New-York tribune., 1919-11-30
When New York Travellers
Were Assured Car Seats
Railroads Assurance of 1872 Sounds Ludicrous To-
|: :;day; Motto, mo More Than Car Can Seat Could
/; Not Be Adhered To Through Cty's Development

:The continuous expulsion. the build.
ing up of and stretching out Of New
York City is not fully appreciated by
New Workers because thew are too
c!ose to the seething activity to get
the proper perspective Of what has
heen going on day in and day out for
many years. Folks in other parts of
the world marvel at.thc transforma-
t,on and wonder what is to be the end
q it.. 1t is only by striking com
= see, and appreciate also. the ex-
Ant Of the development Of their city.
Sln the September number Of the
IS orr Bulletin" issued by Spear & c..
il j-st such a comparison as will open
te eyes Of city 70 ks to the way their
cjty>has doomed in the last half cen
tFry,- Back in 1872, the New York
Elevated Railroad Company issued
circular. which in view Of present con-
6itions on the transit lines OF tNe
city sound ludicrous, unbelievable.
TIE circular assures seats 10 all
patrons of the road, announcing in
bold headlines that:
"We take no more than can be
seated" The circular follows:
"We run four unique. elegantly fur
nishea cars, made expressly for our
road, capable of seating forty-four
passengers each. and We take no more
than can be seated. We carry about
1900 daily"
The circular reads like a fairy tale,
says the "Srear Blu tin "
to those who daily count themselves
FORTUNATE if they can find so much as
standing room in the elevated. sur
face cars, subways or tubes. that carry
h>~ haiv lob ,r Mo hot
to the extremes Of The Bronx, Brook
lyn or New Jersey.
Had Transit Problems
"And we chuckle," says the writer,
"as We read further in tho circular the
belief Of the railroad company's Of
fcials that, we are developing what
will solve the problem of quick transit
and relieve our crowded streets and
Sidewalks
1--WE believe now that the improved
transportation facilities mean growth,
and growth brings again more peo-
pie to congest city's streets and con-
veyanees.'
"Ta New York belongs the distinction
Of th< first street railroad. This Inc,
which was completed in 1898, extended
from Prince Street. then the northern
most boundary of the city to the
partments with doors on the sides,
much like the English railway coaches.
They. were balanced on leather straps
or springs.
"a short time later lines were estab-
iishtd first on Second Avenae, and
tten n the other avenues. The opera
ton OF these cars proved so succe ssfu.
tha. Europe followed the example OF
y York thirty years after the es-
"a lishmcnt Of the first line IN TINS
CO.. try ,.,, ,,o roor Of
.h. Wv York cars running TO the roof,
.-i.t-.. as the boys Of the East Side
w ISL. IN. in riding on the back of
,s storage battery cars 50 The young
cory .f chat 2 neral. n found II ~ ."t
s.irro the ladders. taking care
~rs Cd keep oat Of range Of the
ri,.- whip
.r.a SNth Avenue every sixth car
.-, siyn. "Co'ored Persons ~
.w.t .n his Car" The cars on TINS
.ine we're drawn bv mules
Coaches in Winter
.ln winter the coaches on Broad
.. were rep aced by tour-horse
al Is which ran 20 northern ais,tic.s
nd which made what is now Ihirty-
.hird stree. a way station. TIE con
d'ct.r walled about on little pat
r-rro 70 co ect mis- fares The bottom
Z heso slcishs was covered WIN
.t.aw 10 keep the passengers lee'
warm s .ho
"Thc Dry Dock stages ran from 'ne
Grand Street ferry to the boweIy
thence 10 .he Battery and also atohs
Ca Street. The driver or ihese
sta,cs vino was also the conductor
bSf = leather strap fastened - ms
FOO. which ihc passengers 'ugged WIS"
they wished to at,ract ms a'teA.ion
He aept a close account OF MS pASseth
GERS AMI if any failed to pass IN.
none to him through the opening ~
froat he would pound on the wihooN
unit the guilty ones iare was io' VII
coming. ovorcrowded d
.Ss,'et conveyances were "VercroWueu
"Tbe speed Of these street convey
arces would hardly meet the requlre'
ments of New York to-day. A TWO
hours' run from Sixty-third sur 'se ~
Canal was considered quite remarkable
IN: winter after heavy snow. IL was
cIsar going on the down grade. IL was
when a hill was reached all masculine
%and. were invited out to push the car
According to contemporary Iepor.
-. ;nstallation Of registering devices
IN check up on the fares brough'
shout marked change In the char'
ortsr of the conductors operating or
Nov York street cars. BEFORE lne
dsvs of spoilers and 'dials II =
said that many thrifty conductors iaic
~ t;dv suus against the day OF tneii
"a, Whar this practice was dis