New-York tribune., 1907-08-12
WHATPROBE MAY BRING
REMEDY FOR DEFECTS.
Some Transit Changes To Be Or
dered bu Z. S. Commission.


o,,irv into the Interborough-M Metropolitan mer-
ger closed on Friday. With scarcely an excep-
4ion William NJ. Twins. special counsel for the
commission has devoted himself to finding
facts about the physical affairs of the company.
having almost exclusive attention to the trans
nortation question and 10 bringing out the de-
sc,encies in the service provided for the pas
sengers-
Defects have been brought out and have been
acknowledged 10 exist by officials Of the COM
pany II can now be stated on authority that
ns a result Of the hearings already held and the
testimony recorded the Public Service Commits
sion intends 10 issue from time TO time. begin
ming within few weeks orders to the COM
pany for the betternent of the most pressing of
the defects in its transportation service The
commission intends to proceed conseFvatively
and cautiously. but il fully expects give the
city better service and quicker and easier trans
portation.
Il IS believed by Chairman Wilcox that the
company itself Will do its part in effecting GER
tain reforms. He thinks that officials OF the
Interborough-Aetro Will be willing to CO.
operate with the commission in putting into
effect remedial measures
At present Of the first orders the COM
mission intends issuing are for better track ar
rengenents at the 96th street subway station.
estirnony has shown that II the subway tracks
at this point were arranged better trains could
be run under shorter headway, which means
the operating Of one-third more local subway
trains and, il believed. prompt relief for much
Of the subway congestion. This is the worst
limiting point of the subway. and if remedied
would cause general relief of congestion along
the entire route engineers believe.
Commissioner Wilcox had carefully studied
the situation at this point before the inquiry be-
gan. and familiar with conditions The
testimony Of Edward P. Bryan. president of the
InIerborough Rapid Transit Companv and
Frank Hedley, general manager OF the Inter
norougn- metropolitan system, has simply con-
hrrred his original opinion and findings De-
ternlned 10 give the city prompt relief. he took
steps ar once TO have the Board of Estimate an
prove plans for making changes in the tracks
al that point These plans have already bean
approved by the Corporation Counsel They in
VoIve an expenditure by the city arproxirnaring 2
100000 Mir. Wilcox thinks the Board Of
Estimate VIII not hesitate to expend that
amount when the relief It would cause is -al,a,
into consideration
CHANGES ON t. AT SID STREET
Another order that the commission is likely,
10 issue Will be one directing physical changes
On the L tracks at SD street a limiting
point N the road that would permit the
running Of more express and local trains This
change, Commissioner Wilcox believes will af
feet material relief OF congestion on elevated
lines
BY these two remedies the Public Service
Commission thinks ii will accomplish much
toward the relief Of both subway and eleya ted
congestion But these are not the only phvs-
ical remedies the commission intends ordering
Then the commission will probably order the
adoption Of either the Boston or the Illinois
type OF car for use in the subway. The Boston
type having doors IN the middle of the cars.
has been used with great success in that city
At least q majority of the commissioners be-
neve that it could be used with equal success
n New York, and they intend that the Inter
Metropolitan system shall try these
in the subway experimentally.
The fourth order that the commission will, it
is 1hought.-issue is requiring the installation
OF elevators az all subway stations that are
tWenty-nine feet or more underground Mr. WINS
does believe that the company has fulfilled
contract with the city in this respect. He be
heves that there are several stations in the
subway not equipped with elevators that should
BE- Il this proves true the commission will
order the immediate installation of elevators
according 20 that provision OF the charter
The fifth order that the commission has un-
der consideration is directing the COM
pany 70 install more stairways at various sta
tons on elevated lines where unusual conges-
zion has beer complained Of The Inter.-Met.
has said il willing TO install these stairways
If il considered them, after investigation, nee
essarv. and the commission thinks there viii be
10 trouble n having this order carried into
effect
OTHER MINOR ORDERS
Besides these orders the commission will prob
baby issue minor ones. such. for example. as re-
curing the company TO provide water coolers at
every subway station; providing more safery
devices for the subway and having employees
Of the company go through q more thorough
course Of instruction before being permitted 10
take charge Of traius-
A point that Commissioner WILCOX IS giving
especial consideration to at present is the BEL
mont or SteinUay. tunnel. Mr.. 1Vlns oroushI
out that the tunnel part or the merger,
and that IL would not be physically connected
with either Manhattan or Queens County hnes;
and that 2 fare of three cents would be charged
through il This admission on the part or the
witness Mr.. Bryan, meant simply this, that a
fare Of 13 cents would be charged residents
Of Queens County 10 points in Manhattan, ap-
po-tioned as follows: Five cents over queens
lines IN the mouth OF the tunnel, three cents
through the tunnel and five cents from the
Manhattan terminal Of the tunnel 10 poifls III
Manhattan The question that Mr. WILCOX Is
now considering is whether or not IL VIII pe lai
and enfifahIe to command the Interborougn-
Metropolitan. which controls the Queens county
line the tunnel and the Manhattan SUBWAY anu
elevated lines To make z hve-cent rate from
rosrts on rhe first line 20 points on the last.
u he dac,6es that this is equitable fare ule
Chairman viii undoubtedly recommend that an
order he fss1,ed to that effect In issuing SUI
sn ,rde~ in ran be said that the company Woulo
also be directed TO make physical connexions
between the Belmont tube, so called. anu t'
Queens County lines, and, in Manhattan, 0i0
subway lines. Such connection, MI bi 20
testified could be made. aithoush the ss
Cid not contemplate making IL nnfneoiateiE'
The decision Of Mr. WILCOX on ulis "a
cannot he soretold now. 1t is his policy 10
s6,5,s..e- s,,z.ice both TO the Interborough-
Metropolitan end 10 the people az iafse' II /"