The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-03-18
How People Travel in the Large
Cities
EVERYBODY IS IN A HURRY
A New System Devised That Win
Carry 75.ooo People an Hour nd
Without Danger or Risk OF Acct.
dents or Unnecessary Delays.

1t will probably be many years be-
ore Astoria will have the latest and
most approved methods of travelling,
In this day and age, everybody is in a
hurry and transportation companies
ara devising means to accommodate
them. The manner Of travel in New
York will be of interest to many.
The rapid transit commission has,
after three years of deliberation, ac-
septed plans for and recommended the
construction OF a moving platform sub
way in Thirty-fourth street. those in
terested in the development OF trans
portation facilities in this city are
hooking forward to the time when 1t
shall be in actual operation, Though
small systems Of this type have been
operated successfully at the worlds
fair in Chicago and in Paris, the line
recommended TO be built in Thirty
fourth street will be the first really
practical test afforded the system in
an American city.
Though the term moving platform"
Is suggestive OF all kinds Of untried
dangers and OF pitfalls without num-
Der for the aged and unsteady of foot.
4 is really the simplest thing imagin
able if the explanations of the pro-
meters of the idea are to be accepted
~The idea OF walking" they exclaim
when for cents one can get there
BY simply sitting still! The subway!
With all those intricate stairs TO climb
and breaking cars to fall under! No!
No Wait for the moving platform"
There no guard will yell in ones
ear; step lively, please!" Coat tails
viii not be caught in slamming doors.
No one will take local and become
profane becaues it is not an express
There will be no dreary waits for
trains. Ii will be just too fine for any.
thing; just a case Of step aboard and
let the platform do the rest. And If
any dissatisfaction arises; if one does
not think he or she is getting full
value for money invested, there Is al
ways tha stationary platform. Ges
of and walk.
Strictly speaking, the moving plat
form will be really several platforms |
all moving at the same time, but at
5ifferent rates of speed. There are to |
De four distinct platforms moving in
5stl directions. On entering the new
subway, which will be done by means
Of escaIators the traveller will land |
on stationary platform. Running BY |
this like the wash of a brook against |
it's shores will be a platform two feet
vide going al the rate Of three miles |
an hour. Within this will be another |
platform OF the same width moving |
at the rate of six miles an hour, and |
going at the rate Of nine miles an |
Just beyond this the main platform |
hour. This platform will be six feet |
vide, and, unlike. the smaller plat. |
forms, will be fitted with cross seats |
each capable Of accommodating four |
persons. room being left on the other |
side for a runaway. The stationary |
platform will also be so arranged that
Il can be turned into a moving plat, |
form for night use or at times when |
any accident befalls the regular NOV
ing platforms. The mechanism Of the |
system is so simple, however. that no |
serious breakdowns are looked for.
The wheels producing the motion will
b. fixed at regular distances beneath |
the platform, which will roll over
them like a belt over a pully.
The estimated cast of the system |
VIII be $5OO0OOO and it is asserted that
when in full operation it can accom-
modate $4,000 persons an hour The
system will connect the new Pennsyl- |
vania railroad station by a subway |
with the ferry at East Thirty-fourth |
street, and may be extended to the |
West Thirty fourth street ferry.