New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-08
Jitneys' Harvest Ends
Steamboat Lines Miss
Chances.
BIG SUMS SPENT
ON PREPAREDNESS
Cot Famine Caused-TrOlley
Company Expended
$4,000.

The agreement reached last evening
between the New York Railways Com
pany and the striking car men renders
useless all Of the elaborate prepare
tions to meet the strike made by
various firms throughout the city.
THOUSANDS of dollars had already been
expended by the railway company in
it's plans to fight tho strike. and many
business houses had paid out large
amounts in options TO motor trans
portation companies, retained to carry
employees in case ali cars stopped run
ming.
Other plan, that are upset by the
end OF the strike are those of 800
jitney drivers who, last week, were
granted licenses to operate in the city.
Machines had been imported from
Newark and Philadelphia, and regular
schedules had been arranged for them.
The Iron Steamboat Company had an
nounced that it would operate a special
service between West 10th Street and
the Battery, and the Police Depart
ment had arranged for parking places
for privately owned automobiles In the
business district.
Many firms had arranged to quarter
their employees at hotels near their
establishments.
Taxi Harvest Spoiled.
Taxi drivers were counting on the
high rates they would receive when a
tie-up of cars put their services at
premium and companies operating
sightseeing cars were figuring up the
profits they would receive from firms
that had offered to pay them s75 and
500 a day for the use of their ma.
chimes.
The greatest preparation and the
largest expenditure was made by the
New York Railways Company. Deter
mined TO take care of the men who re-
NAMED in its employ. the company
purchased 1900 cots. each fitted with
blankets and pillows. and thirty-fve
complete kitchen outfits, for which 1t
engaged the services of 100 cooks and
walters. The cots, bought at an aver
age price of SO each, bring that one
item alone up to $4,000, while the pill
lows and blankets raise it close to
$4,000.
In arranging a system of dormito-
ries for its car barns, power houses and
solicitations, the railway company work
ed with a speed which is in decided
contrast to the assembling of the sup
plies for the New York National Guard
during the recent mobilization.
Supplies Quickly Gotten.
At Ais last Friday afternoon an or
der was issued from the Office of the
president of the concern for the pur-
chase Of 1000 cots and fittings. By
midnight Friday this equipment had
been bought in a general canvass OF
the city's department and furniture
stores, carried in the company's trucks
to the various barns and installed.
BY 4 o'clock thirty-five kitchens were
serving breakfast TO as many men as
applied and were and were prepared to
serve hot meals continuously. On Fri
day night few of the company's OPP
orators slept in the newly established
dormitories, and on Saturday and sun
day nights the sleeping quarters were
taxed to their capacity.
Sunday it was found necessary TO
purchase 1000 additional cots. AS the
department stores were closed, a fif-
teen-ton truck was sent to the East
Side, and every available cot was
bought and loaded on the machine.
Dealers Fears Gained.
10 CAIN the Itdis VI WIZ
felt that they might draw trouble upon
themselves by aiding the fight against
the strike in selling TO the Railways
Company, the purchasing agents armed
themselves with an Introductory note
from Captain John f. Sweeny, of the
Fifth Street Police Station. All of the
dealers were given orders payable at
the company's Offices yesterday, with
the exception of one man, who insisted
he could not grant credit to anyone
and was paid in cash.
The wholesale purchase Of cots re-
suited in a scarcity of them in all parts
of the city. Yesterday It was a most
impossible to buy a cot in any II she
large furniture and department stcrsJ.
All of the food used in the hastily
set-up kitchens was furnished by the
stores of the Railways Company's en-
ployes. Each kitchen outfit was COM
plete in every detail and included
large range, cuffee urns, cooking
utensils, dishes, cutlery and all the
equipment of the average restaurant.
Just what the cost of installing the
thirty-fve kitchens was, has not been
estimated, but it is probable that the
Railways Company spent at least S25,-
00O nrena airing for the strike