New-York tribune., 1919-01-20
Whitney Defends
Subway Shuttle
As Aid to Public
Forty-second Street Line
Works Smoothly as Peo-
pie Learn How to Use 1t,
Asserts the Commissioner

The Forty secomd Street subway
shuttle, once the cause of riots and
panics, is now a smoothly running
service, amply able to take care of all
who use it, Travis II. Whitney, acting
chairman of the Public Service Com
mission, declared yesterday.
Commissioner Whitney's defence Of
announcement of the Thirty fourth
Street Board of Trade that Milo r.
Maltbie, former Public Service Com
missioner had been retained to inves-
tigate the crosstown system and to
suggest remedy for it. The an
nouncement states the shuttle is still
congested.
Under the present system it is i'm
possible to run trains in the zig-zag
fashion," said Commissioner Whitney.
'The shuttle was therefore absolutely
necessary. But we had TO educate the
ravelling public to use the north and
south lines as much as possible, to
void congestion on the shuttle.
Carries $4,000 Day
"That people are doing this is shown
by the fact that $4,000 passengers a
day are carried on the shuttle out of
100000 who use the Interborough
every twenty-four hours. Trains are
run over the shuttle az great fre
quency and there are always enough
of them to accommodate those desir-
ing to get from Grand Central to
Times Square"
Vivian Green, president of the
Thirty-fourth Street Board of Trade,
in announcing Mr.. Maltbie's retention
as special Investigator, said the lat
ter's report and recommendations
would be made public at mass meet
ing to be held at the Hotel McAlpin
in few days. Public officials, property
owners and representatives. of large
hotels, department stores and other
businesses have been invited to attend
The launching of a militant campaign
for radical changes in the transit sys-
tenn is promised.
Gently put into effect in the subway
system Mr.. Green said:
'"There is nothing more important to
the members of the Thirty fourth
Street Board of Trade and the business
men of the district than consideration
of transportation problems and start
ing movement to obtain needed i'm
provements. We retained Mr.. Maltbie
TO get his professional opinion as to
what improvements are desired and as
& result of his report programme
will be developed and immediate action
taken to secure that which is required.
We have been trying to obtain con-
structve criticism. Mere complaints,
without proper suggestion for rem
edy, will avail us nothing.
Experts Differ on Shuttle
"The radical change that has taken
place in subway transportation from
the Z' system to the H system
naturally has caused a great deal of
adverse comment, but it must not be
overlooked that several public service
commissioners, after great delibera-
ton, determined the principle Of direct
north and south bound rapid transit
serves all New York best. The news
papers, ever champions of the people,
have given some publicity to the con-
fusion that has resulted in the present
use of the Forty second Street shuttle
and the Times Square and Grand Cen
trail stations.
rThe authorities and the transpor-
tation companies are desirous of help
ing, if feasible suggestions are made
primarily rene mbering that public i'm
provements must be conducted for the
city at large and on the basis of the
greatest good for the greatest number
served"
Members of the committee on trans
portaton of the Thirtyfourth Street
Board of Trade are Harris A. Dunn
chairman; Leslie Graft, Patrick L.
Ryan Max Fertig, Mr.. Green and +.
W. Eates, secretary.