The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-16
PILOT HYLAN PUTS
SCARS IN HOSPITAL
Running Of Subway Train
Used to Emphasize Flat
Wheel Epidemic.
T. R. T. SHORT OF HELP
Vedley Lays Imperfect Opera
tion to Lack Of Men---Urges
Higher Wages.

MAYOR Hylan reputdtioH 40 'he '"s"
"a, ,riced motorman who ever drove a
train In the subway was JUSTIFIED yes
...d,v under oath when Frank Hedley
,.,,,asd that after the Mayor piloted
A.. arst train over the H system on the
,,rbt OF August 1t was found neces-
cav 10 remove eight Of the cars to the
marlborough base hospital and have
,ssm treated for fiat wheels.
20 don't say" said Mr.. Hedley. that
ri. Honor is not a good motorman.
consider him an excellent motorman.
or,v know Of one or two in the Inter-
,oroush service who are his superiors
a. notormen. But I mention the incl
don, as showing so far as II goes. how
many things have initiated against the
smooth running of the new system dur
inc the two weeks IL has been in opera
ton"
oral manager of the marlborough sys-
,sm was a witness before the Public
serrice Commission at a hearing called
ont Of Difference to the many complaints
~ bad service filed with the commission
since the, opening of the East and West
Side subway lines 1t Is the plan to in
ouire into every phase Of subway opera,
zion with the hope of improving the SER
vice Mr.. Hedley was the only witness
and will appear again before the COM
mission at ite next discussion OF SUBJ
ways Thursday
shortage OF Trainmen.
He explained that the present imper-
feet operation of the lines Is due to
shortage Of trainmen, defects in newly
installed signal systems-whch will dis
appear with time and usage-new
tracks. new car wheels and rev station
arrangements and the unfamiliarity of
the public with subway routes. He ad-
mitted that the service as operated at
present is far short OF the requiropents
OF traffic but insisted that within the
two weeks the East and West Side lines
have been running there has been steady
improvement from day to day.
1t was upon the score of new rails
and car wheels that he discussed Mr.
Hylan's qualifications as a motorman.
Starting and stopping a ten car train
Is a matter which may not be intrusted
20 every man. 1t takes experience. good
Judgment and nice hands Every rail-
road man knows that new wheels do not
take the hold on new tracks that old
wheels take on old tracks, and even SO
good a motorman as Mayor Hylan
should not be censured II he fiattens a
few wheels under these conditions. AS a
matter OF fact. we had to send eight Of
his cars TO the barn after the Mayor
ran his train on the opening night. This
was in part due to the delicacy Of the
electro-pneumatic brakes with which all
marlborough cars are fitted. The Inter
borough was the first great railway sys-
in IA
How many cars are actually avail
able now for subway operationy' asked
Commissioner Travis II. Whitney, who
was presiding.
About 800. There are always about
200 out OF our total Of 500 In the repair
shops. A word here as to our signal
system. Most great railway systems
have their block signals installed 5000
feet apart. On the subway eighty feet is
the rule. The marlborough is the only
great railway system in the world"
why do these signals get out of
order?"
Humidity Affects Signals,
Principally because OF the humid con-
ditons in the tubes and the fact that
our electricians must work in cramped
conditions and while trains are running
every few minutes. Then the wires are
mostly in conduits. unlike the overhead
ana open wires of other great railway
systems. But with the trains running
every few minutes
How far apart have express trains
been running within the last two weeks %
To this Mr.. Hedley replied that he had
not all the figures In mind and memory.
but approximately, and in the rush hours,
trains in the downtown services are run
nd vv,{r - Z.
81 points farthest north at four and five
minutes. Mr. Hedley admitted that after
O'Clock at night most subway expresses
were SIX miputes apart, and that towar I'd
Midnight they had been more often seven
minutes apart than six. From midnight
on ABOUT six expresses to the hour was
the rule, and after / A. NJ. they were
taken off
Nevertheless. Mr.. Hedley declared, the
system was not short of cars. Nor of
notormen. OF whom less than ten. had
ett the company's service within the
year But of ordinary trainmen at least
sVV were needed to operate the subways
properly. Within two weeks 2Q5 had
isft summarily and their places had
been taken by women.
Bigger Salaries Needed.
Mr.. Whitney wanted to know how
mueh the men had been paid. Mr..
medley lost no time with his answer:
tell you frankly, Mr.. Commissioner.
mat We have got to pay more money
10 our men. committee is now wait
.ng ior me at my office 10 talk over
.lls situation, and when ! hear their
uemands | will come back to this Pub
NC service Commission. We cannot
say tnese men any increases out of the
earnings OF tho subway. The city and
%ApaEers Will have to pay the bills.
we are now selling seven cents worth
transportation for five cents. Our
.ien need more money and are entitled
u Our company has lived up TO
VERY engagement 1t ever made with
me city There is no great railway
system in the world which has had to
contend with SUCH"
Inc suggestion which has been made,
mat through trains instead OF shuttle
rams be run over the tracks under
Irorty-second street. was met by Mr..
neoiey yesterday with the statement that
he situation at Grand Central and Times
Square was only part of the great
handicap suffered by the Ir. erborough
through lack Of yard and terminal facil-
,ues He explained that as the tracks
we're now arranged shuttle service
through Forty-second street was all that
.ouia possibly be accomplished and that
ne old not believe the most capable en-
salheers could clear the way for q
through service. The subject will be
discussed more fully at later hearings.
senator Levvfa Vtssts p.~sAs-.