New-York tribune., 1908-02-21
CENTRAL on THE GRILL.
Train SerJice Complaints Before
Both Public SerJice Commissions.

Complaints regarding the suburban train SER
vice of the New York Central Railroad are be-
fore both the Public Service Commissions
While Commissioner Eustfs Of the 1st District.
hearing a complaint about late trains TO Yon-
kers. observing yesterday that the ten
dency Of the Central seemed to be 10 subordi-
nate more and more its local train service To
through traffic there was being fled with the
commission for the ID District in Albany a
general complaint from residents in Westches-
ter County.
The complaint. signed by commuters in Dobbs
Ferry. Hastings. Tarrytovvu. Yonkers IrvinSton
Ossnng and other suburban points, charges that
the communication rates have been increased about
Is per cent. that the rate OF speed of suburban
trains Is less than thirty miles. a third slower
than prior 1906 that suburban trains are
sldetracked and delayed in favor Of express
trains: that such delays are injurious 10 the
real estate interests of the suburban points and
the business interests of the commuters, and
that the seats in the new electric ears are gen
orally uncomfortable The cornplainants d.
clare that these Inconvenience have caused
many persons to move away from the suburban
towns.
Before Commissioner EUstfs the New York Cen
troJ required to show what Justification it
had for taking off the trains that formerly left
155th street for Getty Square. TOnkers, at -
; a n
testimony TO show that the traffic on the Put
nam division was about 30 per cent less than
before the extension Of the subway TO Kings
bridge and that these early morning trains did
not pay
Why didn't YOU take of all the trains after
midnight. then inquired Commissioner EusJfs.
Garrit Fort. assistant 10 The vice-presfdent in
charge Of the passenger traffic of the Putnam
division. replied that the company was bound
TO maintain certain service and was hoping
against hope that the traffic would improve. H
L. IngersoII special engineer in charge OF statis-
ties said the cost of maintenance OF the Yon-
kers line was 81 a train mile. while last wear
the total receipts of the service we're only
So 1000. or little less than the cost OF Operat-
ing the trains.
Referring to complaints that bad been made
by other commuters. Commissioner E.usJis re-
marked that il appeared to he the deIiberats
policy Of the company gradually 10 eliminate the
local traffic in favor of through business.
But you do not want 70 operate trains that
do not pay. do you?~ inquired Mr. InSersor.
The real question replied Commissioner
Eustis. is Why don't they paye' Here is the
New York Central operating under franchise
and supposed to a community where the
population has increased enormously in the last
few years Nevertheless. the company takes
of one train after another
But if the people prefer 70 use the trolley
and the subway We cannot help IT," said Mr.
IngersoIL
The question is. Why do they prefer TO use
the trolley and the subway? The answer is
plain" said the commissioner III is because
they can get or 1o cent fare that way. and
much more frequent service If the company
is going To make its local service more and more
inferior people viii desert it, People have a
right 20 rely on the cOmpany's living up 20
obligations it assumed years ago The company
is bound 10 render adequate service. whether a
particular train pays or not