Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-03
TRIALS OF TRANSIT
CONVINCING PROOF
OF NEEDED REFORM
Journey From Darby and
Return Trip in Crowded
Cars APPLY illustrate De-
hciences of Present Sys-
tenn.

Standing room only ls the rule on the
Woodland avenue line. whether you are
going east or west and a ride i'm either
direction would convince any one of the
necessity Of the improved elevated system
as outlined by Director Taylor. of the De-
partment of City Transit. Discomfort and
delay are the chief features Of the Darby
cars rs they now exist.
To get the facts an EVENING LEDGER
reporter took the ride both ways, COM
ing in from Darby on the surface-subway
line Route No. II and going out on the
surface line from Front and Chestnut
streets.
When the car started at 65th and Wood
land avenue at 1882 A. m. every seat was
filled and at Esd street two minutes later
every strap was occupied by hanger-on.
The best that the most gallant man could
do was to surrender his precarlous hold to
any woman who boarded the car later
and, even this favor was thankfully re-
ceived The passengers were packed like
sardines long before sd street was reach
ed, and 1t was only the wedge-like forma-
tion that kept the standers on their feet.
Among the straphangers were moro
than score OF little working girls. 1t
could be seen by their careworn faces
that they were accustomed to it. They
knew that seats were out OF the ques-
tion, so they just hung on or leaned
against the edge of seat whenever the
lurching crowd shifted them near one.
CAR PACKED TO LIMIT.
1t seemed almost impossible for any
more TO get in the car when SD street
was reached, but at this point and also
at 10Th street fully two dozen more were
added to the crowd
Still more were taken on at 10th street,
but they managed to squeeze in somehow.
The car stopped at intervals before
reaching Thirteenth street, and probably
half dozen more were placed somewhere
inside.
When the tightly packed passengers
were finally landed at the subway, Thir.
teenth and Market streets, there was
general sigh of relief and a rush for the
doors Then most of them pushed their
way into car Of the elevated line and
some obtained seats. 1t was O'Clock
when the car reached Thirteenth street
and at s;O6 many OF the passengers were
at Market street ferry, the trip from
Darby taking 81 minutes via the surface
subway combination.
ALL-sURFACE NEARLY AS RAD
10 determine whether conditions we're
any better on the all-surfacs line. Route
No H. the reporter took the trim 10
Darby from Front and Chestnut streets
Conditions were slightly better in thIa
case but the standing room began AT
Tenth and Walnut streets, and there was
not a seat available until SD and Chester
avenue was reached.
From Tenth to Fifteenth the car 6IIod
until every available space was occupied.
But it was noticed that the westboun5
passengers did not complain as much
as those who rode in town In the morn
ing.
The spirit OF quiet resignation was prob-
ably due to the fact that the days work
was done and home was waiting for
them, Then. too, a good nights sIeep
would brace them for the morning ride
The Westoound trip started at 5:45 D. m.
and ended at the Darby terminus at sn
This ib-minute journey TO Darby IL inst
IL minutes longer than the trip in ON
subway surface. The Market strsat
eleVated-subway, from seth street 10
Market street ferry, covers practicable
the same distance In rs minutes.
instead or A minutes In and 45 min
utes out. the new rapid transit plan
PloVFaihs TOT an elevated road will re-
duee the trip to ls minutes each way 10
city Hall, making a saving OF "a minutes
for the riders each day.
according to the calculations Of nj
rector Taylor had the high-speed Wood
land avenue line to Darby been built M
lyi9' ~ 3 mere lt would have been time saving
OF ts,alOO minutes In the year Estimat-
ed at cash value OF IS cents per hour
there would have been a saving OF Sl22O O0o
based upon the growth ia populatlon
MI Iayior ngures that IN 1924 there
would be saving Of 10O, 100 600 minutes
or a saving in cash value OF $50 900.
Is prealeted that when the proposed
rapid transit system Is completed Inc
woodland avenue section will grow moro
rapidly IN proportion TO present populs-
ton than any other section og the eitv
connection q made at Darby with
SUBURBAN railways which reach Ed
aystone' chester and Wilmington.
The people OF the woodland avenue dis-
triet. tributary 10 the Woodland avenne
elevated line. will be abba. Il neeessary.
70 take the surface car lines leading 10
the stations OF The Woodland avenue eis-
Vated and then travel over any or an of
the lines comprising the high-speed ava
TEN In the city IN a forward direction
then, II necessary, take a surface car
line from the station where they leaye
the hish-speed system 10 point of destl.
nation, an for one FIVE CENT FARE
The elimination of exchange tickets viii
save money % the reaidents of the Wool
lana avenue elstriot - lfaYeins 70 otlgr
sections