New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-10
TUBE SYSTEM HERE
AMAZES BRITONS
English Tramway Expert
Praises Near Surface
Subway Plan.
From The Tribune Correspondent

From The Tribune Correspondent
London, May detailed comment on
all New York streetcar and subway
transportation is contained in private
report Just published dealing with In
vestigatons made by a deputaton of
tramway experts who recently visited
New York ]. NJ McElroy. general man
ager of the Manchester Corporation
Tramways. who signs the report hnds
that while the total number OF passen-
gers carried in greater London is. rough
~. equal 10 those carried in greater New
York. In the latter city practically half
the total number OF passengers are car
red by rapid transit systems, as against
a quarter in London.
Dealing with conditions as they exist in
New York. the report states: The transit
facilities now in operation in New York
and those which are under construction
there present some very interesting feat
ures In the downtown district are the
famous high buldings-the skyscrapers.
To the visitor there would appear TO be a
constant competition for supremacy in
height. But there is an economic reason
-
namely. the constantly increasing de-
mand for business premises In the COM
paratively small area OF this downtown
section. The crowding OF so many huge
buildings used for business purposes in
so limited an area has created a transpor-
tation problem OF the most complex kind
The carrying OF vast numbers of peo-
pie from the outskirts OF the city. espe-
cially from the northern part of Manhat-
tan and The Bronx, and also from the
boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, to the
downtown district has created loads OF
extraordinary observation-disclosures which
are exceedingly difficult to handle. But
the city authorities OF New York have
approached the matter and are dealing
with the situation In a manner which
cannot but command the highest admira-
ton from all those interested in prob
lens Of city passenger transportation.
I'm recent years the regulation. control
and development of the transit facilities
Of the city have been placed In the hands
of Public Service Commission.
The excellent work of this commission,
the thOroughness Of its Investigations,
the breadth of view which II has exhib-
tied in making preparations for the future
development OF the transit facilities OF
New York can only be fully appreciated
by detailed examination of the commits
sions methods and the work il has al
ready done and is still carrying on.
Reference is made TO the subway in
Manhattan and its advantages as COM
pared with the deep level tubes in Lon
don.
The most interesting feature of the ex-
sting transportation facilities is the I'M
derground railway--the subway, as they
call tin Manhattan The nearness OF
the subway - the street level. and its
easy accessibility as compared with the
deep level tubes n London with their
lifts and long subterranean passages. at
once illustrates the ADVANTAGES from the
passengers point of view Of shallow un-
derground railways as against deep level
tubes"
The growth of New York's traffic and
the plans for meeting its demands are
dealt with at some length i'm the report
which remarks that the problem as TO the
best method of meeting the present de-
mands and making provision for the fu-
ture occupied the attention OF the Public
Service Commissioners for several years.
Ultimately they prepa cd scheme
which a. regards breadth Of conception
and thoroughness in all its detail is un-
surpassed The city authorities are not
looking for profits. They are determined
to provide adequate facilities, and so i'm
portant a duty on the part Of the munich
pality do they consider this that they
have made up their minds TO do IT prop
erly. even II it entails a charge on the
rates Of the city
On the question of the notorious in New
York Mr.. McElroy says
There are routes in New York upon
which the notorious can supply needed
service in local areas. giving the public
the benefit Of its satisfactory features
and at the same time minimizing its dis
advantages"
New York's investigation Of notorious
operation. remarks the report. emphasizes
the lack of control in London. Extracts
from the report made TO the New York
Public Service Commissioners are given
at some length FOR the reason that they
strongly emphasize the importance OF
preventing a condition of affairs arising
such as is found in London. where motor
buses, providing they can get license
from the police authorities. may run any
where in the metropolitan area practi-
cally without control and regulation Of
any kind Omnibuses have so far, IL is
added found no real place in New York s
transit facilities