The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-02
Hylan and Straus Converse
Genially in First Car Of
First Train.
MANY OFFICIALS ATTEND
New Lines Bring Total Of
Trackage in Use Of Dual
System to 200 Miles.

and wall streets, was offlcially declared
open for business at 2 O'Clock yesterday
afternoon.
oscar S. Straus. chairman OF the
Public Service Commission: Frank He'd
ley. vice-president and general manager
of the Interboroush Rapid Transit Com-
pany. and Mayor Hylan. with about 200
others, made the first trip over the new
line in a special train just before the
route was opened to the public Alfred
Craven. formerly chief engineer OF the
Public Service Commission, and who
had much to do with designing the road,
was at the throttle ana operated the
train carrying the ofiiclals on the initial
trip. The train left the Chambers
street station at 2:2o. and went to
Times Square and back to the Battery,
around the loop and back to Chambers
street.
Mayor Hylan stood at the front Of the
on one side and Chairman Straus on
the other and appeared to enjoy himself
This, Mr.. Mayor" said Chairman
Straus, is a demonstration OF what can
be accomplished by cooperation between
the Mayor and the Public Service Com
mission
Yes, yes" responded Mayor Hylan.
Hylan-P. >. c. Harmony.
On the down trip the Mayor sat chat
ting with Chairman Straus and Com
Charles Buckley Hubbell, and
the apparent good fellowship caused
other passengers in the car to remark
that an era of better understanding be-
tween tire Mayor and the members OF
the Public Service Commission had be-
gun. Commissioner Travis H. Whitney
he does come from Brooklyn
did not join in the conversation.
When the trip was over Mayor Hylan
gave further evidence OF his satisfa ction
with the marlborough officials and the
way they operate their trains. On the
return to Chambers street Mr.. Hedley
escorted the Mayor to the train des-
patchers box, situated in the Chambers
street station, and showed him the cleo.
trical device by which the dispatcher
knows at all times where every train on
the section is. and explained how he
controls them
This is here for convenience" ex-
planned Mr.. Hedley. But II doesn't
matter where Il Is situated. II might
for that matter be put in the Mayors
office and might probably be operated
better there than here"
This brought laugh from his Honor
who replied:
II think I am better satisfied to have
it here"
The placing OF these portions OF the
new lines in operation will give total
track mileage in service OF 200 out OF
the $50 track miles included in new
lines OF the dual system. or about three
hfths OF the total, Within a few weeks
now the remainder OF the III" lines. OF
which the Seventh avenue subway is a
part, VIII go into service, making a
total mileage of all dual system lines in
operation in Manhattan, The Bronx,
Brooklyn and Queens % $50 miles. with
the Seventh avenue line and other parts
OF the III now In operation included the
H syetem will have a total track mile.
age OF ffty-seven miles.
Rapid Transit Celebration.
Operation OF the new subway yester-
day was coincident with the celebra ton
of the fiftiett anniversary of rapid tran.
sit in New York city II was just ffty
years ago yesterday that Charles T
Harvey operated the first elevated rail-
road. II was cable operated and ran
along Greenwich street Just above a
portion OF the underground that opened
Yesterday
There were no formalities at yester:
days opening, that being reserved FOR
the time when the new Lexington ave,
nue. line VIII open, about tire first Of next
month. thus completing the "H'' system
o. underground transportation Mayor
Hylan, with officials of the Interborough
and the Puolic Service Commission. how.
ever, posed for photographs at the start
ana again when tie train completed Its
first trip north to Times Square. A,
Times Square the Mayor posed, hanging
on TO a strap. and remarked that the
incident reminded Fin of the b. r. 7.
Theodore p. Shonts. president o, the
marlborough, is out OF the city lie was
represented, however, by d. w. Ros:
and w. Leon Pepperman. vfce-pres
dents: Horace NJ. Fisher, secretary, and
j. II. Campbell, treasurer OF the com.
pany. Others on TIE train were II. II
Vreeland. welfare director for the In.
terborough Henry Proctor Waugh, ], 6
Doyle. superintendent of construction
A. l." Merritt superintendent OF the sub
ways s. ID. Smith. superintendent of the
elevated lines r. A. Delaney. suporin.
tendent OF transportation OF the New
York Railways Company; w s. Finlay
superintendent OF motive power; u I.
Turner, chief engineer of the Public Ser,
vice Commission; Robert Ridgway. engi
neer on subway construction of the Pub
lie Service Commission: James Blain,
Walker. secretary, and Frank y. Robin
son, assistant secretary Of the Publ,
Service Commission W. ]. York, static,
INSPECTOR of tie Interborough William
McCarroll, former Public Service Com
missioner II, j. Beakey. chief OF tho
Interborough's secret service Thoma,
d. HoSsey. chief of the bureau OF ga.
and electricity OF the Public Serylc,
Commission Nelson p Lewis. chief en-
gineer OF the Board or Estimate: Grove,
A. Whalen, secretary &c Mayor Hylan.
Quick Running Time.
The running time from Chamber,
street to Times Square was lust seven
teen minutes. WI ich represents abou
what the running time will be when tn.
express service between the same tw,
points is inaugurated On the north
bound trip there was a stop Of few
minutes at Houston street. where a sto,
signal flashed There was no apparen
reason for it. and the trip was continued
will out incident.
At the completion Of the trip Mr.. He'd
ley gave out a statement in which h,
said
I'm these times it is pretty difficult I,
get workmen to complete this construc
ton work. both on the part of the city
the contractors and ourselves. And /
il also difficult for us to get people 70
the operating department.
Considering all these difficulties I
makes II all tie more necessary for botl