New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
RELIEF FOR STRAP Hanger
Subway Ordered to Run Trains
Enough to Provide Seats.
.ANNUL "LEMOW' EXPRESS
Oppoeition to 81" Extensions as
Too 0enerous-Increase of
Subway Earnings.

A new order, revising the existing one on
the regulation OF subway service. was
adopted yesterday by the Public Service
Commission. This order which is aimed
TO provide seats for all passengers during
the non-rush hours. is the result of public
hearings held on complaints of citizens that
the fnterhorough made no efforts 10 live up
TO the spirit of the service order issued by
the commission last spring.
The former order directed the company
10 operate enough trains during every half
hour period of the day to provide seats for
eli passengers offering during this period, or
The maximum number of trains and cars
that could be operated.
Plan to Stop Strap Hanging.
The new order reduces this period to fif-
teen minutes. SO as to remove the possi-
fiIity OF running crowded trains during
most OF "a longer period and then switching
IN an almost empty train that would have
enough empty seats 10 coun1erbalance the
number of strap hangers at the beginning
of the period. This part OF the order takes
effect December IS. and covers every
Gay and all hours, though the headway of
1rains prescribed for certain periods of the
day remains fbe same
The commission further ordered that on
end after January ali subway trains on
.i7e Broadway b-anch be operated as locals
above a5th street. This means the abolition
of the so-called lemon express. To make
a.f- for this. tho commission ordered the
1nterburough to operate every alternate
alorthbound local of the Broadway branch
10 Dyckman street. leaving the Brooklyn
Bridge between the hours OF 5 o. m. and
So and every alternate southbound local
&etveen the hours Of 7:5o a. IN. and 3 a. IN.
10 start from Dyckman street This order
-1oes not include Sundays or holidays
Subway G-oss Earnings Increase.
The Interf.or1Igh made statement yes
-croay Of its earnings during the fVe
,r.crtls ended November 81. 1910. The gross
areratin- revenue was s1.52s,2s9. an IN
e-ease Of s2ses.1 over the corresponding
yeeriod in 1879. The operating expenses IN
creased S37S. .1T6. as a result OF changes IN
The subway equipment that will help the
.oupanv 10 carry a larger number of pas
eongers.
The net operating reveInle for this period
vas IS IS45lo a decrease of sl50e2e from
East wear, due 10 these permanent improve
snents After paving fixed charges, the
guaranteed dividend TO the Manhattan Rail-
.rar stockholders and a g per cent dividend
.op its own stock for three months. the IN
.erhoroush has a surplus of SSz,ese for TINS
eive-rnonth period
"lv Extensions Opposed
The grant of a franchise TO the Inter
rorouSh for elevated extensions IN The
Taron, and 10 the Manhattan Railway
.-on,nsnv for the third tracking of the
old elevated lines developed sporadic oppo-
.i+ior only at the public hearing held yes
7erday by the Public Service Commission
The ma sority of the several hundred per
sons who crowded the small room were
for Immediate building of tie proposed Ia
s-iIities and the imperative neeo OF aool-
-ional rapid transit made them impatient
of ANYTHING THAT seemed like delay There
was q strong contingent of men represent
ing various ci,sc bodies Of The Bronx, who
demanded empEaticaly that speedy con-
struction should be the first consideration
The opposition that was voiced was not
directed against the routes planned, but
centred in the terms of the grants and
the fact that those privileges are to go to
The Interborough before the subway prob
lem Is settled
Professor Edward " Benlis, represent
ing the franchise conference organized
7lnder the auspices of the City Club, sub
r71itted three fundamental criticisms Of
The certificates He said that they failed
TO prevent an increase Of franchise value
10 the existing tracks of the elevated lines
from new tracks and extensions, that the
proposed payment TO the city of per
cent Of the gross income was absurdly
.su7aIf IN view of the anticipated great in
crease in the revenues of the company,
Sud that the plant should become the prop
erty OF the city at the end of fifty years
1nttead of eighty-five years
Thinks City Too Generous.
The proposed franchise Professor
Bernis said, ''hy giving a monopoly profit |
IF sl.Soo,e,e a year. is virtually making
present to the company of the capitalized |
value of this income of from SIS 600 900 TO /
s5ooea0a The IH1ersorough, evidently re- /
alizing the great profit in these elevated /
Erants has made its subway proposition |
contingent upon their being given This |
makes il impossible TO compare on the same |
basis the Interborough proposition on sub |
rays with either the triborough or the |
NcAdoo proposition
Would it not be well. therefore in view |
81 the various points here raised, TO settle |
The subN ay matter first and make any ele-
~ated settlement wait until 1t is seen what |
an be done on the subway? Certainly |
the city should not give its possibly most
= aluable cift-the elevated franchse-whle |
the subway matter is still unsettled.
George S Mott. representing various
banks on the Bowery, asked the commits
sion TO change the structure on the Bowery
so as to place the elevated line above the
centre of the street instead Of having its
Pillars obstruct both sidewalks He was
Joined in this demand by Henry A. Hole
man and Lawrence Mcclure
Against Third Track Grants.
James A. Allan. lawyer, opposed the
grants
i don't see why the commission should
bc so anxious to give the city over into the
hands OF the Interborougb Hhen the sub
~ay proposition is pending The old Rapid
Transit Commission in its palmiest days
did not dare TO give the franchise for the
third tracking of the elevated lines
Robbins Gilman. OF the University Set
-lenent. vi no said he appeared for 'hu-
n1snity,'' protested against the third track
on the Second avenue line on Allen and
Division streets, and q similar protest was |.
MADE by Otto Hildebrand.
FRANK J. GOULD BACK