Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-09-11
RICH COMMUTERS
WANT STEEL CARS
Percy Rockefeller and Fellow
Club Members Fear New
Haven's Equipment.

wealthy New York business men who, In
summer time, commute in special cars
on the New York, New Haven & Hart
ford road are urging the Pressed Steel
Car company to hurry the delivery OF
| two steel cars in place Of the wooden cars
| in which they have been riding.
| These commuters, who are becoming
nervous over the necessity OF having to
| ride in wooden cars, are members of the
| Car club, the most exclusive club of COM
muters in the country. one Of the mem
bers is Percy Rockefeller. son of Will
liam Rockefeller. who, with J. p. Nor
gan, controls the destinies of the New
| Haven road Mr.. Rockefeller lives in
Greenwich in summer and is probably
| the most conspicuous member of the Car
| club
For years the Car club has had an ar
rangement with the New Haven railroad
management. under which the railroad
provided two parlor cars morning and
evening for the convenience Of members
of the club. Only members of the club
could ride in these cars.
BUILDING THE CARS.
None of the private cars Of the Car
club ever has been wrecked But when
wreck followed wreck on the New Haven
road and lives upon lives were lost the
members OF the exclusive commuters
club began to have n fear that some day
their cars would share the same fate as
many others. the Stamford wreck on
June IL, in which six lives were lost and
many passengers were seriously Injured
brought matters to climax. The Car
club special cars are run from Greenwich
to New York. Along this route hundreds
OF milionaires have their summer homes,
and many of them are members of the
Car club. Just who it was that called the
meeting could not belearned yesterday,
but the fact remains that the members
held meeting at the Indian Harbor
Yacht club. 1t was decided unanimously
that the Car club should cease as soon
as possible to ride in wooden cars and
that they should demand Of the New
Haven that it provide steel cars for the
club members. representative of the
railroad was present.
Charter members of the Car club are
limited to few very wealthy men.
Associate members are required to pay
$40 a year for the privilege of riding in
the club cars; and there is a waiting
list of several hundred, men of wealth
who seek a comfortable ride to New
York and back but who, unless they can
obtain places In the Car clubs private
cars, are forced to take a chance.
After consultation with the New Haven
manaRemo mt 1t was decided that two cars
should be built for the use of the club.
They are to be of steel, as nvunerable
to outside pressure as battleship, and
Quilted in the best way the Imagination
Of railroad car architects can suggest.
They will be ready for delivery late this
fall or as early In next years com
muting season as possible.
WILL BE AN EXTRA TOLL.
But the New Haven management, il
Is said, did not consent to furnish these
steel-clad cars, even to the millionaires
who use them daily In the summer, in
Guiding Mr.. Rockefeller without charg-
ing an extra toll. The assessment that
had been made on members of the club
is said to have been raised to meet the
cost of the new and safe Car club equip
ment.
Among the members of the Car club
are: Commodore T. g Benedict, John
A Topping. president of the Republic
Iron and Steel company. whose sum-
mer home Is in Greenwich, Percy Rookie
Teller, who has a Greenwich home, NAL
colin r. Pitt of Pitt. Barnum &; Co,
whose summer home is in Stamford
Attorney Louis r. Porter. also Of SIAM
ford, Lyndford McC. Dickinson OF Moro
ton, George a. Hurry of Henry Clews
& Co., Of Sound Beach and other
wealthy business men whose summer
homes are on the New Haven line be-
tween New York and Greenwich. James
McCutcheon, the millionaire linen NOR
chant. is the president of the club and
Oliver Fessenden of No. Maiden lane
is the secretary.
1t was said yesterday that the rush
Tor the armor plate cars was accele-
rated by the North Haven wreck
CAN'T GET CARS FAST ENOUGH.
Edward G.. Riggs. executive secretary
to President Elliott Of the New York,
New Haven & Hartford road said yes
terday that there was no dispute between
the New Haven and the Pullman COM
pany over the quality OF the sleeping cars
that are being run on that road
Last December" said Riggs the New
Haven sold its sleeping car equipment to
tho Pullman company. with tho under
standing that the wooden cars We're to
be replaced as quickly as possible with
steel cars. The fact is that all the rail-
roads OF the country are clamoring for
steel cars, and 1t has been impossible Or
the New Haven road to obtain them any
more rapidly than they have. Since Jan
uary l the New Haven road has ordered
$50 steel cars, of which 80 have been de-
ltvered. 1t Is merely a question OF how
quickly the half dozen firms making steel
cars can catch up with the demand"