns in Connecticut
For some reason that has never been ascer-
tained tn cars on the two roads do not meet
each other, and passengers are compelled 10
walt sometimes for ten or fifteen minutes
Neither Of the roads has d waiting room or sta
ton of any kind The only shelter that is at
hand is a saloon. The "Huckleberry' schedule
as II has been maintained for several years has
been greatly 10 the advantage Of this place
Il is estimated that T. 900 or 5000 persons are
dumped out at this point every day in the year
and compelled to walt from five TO ten minutes.
on Sundays and holidays ten times this num-
Der are put to inconvenience. President Maher
cannot help but know about the condition that
exists al larchmont, for he makes his summer
home there Charles a. Singer. formerly presi-
cent OF the New-York and Stamford Railroad
denies that his company is responsible for the
oelay 10 passengers. He says that different
occasions his company has expressed a desire
10 arrange schedule which would do away with
the delay, but that the "Huckeberry' officials
were not willing TO meet him half way
President Singer finally became disgusted
with the "Huckleberry" company and broke of
an negotiations with them. 1t is reported that
the NewYork and Stamford Railway. as soon
as u can acquire the right of way will extend
Us lines 70 New Rochelle. and give the people
OF that city better service 10 Rye Beach and
points eastward.