New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-23
SUBWAY INDICATORS
Marlborough Tells Won1e" They
Are ImprGcticabLe.

Those meddlesorae women folk who have been
trying 70 get things arranged so that The poor pun
lie viii know where 1t is at in the subway eoI
their answer yesterday. It was given al a nearing
before the Public Service Commission. where Frank
Hedley. general manager OF the interoorough
Rapid Transit Company, appeared TO reply 10 lile
complaints about subway signs mace ny lbe puo'IC
safety committee OF the New York City federauon
Of wouen's Clubs and the Rapid Transit Com
nfttee of One Hundred. AIr. Hedley said that Win
the signs already existing and those the company
expects install the means Of identifcauon IN
the subway would be adequate, and as 10 any
further that might be desired he intimated mat II
was not well for the public have things made too
easy New Torkers have no doubt been spoiieo
slreadv by the benevolent ways Of the INTERIOR
oush for strangers apparently get on very Well
strangers" observed the general manager are
very careful 20 find out where they want 10 go anu
how 70 get there"
The new signs promised are window signs. to oe
rlaced in ALI The cars. These have actually been
ordered, and ars De installed throughout the
system inside Of three months. The company IS alSo
considering the desrabllity'' Of map OF the s!s
TENS at each station and sign explaining the
colored lights This IS by no means all that the
two committees asked for Commissioner John L"
Eugtis who presided. inquired about indicators to
announce coming stations. Nj Hediey pronounced
them inpracticable- They were likely TO gel ou'
of order and announce the wrong station
PINT according to evidence submitted here. the
guards voice Is not always under perfect control
said the Commissioner. DO you make any e11orI
TO get men who can speak good plain English
Mr. Hedley said they tried 70 give the guards
so-ne training, but admitted that the inadeQuacy
Of the human yoice for this work was a crying
evil" on every transportation line with which ne
was acquainted
Mrs Robert Francis Cartwright, chairman OF the
r1,Slic safety committee. pleaded for a trlaI OF
fbs indicators The owners OF one device were
ready TO equip train free, she SAID ana MI.
EzstIs added:
The Interborough is usually ready TO take any
thing It can get for nothing.
she WAS sure the company wanted to do what was
best for the public welfare.
81 presume" put in J. AspinwaIl Hodge chair
man of the Committee of One Hundred. that your
objection 10 the device Is thal 10 oiie IA 'i-0 W
M Hodge" answered Mr.. Hedley, IF you Will
not assume what is IN my mind We viii get on
better"
BY this time the point at issue seemed TO nave
been forgotten.
M Hodge then pleaded for q sign inside the cars
70 show merely where the train was going
at Is better for the majority Of the passengers
to find out where they are going betore lAey get
on the car was the answer
.sE,t s1Jpposing that there is minority that
gets on without knowing the destination OF the
train would thtre be any objection 10 using some
OF the available advertising space to aoVerCse u
such passengers where they are going
ST. e ,-erv Questionable answered Nh Hedley'
with severity for passengers to get into the haDl'
OF getting on trains without knowing Where they
sye going II would cause congestion
Nr Hodge next endeavored TO hnd out why inc
window signs were placed so low Gown
why must you Put them where they can pe
SEEM he asked.
.srbe subject was thoroughly discussed ana We
decided that that was the best place.
.sysrt I'm asking why you came TO that coh1u-
sion. Why should sign three or four 1eet rom
fha ground be better than high enough to be
seea?"
Mr.. Hedley declined 10 answer the quesuoh.
Arthur D1l Bots was counsel for the commission
.n6 theodore Waugh for the lnterborougn- Inc
Federation Of Tomen's Clubs was represeiI'eo DS
. So. az women including the president, Mrs
Vv,lliann Cumming Story, and the two Candidates
for that Office, Mrs. Belle de Rivera and Mrs Will
Grant Brown.