New-York tribune., 1918-08-02
Shonts Says Traffic Conges-
ton in New York City Ten
Years Hence Will Be
Worse Than Now, Despite
All the New Improve
ments and Facilities in Use
Continued from page /

din of the hosts of inquirers. Their
efforts were in large measure unavail-
ing and hundreds merely roamed about
the station in search of some kind of
train. Many gave it up and returned
to the street-when they could find
the way out.
People who wanted to go to the up
per East Side and The Bronx could not
be made to understand that they
should take a shuttle train to the new
Lexington Avenue station. and some Of
them found themselves at Brooklyn
Bridge or other southern points on the
cid subway before they discovered
their mistake. The reverse situation ex-
listed with many who desired to go up
town on the West Side. but could not
solve the riddle Of the shuttle service
at Times Square.
Transit officials expect good deal of
confusion for a few days until passen-
gers grasp the significance of the new
routes and learn that change from
the upper East Side or the upper West
Side line, to reach extreme points on
either side of the city downtown, means
a transfer at the new Grand Central di-
agonal stations and the use of the shut
tie service.
The confusion may be more serious
to-day and tomorrow when the rush
hour crowds start for work, but Inter
borough officials said last night they
expected to clear up the situation in
day two when the through express
service on both new lines will be in
complete operation.
Shonts's Gloomy Forecast
While the scramble was going on at
Times Square President Shonts of the
Interborough, speaking at the Astor
Hotel, predicted that transit conges-
tion would be worse ten years hence
than it is now. despite the completion
Of the new subways. Although it was
the biggest moment in the history of
New York transportation, Mr.. Shonts
said, the increase and concentration of
population in the city during the next
ten years would mean a return Of con-
ditions on the transit lines worse than
they are now,
cars" said Mr.. Shonts, "is due to
causes quite beyond the control of
transit corporations. 1t is due to the
growing concentration of people in
great cities"
The Interborough president also
made plea for increased fares on the
transit lines. He followed Oscar 8.
Straus, former chairman of the Public
Service Commission, who said the ques-
tion Of six-cent fares was bound to
come up for serious consideration soon,
and that the city officials and members
Of the Public Service Commission
should have the courage to grant the
increase, provided the condition of the
companies warranted it, even though 1t
were not popular move politically:
"The public official. be he President
who has not the courage to act in an
emergency in the face Of political dis
approval is not fit to hold Office
Hylan as Motorman
Mayor Hylan, accompanied by other
city officials; the Public Service Com.
missioners, Interborough officials, sub
way engineers and large party Of
distinguished guests. made the frs
trip on the new lines which marked
the opening of the "H" section. The
special train of ten cars left the diago
nal station at Grand Central at 8:45
p. m. 1t ran down through the ole
subway, made the loop at the Battery
and then passed up the new Seventh
Avenue line to Forty second Street
Headed by the subway band, the Off
cial party marched from there to the
Astor Hotel.
Mayor Hylan acted as motorman o.
the new train. Chairman Charles Bulk
ley Hubbell of the Public Service Com
mission said afterward that il th'
Mayor managed and operated the vari
Gus activities of the city government a.
we'll as he operated the train ther,
could be no complaint from the citi
zens Although the Mayor never was
motorman he at one time piioted
locomotive on the old B. r. 7. elevated
lines, and that experience may hav'
helped him last night.
Before starting the train the Mayor
pushed a signal button at the station
which notified every other station OF
the new lines that the al" section was
in operation. Aashlight was ther
taken of the Mayor standing at the
signal board with President Shonts
Chairman Hubbell and Frank Hedley
general manager of the lnterborough
Chief Engineer Daniel L. Turner, o.
the Public Service Commission, ant
Chief Engineer George II. .Pegram. o.
the Interborough, q few minutes before
had walked down the track to the poin
Of actual connection between the ole
and new lines and driven the last spike
which linked them together.
Speakers at Exercises
The official party reached the Asto
Hotel ct about 9:30, little behind tn
scheduled time. The speakers included
Chairman Hubbcll, who presided
Mayor Hylan, Mr.. Straus, Mr.. Shonts
Alfred f. Mariing, president Of tn
Chamber III Commerce. George Nc
Ancny, former president Of the Boar
Of Aldermen; William 4. Wilcox, for
mer chairman Of the Public Servic
Commission, and Adolph $. Ochs.
After paying Il high tribute to tn
;rgcnuity and work Of Mr.. Hedley 70
ritz pert in making the new subwa,
sYs.4rn possible, Chairman Hubbel
3;roduced Mayor Hylan, who sat o,
NJ Platform beside President Shonts
The mayor said that he had neve
Hsicipated the pleasure Of enjoying {
ride on subway and sitting be
dc tresident Shonts all in the sam,
evenlng. lie said the bands and thu
saeer.ng crowd at the Astor made hin
.hink for moment that he was bacI
in the city campaign Of last fall. Wher
ne reached the platform, however, ant
saw CommiasIoners Kraekc and Whit
nxv thsre no reaifZ6d that il waa M