The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-22
SERVICE Is NORMAL
FOR THE SUBWAY.
Little Jamming at Rush Hour
at Grand Central and
Times Square.
TRAINS MORE FREQUENT
Receipts of "H" Continue Less
Than on the Former One
Legged System.

The Commissioning H subway system,
which began noticeably to perk UP Tues
day evening after two weeks OF con-
fusion. congestion and GUESSING. not only
went through yesterday without a re-
lapse but showed positive signs Of inn
provement
Taking the evening rush hour as the
test and Grand Central and Times
Square as barometers conditions last
night had about returned to what, for
the subway. is normal. Local service nj
both stations was sketchy, but express
trains passing each point at an average
rate Of one every three minutes kept
tho platforms comparatively clear. even
at the peak of travel between $40 and
9 30 p. NJ.
Evidences OF the handicap under
which the marlborough Is laboring for
lack of men were numerous. Broadway
expresses on which the overlooking
was greatest, carried only eight cars to
the train instead of ten. One OF these
trains had as a substitute guard
woman elevator operator who had been
drafted from her ups and downs at the
l6Sth street station.
Dark Cars in Two Trains.
Then in two northbound locals on the
Seventh avenue line the front cars
were dark and empty when they passed
through Times Square. 1t had been Inn
possible to find full crews. II was ex-
planned, and there hadn't been time to
cut out the superfiuous cars.
Only one big gap in the schedule was
observed at the Times Square station.
From 6 ri to 6:32 no expresses pulled
in, but since only one local arrived dur
ing that period. and the load 1t left on
the platform was small. no inconven-
fence resulted save as to time.
A great part of the overlooking here
was due partly to the unfortunate ar
rangement OF the station and partly to
the public tendency to be thrifty of
stops. Probably 80 per cent. of north
bound passengers originating at Times
Square in the evening use the Forty-sec-
end street entrance. the stairs or which
end just where the front cars Of locals
and expresses stop. As result the
front cars were uniformly jammed on
seats amidships
At Grand Central there were several
five minute gaps in the express SER
vice, but these were atoned for by the
surprising number Of trains that ran
through under two minute headway.
Guards on the Lexington avenue line In
many instances were conspicuously
green and caused more or less delay by
their experiments with the door levers.
An absentminded one gave the starting
signal after closing only the end doors.
and an express toward whose operation
he was doing his modest bit started out
Of Grand Central with the side door Of
the fifth car wide open. Had II not be en-
fnr nj ta o1 NC
with the train and finally managed TO
drag the door shut serious accident
might easily have resulted.
Check EHpressss and Locals.
Representatives OF the Public Service
Commission checked the rush hour
schedules on expresses at Grand Central
and Times Square and on locals al the
Ssxsy-sixth and SiNty-eighth street sta
lions. In addition the commission had
man at Bowling Green tabulating the
Brooklyn service, concerning which
strenuous objections had been made 10
General Manager Hedley by Commits
sioner F. J. ii. Kracke.
After II had been reported to him
that "disgracefur' service in the morn
ing rush period had caused a general
''roughhouse" at the Hoyt street. Nevins
STeSt ana borough ftall stations the
Commissioner reached Mr.. Hedley on
the telephone and told him there must
be no further delay in restoring the old
under river schedule of thirty trains an
hour at travel peaks. Hedley's expla-
nation was that the signals had fallen
down gain.
From reports of subway ticket sales
which the Public Service Commission is
sued II appears that a great many New
Workers have SO little trust in the H
system that they have found ways above
ground OF getting to and from their
places OF employment. The gross traffic
OF the H" has been materially less. It
is shown. than the old one legged sub
way carried. But the slump. on the other
hand. was biggest in the first week. I'M
der new conditions. and custom has
been returning in larger numbers each
succeeding week Whereas l,096,75i
tickets were sold Monday. July 20. only
l.06O.4l9 were sold last Monday, which
leaves the H" still shy more than $4,000
regular patrons.