New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-15
TRAIN SERVICE FIGHT.
TOMNUTERS TAKE NOTES
ScarSdale and BronrUiLIe Residents
York 9th Railroad Commission

The feeling among commuters that the se-xdcs
on the Harlem division of the New York Central
Is Inadequate and nlsmanaged has grown to
~ych an extent that more than score of New
YORK business are in constant coumunica
.,on with the State Board Of Railroad Commits
s.,oners. These men are tabulating carefully the
,,r,e lost between stations by the suburban trains
ysiv reports Of the numerous and alleged I'M
,scessary delays are then forwarded to John s
kennedy. secretary of the Railroad Commission
rs or to commissioner Baker who has been in
.vestgatng the service Of the road
On Thursday night indignation meeting is
90 he held at Scarsdale, and another one next week
at Bronxvllle organize the protests against the
alleged Encouragement of the road. One well
Known business man has offered TO subscribe 500
N fund to advertise daily the time which the
,,sins run behind their schedules.
The commuters who live in and around Scars
ssle have prepared return postal cards, which are
heing distributed to all the patrons OF the Harlem
,stvision. The following request is made the
cards;
AS the Harlem Railroad is asking for specific
Instances Of delays in passenger train service will
lEev York and also from New York. and forward
.ss s- Of committee in order that record may be
tept? Particular attention should be given 10 the
cause TH5o5MAg F. BuRGEss chairman
A I.F5S M II CT crane & D'NN'
A blank form like the following is attached to
zach card. TO be filled out AMI returned to Mr..
Dunn:
2 q ss sss:sS A Ai:ss D. Aais
Charles !. Brooks. secretary OF the Etna Indem-
sitv Company. recently sent long list of specific
complaints concerning the running Of the suburban
service TO the Board OF Railroad Commissioners at
Albany. His complaints were forwarded to A IL
Smith vice-president and general manager Of the
New York Central Mr.. Smiths reply to the board
was. in part follows:
on Saturday. December Is. the draw was open
nine times from 10 a n to tb p total deav Of
SS minutes After the draw is closed ana me
.sftion 10 know that the bridge has been opened
and he bames ii on the congestion OF the me,
nerthery affecting the operation there in that fast
trains be behind locals When t hhFe 70 be ge
until this is done. and so forth, which rallroaa
1nau with knowledge Of me SITUATION can ap-
Much difficulty has been experienced in obtaining
the miners strike in the summer absolutely pre-
vented the purchase OF coal ana the usual s'ocA
Mr. Brooks might have had an experience yes
finally the fire had TO be pulled on an engine on
the Harlem division. The conmuter or the passer-
etgfne because the fire had 10 be pulled The
facts that the engneman perntteG me foced
70 get low, dropping the crown sheet Wch ISrC Geo
hin TO pull his fire TO avoid an EXPLOSION ana oe
II there has been any mistake made here It has
been the direction Of considering me COM,
build and maintain schedule that was as IAI1 e as
before the rebuilding was coiISlehceo anu Aeep
or the same number OF trans
In reply to this letter from Mr.. Smith. Mr. |
Brooks says that almost without exception ms |
complaints were based delays occurring outside |
the Grand Central yards and concerning trains at |
ali hours Of the day and night concerning the |
question Of coal supply, he said that while there
-nLght have been difficulty in getting supply. the
7Isvv Haven trains always on time until they |
reached the Central yards. and they seemed TO nave
10 difficulty getting proper supply OF soft coal
OF some Of the working force Of the road. Mr.. |
n ooks said:
AT least some Of the engineers are incompetent to
1ll their positions and II likewise is evident that
there is an utter lack Of dlscPne On me locel ql
Jules not sufficiently punished So far these |
trains but ii seems inevitable that sooner later
wrecks will result, and ii becomes, therefore,
In The last three weeks two cases have come to |
ny personal attention where the enSineman has |
allowed the water 10 run low in the boiler Based
tbat IF negIec+ Of This sort had been Sufficiently
punished the discipline Of the road very promptly |
no D the oa si los ~ the Ne YORK cenra
are aware that its rolling stock, both engines and
cars, constantly giving out.
There is another cause 70 which may be attrib- |
q engines. and informed that when trains are
late going north IL is necessary for the southbound
when; if sufficient number OF engines We're in
use the soubognd trains Wouiq not be anected
q Two extra engines on the Harlem division capa,
these Of course are put into use when disabled
e1nes are being repaired.