New-York tribune., 1906-07-16
WORST TROLLEY LINES.
cr 5TEN ISLAND HAS THEM
Residents in ReroIt against Miser-
able Transit Facilities.

-, island is in a state of revolt against
.,rnorations which control its lighting and
-.s,car service. The corporations are the Rich
right and Railroad Company and the
49,, island Midland Railroad Company. bat
a., are said t. he under the same control
-. Of Henry H. Rogers. of the Standard Oil
company.
~ wears the trolley service on Staten Island
=. been A byword and jest among railroad
source Of annoyance 10 the casual visitor
y .ss most beautiful borough, daily bugbear
.ba New York business man whose tent is
h.d there and the chief factor in the re-
.ssd development Of the island a suburb.
said 10 have the poorest service track and
-eling stock Of any road in the country. and
:. nv q curious anomaly. is owned by one Of
=. richest men in America
~. utter inability OF the management of the
as 70 cope with the conditions on the island
-. never been 50 strongly shown as in the last
- weeks. Not only have the antediuvian
.,rs1 down more frequently than usual-and
ro ol6 Staten Islander always expects the worst
,r his tourney is finished-but on several oc-
o.s,ops the power has given out. and Shanks's
-,.,a bss had TO serve. Only a week or so ag1
.housspds OF pleasure seekers at Midland Beach
- South Beach and in the interior Of the
,.sns we're left to get to St. George as best they
,oyld-roany Of them on foot-because the power
rlsnts broke down. The rishap reoccurred few
DAYS later
Then again. the roads have not enough cars.
.rsn of the poor kind they own During the
7,sb hours Of the evening on weekdays a minia
tyre reproduction Of the daily battle at the New
York end of the Brooklyn Bridge takes place at
the ferry houses and on Saturdays and Sundays
the fight for seats is fierce.
HOPE OFT DEFERRED.
few years ago dissatisfaction with the ferry
service between Staten Island and New York
began 10 crystalline. Citizens meetings We're
held. the city government was badgered by the
rrofsstants indignation was everywhere loudly
voiced and eventually the city took over the
route and installed fine ferry service. Staten
islanders hoped at that time that there might
Re an awakening Of the management Of the
troley roads to meet the improved water route
service Nearly everybody saw plainly that with
fine big. fast ferryboats, supplying a consistent
" good service thousands who had never before
visited Staten Island would be attracted there.
But nothing happened
Again. when a group of capitalists formed
q company and projected "Happyland" and
Kiralfys Carnival Of Venice at South Beach.
and everybody realized that yet more thousands
would seek a change from Coney Island.
Brighton Beach Rockaway and flock to the
new amusement park. il was thought the trolley
management would make some provision to meet
the new conditions. But not single car was
tsied. Now comes the news that the conces-
EOnaires at "Happyland." the men who provide
ihs various side shows. have Joined in petition
"a fhe management of the park asking to be re-
ieased from their contracts on the ground that
they have chance 10 make money because
The public viii not take the risk of being
marooned at the beach owing to a breakdown in
the trolley service.
DISSATISFACTION OVER TRANSFERS.
Among the many kicks" that residents make
against the management Of the roads. one is
especially vigorous. II concerns transfers. To
make il plain. a short recital of some of the his
tory Of the two companies owning the main troll
ley lines is necessary.
The Richmond Light and Railroad Company,
Of which II. H. Rogers is president. is a reorgan-
izaton Of the Staten Island Electric Railroad
Company, which was a successor to the old
Staten Island Belt Line Company. The electric
company went into the hands of a receiver in
1902. The property was sold at public auction,
and was bought by committee on reorganiza-
ion which took possession on September 1,
1902. The Richmond Light and Railroad Com
rany has monopoly of the electric lighting OF
he island and operates the Shore. Castleton
avenue South Beach and other trolley lines.
The Staten Island Midland Railroad Company
vas chartered on December l. 1890. On Octo-
Der D 1903. it went into the hands of a receiver,
where it SIN remains The president of the
foao was Charles L. Spier. who was killed by
oahet from his own revolver a few months ago.
me Office has not yet been filled. Henry H.
Rogers. jr.. is the secretary and treasurer. The
company operates the trolley lines to Richmond,
me county seat, to Midland Beach, and other
roads across the island.
non. although there are two distinct compa-
mes as has been pointed out. they are practi-
csAy owned and controlled by one man, II. il
"Osers' and they are under the general manage
Hieht of one man. s. F. Hazelrgg. Further
more. the cars Of one company are run over the
"'es Of the other company. So TO all intents
ana purposes. all trolley lines of the ISL
eno compose q single system. Yet where one
OOmpanys lines intersect that of the other not
transfer is issued in spite Of the provision OF
uie state law which requires that roads oper-
1'ea under one management shall give transfers
. h'ersecting points TO all lines under its con-
troll
WHERE PASSENGERS LOSE.
AS an instance Of how the passenger is mulcted
y t"o fares where one should suffice. the main
me to New Dorp and Richmond of the Staten
.slano Midland road is crossed at Tompkinsville
" he Castleton avenue line Of the Richmond
'~ght and Railroad Company The latter line
'uAs through a populous home district, but il
any resident along il should want 70 go 10
e'lth Beach he must pay a second fare when
~ ailghts al Tompkinsville and boards a beach
q Again. al West New Brighton where the
iNenInond Light and Railroad Company oper-
ses over the Staten Island Midland tracks no
@'Sier is given from one line to the other so
"a i d passenger wishes 10 go 10 Castleton
our Corners or 10 Richmond Terrace he must
up another nickel although in reality it