The Washington herald., 1908-03-23

I New York, March 2-Some years aga.
when II. H. Vreeland was trying to run
cable cars on Broadway. he remarked. in
reference TO the difficulties Of those days
IN the endeavor TO get wagons 10 keep
of the car tracks. that he believed New
Workers would Ike him all the better II
he succeeded in putting so many cars on
both tracks that people might walk along
/ the roofs Of them up or down town.
Travellers along the Fourth and Madison
avenue car lines to-day had a chance 70
see this idea almost put into operation
on that route.
X was the initial day Of the service OF
the new pay-as-you-enter ears, and so
many Of them were run that passenger
! never had 10 wait more than a minute
for car in either direction; and not only
/ that. but at the Brooklyn Bridge terminal
the bridge entrance switches were made
the terminal for these cars to-day-it was
difficult to get the cars started I'D town
quickly enough 10 make room for follow
| ms cars
Wait for Next Car.
Many Of them were started when only
a few people had been able 10 climb
aboard. while many more would-be pas
Sengers had to take the next car. At this
terminal several additional employees were
on duty assisting the conductors and the
passengers, and when the starter ordered
car 10 move. these men placed their
arms across the entrances, barring the
way
Once clear of the starting point. the
new cars appeared to-day to give promise
Of being a success. The people appeared
to like them. The unusual spectacle was
offered Of cars full Of New Workers. wear
1 ing agreeable smiles in place Of the
habitual drawn, almost strained. looks
which strangers from other lands often
point out as the characteristic expression
Of this nervous people. The motormen
seemed placidly comfortable in their
roory vestbules. They stopped on signal.
and for some reason or other there was
less OF the jerking motion both on start
ing and stopping which is so annoying
on many cars OF the city
Whether this was due to the greater
! ism. or 10 the good humor of the motor
men on placid day like Sunday. it was
anyway a gratifying experience for the
riders. It may have been due to. or at
least facilitated by. the fact that with so
many cars running. no attempt was made
at speed. The cars did not run rapidly.
but they moved people along, and on
Sunday that seemed to be all that the
passengers demanded OF them.
May Need Speed To-day.
How 1t will be on workdays. when peo-
pie are in a greater hurry to reach busi-
ness or home. viii be more easily judged
tomorrow.
The conductors generally said that
passengers for the most part took kindly
to the new arrangement. paid promptly.
and readily Obeyed orders TO pass on into
the car instead Of blocking the platform.
In getting OF the cars. the women. as
usual were the sinners. They persisted.
with few exceptions. In leaving the-car
facing backward. AT the rear exit there
is a good hand rail conveniently placed
for people who viii condescend TO face
forward sshen leaving a car. But many
women refused to dignity this rail With
their attention, and haughtily grasped
the upright bar separating the entrance
from the exit portion of the platform. al
though it is in a much more awkward
position. with the result that they had
all their dearly enjoyed difficulties. and
ran their usual danger of being thrown
down in case the car started before they
saw 1T 70 let go their clutch.
Trains Every odd Hour During Day