New-York tribune., 1911-01-18
0BSTRUCTING THE SUBWAY
A Bit Of Mob Psychology That Does
Not Flatter the Passengers.
'he Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: II seems TO be physical impossl-
/ hility. with the existing subway faclll-
ties. TO handle the rush hour crowds in a
manner TO insure tho comfort Of passen-
gers: yet much might he done to anchor
ate the present intolerablo conditions II J
may judge from what read in tine news
papers and from what hear from my ac-
quaintances and fellow passengers. one Sc
rious obstacle in the way OF improved
service with existing facilities IS the popu-
lar feeling OF artagonism for the Inter
borough and its employees.
Human nature il peculiar. and II passen-
gers feel that a transportation company IS
pursuing a publid-be damned policy,
they are likely 10 expend a considerable
amount Of energy in obstructing and inn
peding the working OF the system-takins
their time when requested to step lively
and refusing To move 10 the centre OF the
car after having been packed sardne-llke
into the vestibule by brawny platform
cff1cial-whcreas. when they think that the
company has adopted "rublc-be-p pleased
policy they develop spirit OF active CO.
operation and desire TO help the com
pany's employees to make the pcst Of a
diffcult situation.
/ notice this spirit in strong contrast
with that which prevails in the INTERIOR
ough trains. when | travel in the Hudson
tunnels feel a disposition there-and
| think my observation will be borne out
by any one who is familiar with conditions
on both systems to please the public by
4 III. {
comfort and convenience: and the conse-
quence is that 20 por cent Of the passen-
gers are working in harmony with the Nc
Adoo employees to facilitate the handling
o. traffic.
On the Tnterborough on the contrary
you will see the people during the con-
gested hours enter the cars with the ut
most deliDeration and ostentatiously take
their time about leaving them, as II they
had some grievance for which they were
irying TO got square, thus hampering the
workings Of the system at a very critical
time | confess that I have this feeling
myself when I ride on the Interborough
system; but when / travel by the McAdoo
system my whole disposition is to facii-
tate the work Of the officials and 10 help
them out bv moving promptly when the
guard calls my station or when / am re-
quested to step right down the platform.
The travelling public Is amenahle 70 de-
cent treatment. whether in hotels shops
OF on railroad trains. and even II custom
ers realize that the courtesy they receive
is merely a part OF a policy Of enlightened
selt-nterest they are made friends. in-
stead OF enemies, Of the "soulless corpora
tion" that has brains enough to know that
such treatment is good business.
\ rather close study Of local rapid tran
sit conditions emboldens me 10 offer these
observations for the consideration of the
InterborouGh management II may be
ather late in the day for them 10 treat the
people who have to ride in their trains
ss II they were entitled TO few kind
words in addition TO the privilege of
standing from litn street 10 Atlantic ave
nue: but the public memory is short AMI
Il few months Of considerate and concii-
atory. treatment might do much in the
way OF creating a spirit Of popular CO.
operation which would help the company
To- cope more successfully with yexatious
transportation problems
EDWARD HATCH JR.
New York. Jan. Il. 1911.