Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-13

hausting the battery or wearing out the
apparatus that registered the coins.
Should the register get out OF order. how
ever. the number OF coins in the box
would indicate the number OF passengers.
Funny stories are told of the reckless
manner in which conductors have been
robbing the companies. Not long ago the
wife of conductor. in bringing suit tor
divorce. testified that her husband was
paid $15 / month by the street car COM
pany. but made about $50 a week extra.
out OF which she asked the court to make
him pay her SIS alimony.
In another case the testimony showed
that the motormen were paid % cents
trip by the conductors to insure their ST
lence. The manager OF one of the sur
face companies told me that il they could
collect the amount stolen by their con-
ductors it would pay all their taxes and
insurance.
Disadvantages of New Cars.
The public is getting used to the new
cars, although the women complain that
the steps are higher than necessary and
want them lowered. There is often a
good deal of delay at the crowded cross
ings in taking on passengers because
women with their arms full OF bundles
or carrying babies and leading children
keep others back while they search for
nickels. The feminine inability to meet
the situation has provoked a good deal
of wit and humor. One of the newspa
pers contained the following the other
day:
soon we shall see the suburban shop
per- with many parcels and an umbrella
slipping out of her arms. go wild-eyed in
searching for her purse.
she hunts for it in three coat pockets
and in a handbag; then starts out on an
other hunt for her spectacles. for without
these she cannot 'differentiate a nickel
from quarter.
Meantime behind her in the vestibule
and on the steps, with their umbrellas
closed and the rain pouring down on
them. with curses loud and deep. there
waits a wrathful throng.
They cannot get out of the rain or
into the car until she finds those spec
tacles. and then discovers the nickel.
"Theyar irritated. vexed. annoyed. ex-
aspserated. 49,. oo. <,uo
ready. but they cannot board the car I'M
til the suburban shopper has dropped her
nickel in the slot.
Some of them are looking for their
own nickels and in SO doing they put
their umbrellas under their arms and
poke their fellow passengers in the face
with them.
The woman with the Merry Widow hat
wiggles around a great deal and distracts
the attention of her fellow-passengers.
She is not an unmixed blessing.
I'm the meantime a congregation or We
hicles-cabs. carts. delivery wagons. car
riages and acknowledgements behind
the car unable to proceed until the subur-
ban shopper has found her nickel.
They are stopped stayed. delayed. de-
tanned arrested impeded. checked. frus-
trated and prevented from pursuing their
Journeys.
"All wait for the car. which waits for
it's passengers who wait for the suburban
shopper VINO Is trying to find her spec
tacles in order that she may dlnerentiate
between a quarter and a nickel.
Moral: Have the exact fare ready be-
fore you board the car
Two New Subways.
The public services commission have
provided for two new subways; one of
them across the river into Brooklyn. four
miles in length, has already been adver-
tised and will cost. according to the
Inmates. about $15,OOO.OOO. The work will
be divided into four sections of one mile
each and contractors may bid for sim
gle section or for the entire job. The
period allowed ia two years from the time
OF the letting Of the contract. This will
include construction only. The arrange
ments and terms for the equipment and
operation of the road will not be made
until the construction work is approach
ing completion. The city will build and
own the entire plant and will lease it for
operation.
Another subway extending the entire
Battery to the Bronx. east Of 9TH avenue
and Central Park, following Lexington
avenue to the Harlem river and there
dividing into two branches. has been laid
out, and bids will be invited soon. 1t
will be about nine miles long, and the
cost will be about $50. 900. OGO. Both sys-
TENS contemplate double TUNE IL similar
TO the present subway. and they will be
large enough to admit ordinary railway
steam cars and such electric motors as
will be used to haul the Pennsylvania
railroad trains when its new terminals
are completed. 1t is also proposed to
enlarge the present subway on the same
asis for the same purpose.
1t is said that the debt limit allowed by
the constitution has been reached by the
city OF New York in providing for these
new improvements. But the public serv-
ice commission will continue to make
plans and ask the city to carry them out.
Brooklyn Bridge Congestion.
Important Improvements are being
made to relieve the congestion at Brook
lyn bridge. which. strange to say. has
not been much affected by the opening of
the tunnels under East river. The crowds
on the bridge seem to be as large
ever. The reports of the number of pas
sengers carried show considera BILE fall
ing off. but 1t has not been large enough
TO be noticed. and the public service
sion of the terminals on the New York
side so as to accommodate a very much
larger number of people.
At the same time the commission has
been testing all gas meters in the city.
More than 215.OOO have been examined
since July I. 1907. and it was found that
IL per cent Of them were imperfect, the
greater number being fast. for the ad-
vantage of the gas companies. and only
$50 per cent slow. for the benefit of the
Nv these tests IL is claimed
that several hundred thousands of dol
lars have been saved the gas consumers
of New York.
Altogether the commission has been a
great success, and its perma hence has
been assured. so that 1t will stand as an
example of municipal regulation Of pub
lie utilities.