The sun., 1918-08-14
SUBWAYS CRIPPLED
BY LACK OF MEN
Schedule Of 81 Express Trains
an Hour May Be ImpOs-
siblc During War.
MUNITION SCOUTS BUSY
Intcrborough Employees Are
Lured Into War Industries
by Increased Pay.

When the II system Of East and West
Side subwsys was opened 1t was an
nounced by the marlborough that an
express train schedule Of nfty-four to
the hour would be installed Immediately
and maintained. Previously not more
than thirty-four express trains to the
hour were possible.
1t was admitted by marlborough of
ficials and members OF the Public Ser
vice Commission yesterday, that the
fifty-four train schedule Is not In effect
and that the difficulties Of operating the
subway are increasing daily after two
weeks OF experimenting. Lack Of suffi-
cient cars Is a factor and SO is the un-
familiarity Of employees with all the In
trica cies Of the new system. But the
main difficulty Is lack OF trainmen and
those responsible see no relief before
the end OF the war.
Passengers complained at the Office Of
the Public Service Commission yester-
Cay Of the slow service. One man said
he had been an hour trying to get from
Grand Central station to Brooklyn. An
other said he had missed train at
Pennsylvania station because II had
taken him forty minutes in a subway
train from Wall and William streets. A
woman had been twenty minutes in a
train between Brooklyn Bridge and
Wall street.
six Minutes Between Trains.
II was conceded yesterday that ex-
press trains on the West Side line had
been elk minutes apart at one period OF
IaN - 1T 49,
six minutes had elapsed between trains
from Bowling Green to Brooklyn. 1t was
said. however. that ticket receipts show
many moro passengers carried over the
two lines than II was ever possible TO ac-
commodate on the old single subway
Mr.. Whitney declared that heavy
drafts had been made upon the ranks
OF subway employees by solicitors for
murition factories
"A subway trainman,' he said. can
not be trained between two days. This
is especially true OF motormen. who
must be picked men. But even with
ordinary trainmen great care in selec-
ton and training is necessary. and the
war industries scouts know this. They
know every subway employee has been
investigated carefully before he is put
TO work. and that subway men can be
set at work right away without investi-
CATION.
so for more than year they have
infested the subways and tempted train
men. Hundreds have succumbed and
one can hardly blame them. Then the
trainman who goes to munition fac
tory or shipyard comes back and shows
his pay envelope to his old associates
and the subway loses more men. l do
not see where sufficient men are COM
ing from
Ever since the shuttle system be-
tween Grand Central and Times Square
broke down and was withdrawn pending
alterations. the Public Service Commits
sioners and marlborough officials have
received letters suggesting that the shut
tie service be abolished altogether and
alternate through trains be sent eas ct and
west under Forty-second street. The sug
gestion has been constantly under OFFICIAL
discussion since the shuttle system broke
down. but has been disapproved by en-
sineers, who maintained that the four
tracks under Forty-secohd street could
not possibly bear the traffic.
To Reopen shuttle Service.
The shuttle service opened August
will be geopened for another trial as
soon as changes at terminal stations
are completed, which may be late next
week
1t was stated yesterday that an aver
age OF $4,000 fewer passengers a day
have bought tickets at Brooklyn Bridge
station since the new West Side subway
was opened. Monday $4,000 tickets were
sold at the Wall street station OF the
West Side subway.
Since the III" shuttle service was dis
continued passengers between the Eas,
and West Sides have transferred from
the one subway to the other by walking
the short distance between the Rector
and Wall street stations. When the
Forty-second street shuttle is reopened
this transfer arrangement will be con-
tnued temporarily and passengers urged