The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-07-22
Big RIDE FOR NICKEL
New York Surface Line Holds
the Distance Record.
RUN IS 81 1-2 MILES; ONE FARE
According TO Presi-
dent ShOnts, Of the Inter-Met, Has
Next Longest Run, Giving Twenty
six Miles for Five Cents-Live on
the subway for a Nickel.

New York July 21.-Presldent Theodore
p. Shonts, Of the Inter-Met., gave out
yesterday some statistics collected by the
American Street and Interurban Railway
Association which went to show that
passenger can travel farther for a nickel
on the surface lines in Manhattan than on
any lines In any other city Of the coun-
Try. Mr. Shouts pointed out that by
boarding a car at the Battery and fol-
lowing a zlgzag route north, using all Of
he transfer privileges. a ride could be
taken to Kingsbridge, a distance Of thirty
seven and half miles, for a single fare.
Philadelphia is second in the length Of
ride which can be had for one fare, with
a maximum distance of over twenty-six
miles The average for the ten principal
cities OF the country is a Httle over nine
teen miles, which Is about half Of the
/ longest ride that can be taken in this city
for a nickel
Mr.. Shonts said:
Rides Steadily Heightened.
THE figures for all Of the cities show
that the length Of the ride, both by the
lengthening OF direct lines and the extern
/ sion Of the transfer system, has steadily
/ increased. With this lengthening Of the
/ ride there has been q considerable in
! crease in the cost Of operation. but the
/ cost Of the ride remains the same. IN
/ other words, the statistics show that one
gets more for a nickel now on the street
/ railways Of the country than ever before,
and that a street car ride IS the one ne
| Cessity Of life that does not show an in
! creased cost in keeping with the increased
/ cost Of its production and maintenance.
/ Tie old horse car ccst about $500. the
/ cable car and grip cost 5000 the standard
/ electric car, fully equipped, now costs
$500. which IS an increase Of S1000 within
! a comparatively few years.
] There has also been a steady increase
/ In wages. In the hOrse-car days, conduc-
/ tors and drivers received s. for day Of
/ twelve hours; conductors and mOtormen
1 now are paid from g 4j 10 500 for a day
! OF ten hours.
All Day on subway for Nickel.
In the way of real rapid transit, how
/ ever, there is no city In the country which
I can be made TO compare with New York.
either in the length Of ride for a nickel or
in the time required 10 cover IT, The
] 4'ltSfoA llNt III one 0jteCuOn on me eLe-
waited is by the Third avenue line from
/ South Ferry 20 200th street and Bronx
( Park. distance Of l3.6S miles, for which
the running time Is T. minutes One can
ride on the Ninth or Sixth avenue ele-
waited from 18th street 70 South Ferry.
and there transfer 10 the Third avenue
line and ride up 20 Bronx Park without
the payment Of an additional fare.
"On the subway one can ride as long
as he wants to for nickel by using the
Cross-overs. The longest direct ride on
the subway IS on the Broadway division,
from South Ferry 70 2S3th street. a dis
lance Of l422 miles, for which the run
ming time Of express trains is - minutes
There is now under construction an eIe-
waited extension 10 the subway from
both street 10 2l2d street: when this Is
I completed and the Brooklyn extension "a
Flatbush avenue is opened. one can ride
for 1L4o miles in the subway for the pay
ment of a single fare, covering the dis
lance in s. minutes. The distance from
Borough Hail. Brooklyn. to 242d street is
1851 miles, and the running time OF ex-
press trains will be 81 minutes"