The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-15
IN THE SUBWAY JAM.

subway was making it's way northwar
ut u snairs pace the other night
was in the rush hours and the carr wer
crowded. The platform men could no
push another person into one of tn
cars If their Jobs depended on it,
At that hour the trains arc run o.
the smallest possible Roadway. Spec,
IL II secondary consideration, the idc,
being To move the crowd and keep tn
platforms clear
So the movement OF the trains wa
eXaspcrating to those who desired Il
reach home early. A train after start
ing out of the Brooklyn Bridge station
would run to the next signal, SLOW
down, jerk ahead again and slow dow
at the following signal. II was ex
tremely trying to the nerves, az man,
passengers thought when the trail
started 20 speed up that the line wal
clear. Just as their anxiety WAS fadnt
away the train would slow down ant
almost stop
And 40 1t was all the way up.
Two Of the anxious passengers ciunl
to straps in the first car. They wer
near the forward door and through thi
glass they could distinguish the signal
along the line. which gave them an ad
vantage over the passengers who wer,
seated. They knew in advance from tn,
signals exactly at what speed the traiI
would travel
They were anxious. so much so thN
they shifted from one foot TO the othei
AT short intervals. Finally one OF IN,
straphangers said
John. If you had your way, what i'm.
provcment would YOU suggest for the
subway which In your opinion woulo
be most beneficial To- the passengers"
well. I'll tell YOU" replied John. aftel
some consideration. 81 think that J
would suggest that phones be placed u
the subway"
But, John" inquired the first strap.
hanger. "on what do YOU base your
claim that phones would be the most
beneficial Improvement? How could the
public--the part which uses the subway
derive advantage from the installa.
ton OF phones"
In this way Take our own case for
instance. Here we are stuck in this uu-
foreground hole. our train is slow. trav-
cling about ~ fast as the ordinary man
can walk. and from present indications
hour.
Suppose there were phones in the
subway. All we would have to do is to
leave this train at the next station.
walk 10 u booth conveniently situated
on the station. so that anybody could
ma 1t. call up my house and get ny
wife ON the wire. II would be u simple
matter for me To explain about the
slownoss Of the train and also inform
her that would hc lat. for dinner.
she would not have to keep The
food stewing on the lire. expecting me
home at any minute. She could wait
until she was sure that the train was
near my home station, and then she
could cook the food ana have it ready
for mo when ! entered the house.
Knowing the cause Of the delay
there would Ice no NOR" WORRY at home.
That unpleasant feature would lie en-
tireiy eliminated. Tn. wife wouldn't
worry; the children wouldn't worry.
then ! should worry"
Il accept your expla nation. John. and
;h.nh the idea an excellent one. just at
present | wish | could reach phone
myself. But don't you think. John that
some men would abuse that privilege"
Don't you think tina, some men would
impose On their wives II the oppor-
tunity presented Itself"
How" inquired John.
Some men. less cuusr.eutlous than
YOU ana mo. John, might grasp the
grand opportunity uf calling up then
wives and informing them that they
We're telephoninE from tho subway
When wiley inquired the reason why il
VAS necessary to telephone from the
tunnel hubby would reply that the road
was blocked and there was mo- Sign OF
relief for hours. II wifcy lived uptown
and became too inQusltiVe, HUBBY could
say the block was down at the Battery.
His idea would ho To- keep the block
AVA from the wife as far as possible"
"tf course that's true" replied john
nut phones in the subway could be
used for many other ana various pur-
poses. NOW yuI know there are many
evenings when you leave your Office
the moon Is shining and everything
looks clear. You enter the tunnel anu
ride uptown. When you g"t there and
reach the head OF the stairs YOU find
that the rain is coming down in tor
rents. You hdva on a good oyrrcoat,
suit OF clothes, hat and shoes and YOU
DO not care u nave them spoiled by
water. You look around for relief, buc
non. is In sight
Then the happy idea enters your
mimi that relief can be obtained by use
of tne phone downstairs. And YOU 60
down and cal a garage and order a taxi
sent u The station 10 carry you home
iiy spending few cents for taNi fare
your good clothes are saved aud you
feel at!sfleG with yourself
"a Al la