New-York tribune., 1907-09-24
No MORE CROSS SEATS.
TOO SLOW, SAYS ROOT.
Tells Public Service Board Of Plans
for Better Surface ScrTice.

Adjourned hearings into the orders TO show
cause why the service of the New York City Rali-
way Company the Madison avenue and Broad
way lines should be increased were held
before Commissioner Maltbie, of Public Service
COMMISSION yesterday afternoon. General Man
aser Root was asked to explain the troubles his
company had in giving satisfactory service
After the hearings had adjourned until
Thursday word received at the Offices OF the
commission that their accountants would he per-
1nitted To examine the books Of the lnterborougn-
Metropolitan Company and of the Metropolitan
Securities Company. These companies had delayed
IN complying with the order Of the commission
until Thomas F. Ryan, who returned from Europe
on Thursday. could be consulted.
In the hearing the Madison service
Mr. Root produced figures show that the months
of heaviest travel were from September TO Decsm-
her. inclusive He said the closed cars seated thir
ty-stx and the open ffty-five persons. and
submitted tables showing the number of passengers
carried by each from SEPTEMBER 70 12 in
elusive. The greatest trouble, Mr.. Root said.
experienced in winter. when on account of traffic
conditions less could be run in rush hours.
while at the same time each carried fewer than
the summer cars. In the non-r1sh hours they ran
more cars than in
Mr.. Root said that the would not have
cross seats as II took the people longer to get in
and out of them The old cross seat inherited
from the Third line. he said. took fourteen
minutes make the from the Post Office
TO 126th street than the side seat cars. lie cd
getting and off the cross seat cars Asked if
he considered the straphanger a necessary fea-
tura Of a ~'flled car he replied: TO do away
with that class of passengers would certainly limit
the carrying capacity of the lines" The service OF
the Madison avenue line. he said. had been badly
crippled by the fire at the I4nox avenue
harms which destroyed hundred Madison
nue. cars.
VI. II. Ryan of the engineering staff OF the COM
mission, Of a staff OF checkers who have been
making notes of traffic at the Sd street and 42d
street corners Of Madison avenue went on the
stand to tell the result Of his Investigations He
said that in the half hour between $50 and
on September 70 II cars passed and west ant
1o4 cars north and south At 23d street
When the hearing the Broadway service vas
taken up ii developed that the order show cause
why q certain portion of the cars now turned back
Houston should not he sent through to
Murray street did not apply to the New York city
Railway, which the order had TO be served Mr.
Root said that the only turned back at Hous-
ton were those Of the Marhattanville and St
Nicholas Avenue Railroad Company
In spite OF this technicality. Mr- Root said the
suggested order had been complied with 1t had
caused much congestion at Murray street. end he
intimated that application might be made for
modification of the final order that point
Mr Quackenbush counsel for the New y ork CITY
Railway. then made eloquent appeal for ad-
journment. saying that The pace set ny the com
mission had exhausted the staff OF the company.
The general investigation C6nQurteC DE MI
WINS he said. has compelled 10 give near
" everything else and sit W until midnight pre-
pairing for the sessions. Now that these other
hearings coming on we feel that there Is
limit TO our physical endurance We certainly
trying 10 comply with every request made OF Us
in preparing be submitted the COM
mission. and feel that certainly entitled
TO little et-up- with hearings FIVE days in sue
ceSsion there were last week. the strain upon
has been very great.
-Fa -frsso
will represent that body the Of inspection
Of the Belmont tunnel to-day.
resolution was passed by the commission for
the preparation of maps preparatory To the insti
tuition of condemnation proceedings against the
New York Central Railroad for the removal OF the
tracks grade from Eleventh avenue and other
streets in Manhattan Borough II explained
that these proceedings could he stopped any
time II agreement IS reached with the railroad.
Communications from the 2sth Ward Board OF
Trade and the Allied Boards OF Trade and Taxpay-
ers' Associations Of Brooklyn asking for public
hearing on the proposed Lafayette avenue Broad
vav subway in Brooklyn was referred the com
rnittee Of the whole
In one Of petitions - asserted that the
entire borough was united the proposition
that the Fourth avenue subway should he built
next as il had been represented at various mass
meetings.
Al tho request of President Helms of the Coney
Island & Brooklyn Railroad the hearing the
or7~- requiring that company to add certain |
lr er Of new cars TO It's equipment was reopened.
L explained further time for the purchase
Of the cars desired that certain improvements
might he perfected.