The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-02
NO RELIEF FOR RUSH HOURS
INTER-WET LINES RUN TO THE
run, SuONTS TESTIFTES.
Clearer streets and Extra Tracks In subway
at oGth street junction Wight Help
some, He Says at Public Service In
~uuiry New Cars Being Built.

of tho investigation by rho Public Service
Commission of the elevated. surface and
subway lines Of the city. intiInsted that in
the rush hours the subway and surface
rvztems we're run 10 their fullest capacity,
and that if the commission could see some
way TO increasing the facilities Of those
systems they would accomplish some
thing that the officials of the company
ind themselves unable IN do.
VII. Shonts admitted that the cars on the
surface lines might be operated at n speedier
pace and that more cars might he run,
but this would be possible only if the city
kept the tracks clear of vehicular traffic.
II would be POSSIBLE also. he said. 10 inn
prove the service in the subway. but this
could only Toe brought about by building
two extra tracks between Ninety-fourth
and lO6th streets. TO prevent the switching
NJ the junction Of the east and west side
lines of the local trains onto the express
lines.
Mr.. Shonts said that this company had
asked for the new lines to be laid. and that
while the old Rapid Transit Commission
had approved of the additional tracks
the Board Of Estimate had gone on it's sum-
mer vacation without acting on the matter.
The only other relief Mr.. Shonts could
think of for the strsphangers was TO in
crease the service on the Second, Sixth
and Ninth avenue elevated lines More
trains could be put on these lines, he said,
hut when he was asked If the Third avenue
route was not also capable of development
he declared that in the rush hours that line
was operated up TO the limit.
Chairman Wilcox presided over the in
suiry. which was held in the Aldermen's
chamber in the City Hall. After William NJ.
WINS. special counsel to the commission,
had outlined the scope Of the investigation
Mr.. Shonts was called and he rema ined
on the stand until adjournment.
As president Of the Inter-Met he said he
did not issue any orders to the companies
comprised in that corporation, but super
vised the affairs of those companies as
chairman of the executive committee Of
each company. He explained that August
Belmont, as the chairman Of the lnter-Met
board. looked after the finances of the cor
poration, and that to him was left the con-
troll of the operating and construction part
of the business.
After Mr.. Shonts had told the names
of all the subsidiary companies of which
he is chairman of the executive committees
Mr.. Twins put this question to him:
Now will you tell us if there are any
companies of which you are expecting
shortly to become an officer"
There is nothing looking to that just
now, a" Mr.. Shonts replied. and if Mr.. Wins
was referring 10 the report that there is
some kind Of an agreement between the
lnter-Mc, and the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company he did not seek to develop it by
further questioning
Mr.. Shonts acknov lodged that he had
not given much personal attention so far
to the operating methods % the Inter-,
Met companies, He had given his atten-
ton mostly To recognizing and regulating
the working departments Each Com-
pany had had separate legal accounting.
purchasing and other departments. and he
had been engaged in CentraliZing them.
Mr.. Shonts admitted that in his long
railroad career he had never tackled VI ban
railroad problems on s. large scale. be-
spite the lack of experience, he insisted
that he was qualified TO render the opinion
that elevated. subway and surface lines
were susceptible of being organized into
one complete organic system
But is there not a great difference in
the management and operation OF surface
roads as compared with elevated ana sub
wav roads," Mr.. Twins asked
The problems to be overcome are of
course very different, Nr. Shonts ~answered
The problems Of the two systems are
very dissimilar. but outside of the prob
lens If transportation the lines are sus-
,eptible of consolidation because they
Can he worked from one Office and so bring
about more economical and eflcient con-
troll and management
Is going to prove that the Inter- Met was
not -tan1lng still in seeking to improve
It's ~faCilities Mr.. Shonts said that the COM
pany had now under construction POO new
ears for the elevated lines, 50 for the sub
way. 10 for the surface system and 40
for II e Queens County Trolley Company.
All ihese were To be- utilized as additional
rolling stock and not 10 he substituted
for ca ~ now IN Use. The ca RS for the ele-
waited we're similar to those now being
operated on that system. hut the cars
for the subway we"c ~ If the steel variety
and were being so CD's :ucted that they
could readily I've converted into side door
cars.
For the surface lines" Mr.. Shonts con-
unued, I'VE are constructing a car much
larger Than those now running. IL Will
he eight feet longer and one and a half
feet wider than the present cars and have
q one-third larger carrying capacity. We
propose 10 put these improved cars on the
Fourth and Madison avenue line first, and
u'r contract calls for their deliv ny by
October l."
Mr.. Shonts proceeded 10 repeat the
description Of the car as already described
in BE SrS. II is known ~ the Montreal
,ai. and by means If a spacious platform
permitting the dividing of Passengers
enterng and leaving the car the conductor
can collect the fares as the passenger
boards The car.
viii thssa larger cara mean that Won
will run fewer cars than are row being
run on the Ma Olson avenue route?" Nh.
lyins asked.
We will run all the cars that the traffic
demands, Mr. Shonts replied.
But # these cars haves one-third larger
capacity won't that fact lead 10 a material
lesseninC of the Roadway"
"Our desire is 10 make the most usa Of
our tracks and "a keen up a steady con-
tiuIoUs traffic Of cars"
We'll. Why don't you do it. now" Mr..
Ivius asked sharply.
'Because." retorted Mr.. Shonts, we
4" NOT have the full use If our tracks.
The congestion Of vehicular ira fic in the
sweets prevents that. but we have applied
Z" the municipal authorities 10 pass regu-
lh'lnuS for the street traffic which will
enable us 10 have a fuller Use Of our tracks
than We nov have"
Mr.. Nhonts went on TO saw tina the com
rany was operating IN July I.6i7 surface
cars daily. p larger average than in July
last year. and that while II might be pos
slhle 30 crowd more cars on the street
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