New-York tribune., 1907-09-22
STREET TR1EFIC REFORNS.

Mr.. Shonts's suggestions to the Pubic Ser
vice Commission aiming at better service on tue
surface car fines in Manhattan Borough deserve
serious consideration, for they show that the
traction managers have at last abandoned the
bearish and pessimistic theory that condltiohS
here are beyond ameloration and that any
thing is good enough for the New York puOhc'
We have often argued that reforms were prac-
ticable and would he approved by public senti-
mcnt once the users of the surface railways
realized that friendly cooperation with the
operating companies would really end certain
fragrant abuses. Only the brutal and unthink-
ing elements in the travelling public make re-
forms seem hopeless, and If public pressure can
be brought 10 bear on those elements the slt'l-
alton can. in our opinion, be vastly improved
What has been too long lacking is Intelligent
and friendly cooperation between the managers
and the users Of the surface system.
Mr. Shonts and Mr.. Root declare that con
gestion at important intersecting points Is
chiefly to blame for the arrangement Of oper-
ating schedules. and they suggest remedies
for lessening obstructive traffic at such danger
points Their plan of cutting the sidewalks in
23d, 34th and 42d streets must, perhaps, be
dismissed as too radical and too much in con
iict with other interests The city would be
reluctant TO sacrifice the sidewalks its most
crowded thoroughfares. and could sacrifice them
only at great cost and after tedious litigation.
But some plan might be devised for taking un-
necessary traffic off thoroughfares like 23d, Saith,
42d and seth streets
Crosstown traffic through sd street could be
diverted to 22d and 25th streets without much
inconvenience. 1t is worth noting that the
Pennsylvania Railroads cabs travelling TO and
from the West 23d street terminal do not use
sd street. There is no reason why other We
Ia
street at the north or south. In 34th street the
situation is almost as simple. although the
route through 35th street involves a sleeper
climb going west. In the case of 42d street the
Grand Central Station cuts off traffic the
north and the Public Library cuts it off at the
south as far 10th street. Fortieth street has
also harder grade than 42d street. But 57th
street would probably prove better cross line
for vehicles than 59th street is at present If
the Public Service Commission and the city
government should use their good Offices with
the large trucking interests a great deal of
traffic could doubtless be diverted TO streets on
which there are no surface line intersections
By simple appeal TO the consideration and CO
operation of business houses in the posting Of
their letters Mr.. Wilcox when Postmaster
greatly reduced the congestion Of the mails, and
similar policy on his part now might induce
the great brewing and express companies to
accommodate the public and facilitate their
own business by forcing their drivers wherever
possible to avoid the congested streets.
Regulations limiting the delivery Of coal to
the hours between p. IN. and a. N. and re-
moving the cab stands now at street intersec-
tions where car lines cross might also be worth
trying.
We have already commended the experiment
Of running cars with separate exits and en-
frances, on which fares are to be collected on
entry. AIr. ShOnts also proposes to run cars
with n limited complement of passengers. This
would be a decided novelty here, but it would
test TO everybodys satisfaction the genuineness
of the pubiic's complaint against the necessity
Of strap hanging. Are New Workers really will
ing TO wait for the next car? We think that
after a fair trial they would be ready to accept
occasional delays for the sake of the many
compensating comforts resulting. But by all
means let us II can be rational in
such matters are the people of London, Paris
and Berlin. What is most needed is a prac
tical test Of the publics willingness to he lifted
out of the deeply rut of heedlessness bru-
tality and mob ethics in the daily rush from
one part Of the city TO another. If we are not
equal TO the test the transportation companies
Will have hereafter a far lighter weight of un-
popularity and abuse to carry.