New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-03
MAYOR ATTACKS B. R. I.
AS "RAMSHACKLE ROAD"
Declares in Letter That Improve
ments Would Put System
in Bankruptcy.
"DROWNS TALK IN STREET.
Criticism Is Called Forth by
Conduct Of Motorman in
Failing to Stop
for Him.

Mayor Gaynor makes an attack on the
RrookIvn Pepid Transit Company in
letter written TO Frank 7. Mills. real
estate onerator. of. No. 304 Nostrand
avenue. He declares that not another
sucb ramehackle road exists. SO far as
he knows. and that to make modern I'M
nrovements would put the system in
bankruptcy.
The letter was written to Mr.. Miils IN
90 o,e IN which Mr. Mills referred
70 an incident that happened a day or
,u.o heforo According TO the story
car on which Mr.. Mills was a passenger
slowed down at Flatbush and Elghth
avenues. where the Mayor was waiting
but iust as the Mayor started to get OF
the motorman put on speed again SOME
Of the passengers protested at the wa!
IN ubich the Mayor had been treated ana
the motorman stopped near the next
corner. but the Mayor waited for the
nav, car. The motorman is alleged to
have remarked: "Oh. let the INTERIOR
ough carry him or let him walk
The Mayors letter follows:
C,,v ., New York Office of the Mayor,
Ni'S Va - MAY 81 1911.
Dosr Sir: Your letter Of protest against
tho way YOU saw the Mayor treated is AT
hand. OF course, all of YOU IN the car no
,icad the way | was treated by the motor
man. But | did not wish TO ind tault WIN VIZ,
him even though he did II intentonallE'
which seemed to be very plainly the case.
The president OF the company deipela,clE
,ried 10 insult the Mayor through the news
naners a day or two tefore by a puphc
Statement that the Interborough railroad
t'ompanys Office was the Mayor onoe,
and of course, many or MS supuI uil ~ 49,
may feel disposed to treat me IN the Same
wsy taking the cue from their superior
Rui do not and shall not complain am
satisfied TO he mstreated when ! know OF
feel that | am trying 10 DO rlghI , ,h,
The part OF your letter speaking ot the
treatment of people by the Brooklyn RAPID
Transit does not need any concurrence.
Everybody knows that they have treated
Ms like cattle for years They underpay
itself brings about inefficient service. 1he
system has been on the verge or bank
rilntcv for years. They have not a single
modern car in the whole system.
Thev still have the little cars with the
ut,le narrow front and rear platforms
which were In general use twenty-five wears
ago. and the like OF which are not no" 10
10 soon in any city OF the nlted states or
anvwhere except in Brooklyn. In addition
to that. the running gear of the cars IL
worn out. You cannot talk on the Side
walk while their cars are going by. Your
20 mpanion cannot hear YOU with the NAT
v.ieels and rlckety machinery. II the Pub
Uc service Commission were TO issue an
"I der. which they have the power to do,
that the company put on modern cars. u
,,cild have TO go into bankruptcy. II would
NOT he financially able 10 obey the order.
And all OF their wires are still overhead.
II tho Public Service Commission should
order the COMPANY 10 put theii undtr
ground il would have 10 go into bank
Tuptcy There is not another such ram
shackle railroad system anywhere: es FAR
AS I know. And the overhead roads are IN
an enuallv loose and dilapidated condition.
uave they ever been painted these ten
vearso All OF the roads are leased To the
Rrooklvn Height Company and the T. Il.
r owns all of the stock ot that company,
rn,d company AZ all. but only business
cornpany controls all OF the railroads in
DrookIyn and has nothing IN view except
g. milk them so rs 10 declare dividend
~ ~ 80 inflated capital The same kind Of
railroad financing here In Manhattan and
The Bronx fell Of its own weight and went
into the bankruptcy ,oulnn oNtI utt Years
ago. and eNentuallF - "''' nav ''' '""i"
inr, I am saving more 10 YOU than I in
tended / only meant to thank YOU for ex-
''''",t,,,, vour DrOteSt against the way yOu
pr ~ N,vor OF the city treated. So far
@ saN am to be considered as an individual
the treatment was no n nnS m9rS Sosn SSisGIGnabe
lla' ,har ritizan Ny physical condition
any any g." been so poor for the last several
months tina, ! canno, grab hold Of car
s,il'ei,. anu l'ni,, vours. w. j. GAYNOR.
when seen at his home, in Hunting
go, Long Island, last night Colonel
Timothy s. Williams. the president OF
,he brooklyn Rapid Transit Company
aota bo had no reply 10 make 10 the
MaVor's letter.
co,oeaoO NncATiON-LOW FARES.
Hock Islands one nleht trains morning
/ "a ,.o,,frr fr.u Chicago and 81. Louis
for no. Ll.tu aud