Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-09

>I - wrath. m
- .s twsnty s.,s ps'shborhood' scattered
s ~ 49, lkis wrath IL opened and the vic
-. start TO cuss
~ mildly militant jingle is offered
~ = to1tins lullaby to all fond parents.
o<tunnts parents. who must use the
@(ofh street cross-town line. An
V,rnNo PUBLIC LEDGER reporter OBJ
A>nsd transfer for this line at sixtieth
- Market streets. iaborins under the
1Ergspion that the transfer possessed
pertain potential value.
n WAS $3.50 in the afternoon when
~ reporter left an elevated train
ana descended the steps with his trans
~ rhe rush hour was on. and ele-
vutod trains were arriving at one min
oto ana . half intervals. scores OF pas
oengsrs altghting at Sixtieth street from
oach train. Hundreds were receiving
strdnsfers and hurrying to the street to
oompiete their journey home.
8tanding on the wind-swept corners
below were hundreds of belated passen-
Gors shivering In the cold. waiting their
chance to use these transfers and reach
their fresides. The reporter joined the
fhrong. Many who had only mile or
less to 20 and who were deeper In
Z GIxtieth street lore than he scanned tho
hosisun for moment and walked their
weary way.
INADEQUATE SERVICE
In about twenty minute a car loomed
up ana stopped at Ma a-,,.t street The
crowd surged toward T.. Now. trolley
< built to carry not more than ninety pas
: senGers uncomfortably finds itself In n
very embarrassing predicament when
several hundred wish to board II at
the Blme time. 1t was discouraging
business, but the reporter managed 10
get aboard the third car which !Imped
up. exactly thirty-five minutes after
alighting from the elevated train.
Once aboard. he asked fellow suf-
ferer who had successfully fought his
way to standing space on the same car.
whether this was an unusual condition
u Affairs.
"Cnusuai." replied the man, with a
look Of mingled surprise and resigna-
tfon. you evidently are a stranger in
this neighborhood. This is what ! have
10 contend with twice day. and 1t
does seem that something must be dcnc
to relieve the situation"
These are wartimes, and we ara
having very extreme weather." sug-
gssted the reporter.
That Is all very well. but a we'll
managed public service corporation
should be able to meet unusual condi-
ions." answered this obviously inteili-
1ent American working man, "and IL
they cannot rise to the occasion, they
should ask for the proper cooperation
from those who have the ability TO meet
such emergencies.
II read In the papers that the Phila-
delphta Rapid Transit Company is short
OF men to man its cars on account OF
sickness. No wonder the men are sick
The cars are not heated, and the doors
vent close properly. No wonder the
-sssen break down. You would be sick.
+ 100. u you had to work under such con
difious."
The reporter told this passenger that
TINS was the usual condition of the
cars and that II what he was experE
enc was fair sample of cross-t town
service he certainly must admit his
premise.
"Catharine street." called the con-
ductor. his teeth chattering, and the
reporter said ''good-by'' and better
luck and made his way to Sixty-second
street.
49, N<AD 4-s hoIiNlNNT
Before leaving to return to the heart
Of the city he was told by the owner
Of the house where he called, a most
reliable individual. that the service
which he had encountered was of the
same character In the morning when the
service was most important.
Il have walked to Market street every
morning for a week." he said. "I have
70 De downtown to business by s o'clock.
and OF late have given up depending
on the surface cars. ! can make better
time on foot"
Returntng TO the corner of Sixtietb
and Catharine the reporter waited more
than twenty minutes for a car to return
20 Market street. Then four came i'm
4 = group and he boarded the first. II
Vas unheated and sadly In need of re-
pairs. As 1t limped along (the word IL
uscd advisedly) he again engaged a
oaily rider In conversation.
Conditions on this line are abom-
snepie," echoed this passenger. Here
= one OF the greatest feeding lines in
ne city and one which Is called u,,on
20 serve an enormous number OF peonle
ana yet they keep on these old yellow
carn. and not half enough of those TO
0eet the traffic Requirement.
\ me conductors and motormer admit
4 inst the company has not enough cars
S@o ny tnat they cannot get mechanics
s - keep them In shape, as the wages thev
pey arc 20 far below what the noores,
rnechanic can get at other work. Ever
the cars that they do keep running on
fne line don't always stop for you when
you signal. and you have to wait In. the
. e0id Tor several more minutes"
"Something like the train that Alex.
ander waited for In McIntire and Heath',
( Hketcl.. the Ham Tree" interjected the
reporter. ut not only didn't stop: n
. never even hesitased."
NOT MUCH HUMoR IN 1T
"a Il suppose you can get humor out
; - elmost everything. but tell yo,
11kly you would see no humor In 1,
Iou had to use this line every day
81 91ro = little mirth to be had standins
q@id porners waiting for cars which
~ co1ne, and which 4 they do com,
~ cc16or inside than all out-of-doors.
t IN . newspaper man." modestl,
loNtacred tho reporter. Perhaps 4
1{ eetting forth In q plain statement
5M 0cts just what have seen ant
11f4 today would do some good"
~ hope 70. and I think every man
W1non and child that uses this line be
fpon Woodland avenue and Oyerbrool
~ ~ Hrateful for your effort"
Au1 - the reporter has written 9
- oentement OF facts.
1ksting Club 70 Dine
&1nmol Ainnor of the Philadelnhia