New-York tribune., 1910-05-08
Some Look 10 the Gpro-
scopfc McnoraH Car
for Relief.

Can the present population in the So
called contested districts of New York
City be thinned out and can future congcs-
ton be prevented?
op;n;oas of several we'll known New
Workers who have studied the problem OF
congestion from different points OF view
are herewith presented to Tribune readers
Several of these men take the ground that
the expansion and Improvement OF transit
facilities VIII ultimately solve the conges-
tion problem; others believe that preventive
legislation is the cure. and still others are
convinced that legislation can accomplish
little in scattering population. changes IN
taxation, municipal ownership OF tenemenls
and night inspection Of tenements are other
preventive measures suggested EX-Con-
troller Metz goes SO far as 10 say that the
question will solve itself in due time with
Gut the intervention OF commissions or So
cial investigators.
In my opinion said Henry H. Suplee,
engineering expert. the congested popula-
fion OF New York can be scattered if the
right way is taken 10 do it-rearrange the
present express service OF the transit COM
panies People must congest downtown
during the day in order to transact busl-
,.ess This we cannot prevent but they
can be induced TO scatter their homes out
into what are the thinly settled sections OF
the city.
'Lwould abolish all subway express stops
say, between l4th street and 140th street.
and supply the interlying section with only
local trains, and these rot too rapid Then
] would maintain the best possible express
service from 18th street to 10th street di-
rect This would make il easy for people
20 get out 10 districts now thiniy settled,
and At the same time would make it more
tedious to reach the present congested sec
t.ons between l4th and 10th streets
'-sror while the apartment house dwell
ers living between 18th ana 10th streets
would grumble at the slow service Then
they would begin 10 think: Why do
stand for this? How foolish it is for me
not TO live further out. where ] can take
.he express" Then you would begin to See
e. thinning out Of the present congested
residence districts, while those now sparse
ly populated would be built up. Eventually
would run express trains up beyond Ion-
kers. and the people would distribute them
selves.
Mr. Suplee offers a suggestion which he
declares would give immediate relief from
the street congestion during the rush hours
al the Brooklyn Bridge entrance. and thus
make workers in Manhattan more willing
to live outside the borough
Abolish the loop" he says. and have
the cars that go over the bridge radiate
all over New York. This will give con-
tinuous flow of travel as the cars would
pick UP passengers all along the line. and
this would prevent centralizing passengers
AT the transfer point. / think that the
travelling public would still be willing to
pay TWO fares. as now, TO the two different
transit companies.
The solution OF the congestion OF popu-
lation in New York City Viii be found,
declared Bion L. Burrows. former secretary
Of the Transit Commission, when the
workers of Manhattan can be carried out
tnto Jersey and Long Island 10 a zone of
cheap rents. say, up TO a radius OF twenty
five miles, for five-cent fare and at
speed which viii permit them TO get TO
work in town with conf I al o'clock in
the morning
The whole question is one OF transit. II
is generally conceded that electrical and