The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-26
ATTACK ON ERIE
NUTLEY MEN DEMAND MANY
IMPROVEMENTS.
Second Ward Association Leads Fight
and Railroad oficial Says Moth
ing Will Be Done.

The Second Ward Association OF Nutley
has taken up the matter OF an improved
service on the Newark branch of the Erie
Railroad, which Is considered a thing of
much Importance to the town in its de-
velopment, n will cooperate with a sim
liar movement in the north end OF this
city, headed by John S. Gibson, who, dur
| ing the summer made an effort to interest
the State Railroad Commission and have
the whole subject of the poor services, cars,
locomotives, slow time, etc, presented to-
the company by the representatives. OF the
different suburban towns affected, includ-
ing Newark so that a demand could be
made. backed up by whatever power or
influence the commission can bring to pear
for a correction of the abuses existing
and for more trains and quicker time.
The association has addressed a letter to
| the Erie Company, asking for some things
greatly needed and for q few very mod
crate changes in the schedules, as Follows:
III. w. Hawley, Division Passenger Agent,
Jersey City:
Dear Sir-The Second Ward Association
of Nutley, including in its membership
about seventy commuters on the Newark
branch of the Erie Railroad, makes this
appeal TO you for an improved service on
this division, which at present Is very IN
adequate. We will not try to enumerate
all the needs from our standpoint of this
division, for we are familiar with the
conditions and the limitations of the road,
| H1u hIlOW that SOd tOhAA hoh 1dPPA NHN'
il you would. but there are some things
which we believe could be done which
would relieve the situation and save much
valuable time and discomfort OF the patrons
of the road.
lin the first place the imperative need
of completing the double track at least
to West Nutley is so apparent as to not
admit Of any argument. 1t must be done
some time to the increasing
traffic and encourage development and
avoid the delays and dangers incident TO
the single track.
After careful observation, taking ac-
count of the slow running and long stops
at some stations, we believe the time
could be reduced considerably, especially
at night, without q moderate
speed limit. On the meadows, where there
are no dangers of crossing, etc, with
good locomotives, several minutes coulu
be certainly saved.
to Jersey City, a distance of thirteen miles,
is ~thirty-seven to t~hirty-nine minutes, ana
at night at 5:22 p. M. from New YORK,
leaving Jersey City at 1886 and arriving at
West NutIey at 6;21 p. M, takes forty
nine minutes. or one hour and three min
utes from New York. This is probably the
record for slow travel on what should be
a frst-class road, especially after an inter
val of ffty-nine minutes between the train
ahead (5:23). After ISIS in the evening
there is no train from New York until
10:15 D. M, a gap Of three hours. One Is
needed badly between 8 and 9 o'clock.
1.-THE morning trains (when on timel Ian
their passengers in New York at 7:4s, $40
and 9:45, so that they cannot depend on
reaching their places of business down
town at 8 and 8 o'clock, which compels
d large percentage of them to take an
earlier train, causing them a loss of one
half hour every morning, which would be
avoided Ii the aforementioned trains were
run to connect with a boat or two earlier
than at present. In order to change the
schedule of the trains we recognize the
fact that there are difficulties to be over
come at the tunnel, but in view of the
disparity OF trains on this branch IN con,
it is only fair to expect the management
should do everything possible to improve
fine present conditions. Yours very truly,
CHARLES b. VROOM,
Chairman Transportation Committee"
In response Mr.. Hawley stated to Mr..
Vroom that the traffic on the Newark
branch did not warrant such an eXpendi-
ture as would be required to double track
the road from Newark to Paterson, but
that it was the intention of the manage
ment to do so as soon as sufficient money
was available for general improvements
and that this would be one of the first
things done.
Mr.. Hawley also stated that it was not
feasible to quicken the passenger service,
and would not admit that the present one
was slow. claiming that on account of the
numerous stops and the grades II was not
,hssible to make better time, but 1t Is gem
orally known that too much time is allowed
in the schedules. and some of the conduc-
tors freely admit that they are compelled
to hold their trains back almost continual
ly, and that much better time could easily
be made.
IN reference to a change in the morn
ing trains for a better time of arrival, he
said that It could not be done without dis
placing trains somewhat on the other
divisions at the tunnel. Both tracks are
used during the rush hours in going into
Jersey City in the morning, and this would
not probably be an insuperable obstacle
if there was a disposition to try 1t.
About the proposal for an additional
train between 1:l5 p. M. and 1915 D. m. he
said there was not sufficient travel to
make II pay, and, so far as more trains
are concerned, that the road had about
all the traffic il wanted to handle with its
present facilities. so that a considerable
increase at this time was not desirable.
The committee, in response, has the fol-
lowing to say:
This is an unusual instance of A rail-
road company's disregard In providing rea-
sonable accommodations for its patrons.
but what is more remarkable, it is a rare
instance of refusal to profit in the large
amount of business that Is turned away to
another road, especially In Newark, by the
failure to provide for 1t. Al the present
slow rate of progress on the new open cnt
in Jersey City Heights; II is claimed II will
not be completed probably In two wears.
and what improvements Will be made even
then is uncertain. unless great pressure is
brought 20 bear on the management by a
railroad commission endowed with suhi-
cient power to compel them to accede to
the reasonable demands Of the people who
are dependent on them for transportation.
The hope Is expressed by the committee
that In the coming election the people
will not forget how they We're betrayed by
the last Assembly and sold to the corpora
lions by the subservient misrepresentation
IN such a fragrant manner that Senator
Colby characterized them as being white
iivered.'