New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-30
Lines in Manhattan and
Bronx s Per Cent Below
Normal, |. r. T. States.
POLICE SAY RAIN
lessons TRAVEL
Night Service Increases,
While Subway and 81"
Cars Carry Crowds.

Traffic conditions in this city made
a big gain toward normal yesterday
Practically every one concerned in the
transportation OF the public up and
down and across town reported there
was less congestion and more means Of
conveyance at hand that at any time
since the street railway employees went
out on strike, September 10.
A general estimate made By the In
terborough Rapid Transit Company Of
all traffic in Manhattan and The Bronx
was that it was operating about 5 per
cent below normal.
The Interborough's surface lines
were running 1854 normal yesterday,
while the service of the Third and Sec
ond Avenue lines was running at 81
per cent normal.
Traffic policemen consigned TO the
congested centres of traffic declared
that al no time since the traction strike
started has there been such an eXpe-
ditious handling of crowds during the
rush hours as yesterday.
Reports of the railway officials and
the police showed that there were more
surface, subway and elevated cars run
ming yesterday than at any time during
the last forty-nine days.
Conductors, motormen, guards and
policemen declared that, while the
northbound traffic was heavy during
the rush hours, the demand for trans
portation was much less than usual.
Rain Halls Traffic Rush.
Many policemen expressed the opin-
ion that the traffic yesterday was not
real test Of the present efficacy of the
transit situation. The rain that began
at . 2. NJ. and lasted we'll into the
night was responsible, they said, for
a falling off i'm the homeward crowds
and had curtailed the shopping traffic
Also the Jewish holiday lessened the
demand for trans ortation.
Operation i'm The Bronx Yesterday
reached a status nearer normal condi-
tions than at any time since Septem-
Der 10. With the restoration OF night
service on some OF the crosstown lines
residents Of The Bronx will be less de-
pendent on the jitneys and taxis which
have been their means Of trsnsporta-
tion after $3.50 o'clock.
r. A. Maher. jr. assistant general
manager Of tho Third Avenue system,
declared yesterday he considered that
the end of the trolley strike was in
sight.
Mahcr Sees Strike End.
"Our mon ave coniro hack i'm small
groups each day" Mr.. Maher said. 81
think their return is an indication of
the fact that the strike is practically
over, and they all will be back within a
few days"
Since the beginning of the strike
Maher has kept a chart showing the
state Of the service on the Third Ave
nue. system each day. Basing the chart
on the time, number Of cars and num-
Der Of men on each days schedule, and
reckoning the standard FIR each day
under normal conditions as 100 per
cent, the service for September 10 was
only - per cent OF what il should be.
From that date, however, TIE curve of
the chart steadily rises, with very
slight drop for Sundays and holidays,
until yesterday, when it reached so per
cent.
Policemen on duty in The Bronx said
yesterday the day service on many
lines was as good, If not better,
than IL had been before the strike.
Cars running on ffteen-minute head
way now ran on five and ten minute
headway The only difficulty in trans
portatlon was the calling in Of the cars
a. $3.50 o'clock, they said, necessitating
the use Of jitneys and trucks to trans
port people TO their homes.
The Elmhurst Taxpayers Association
and other organizations Of Queens in
tend to demand night service from the
Now York e. Queens County Electric
Railway. Since the strike spread to
that road a week ago no cars have left
the greensboro Bridge after $50 at
night
Instead of going home by trolley,
workers who do not reach Queens be-
fore that hour have been compelled to
patronize a makeshift motor bus SER
vice. whose minimum charge is %
cents. These vehicles flock at the
greensboro Bridge, the Steinway tubes
and the Thirty Street ferry, but
their passengers are finding the sus-
tanned Increase in cariare more than
they care to pay.
William o. Wood, president of the
company, declares that while police
protection has been adequate during
daylight hours, Queens trolley routes
traverse remote parts of the borough,
offering temptations 10 dynamiters at
night. Also. he thinks that his present
force is ovcrworked enough As n is