The New York herald., 1921-11-17
ASKS REIMBURSEMENT
OF WORKING HOURS
TOLESSEN CAR JAM
Transit Commission Will
Seek Cooperation of Large
Employers.
TRAFFIC'S BIG GROWTH
Passengers in City Double
in Is Years; Increase
1920 Daily.
COST TO CARRY ONE, 6.43C.
Only $4,000 Seats for $4,000
Persons at tho Peak Hour
on Roads.
COST TO CARRY ONE, 6.43C.

Two developments of paramount
public Importance came to the front
In yesterdays session of the Transit
Commissions hearing.
1t was revealed that passenger traf-
tic over all lines combined-subway,
surface and elevated-in this city
doubles every fifteen years, and that
OH each working day 4,200 passengers
now are being carried in excess of
those handled on the previous day.
With such an uninterrupted rate of
increase, and with present facilities
already overtaXed in the rush hours,
the imperative need of emergency
measures to alleviate conditions until
additional subway trunk lines can be
constructed, the commission regards
as OBVIOUS.
Solely as such an emergency meas
ure, it has under favorable considera-
ton an effort to enlist the cooperation
of large employing concerns in a
scheme to distribute the peak" of
rush hour traffic. morning and after
noon, by a readjustment Of working
hours. This expedient was success
fully tried out during the influenza
epidemic with the joint cooperation of
the Health Department and the city's
civic and mercantile organizations. 1t
was found that it materially relieved
the situation. Daniel F.. Turner, con-
sulting engineer to the commission.
has been in conference with merchants
and manufacturers on the subject,
with results which win be made known
later.
The other outstanding feature OF yes
terday's hearing was the seemingly con-
elusive demonstration from the sworn
reports of the transit companies of the
inadequacy of their present receipts to
meet even their operating costs, to say
nothing of taxes interest on outstand-
ing obligations. adequate maintenance
and other corporate necessities.
Years Passengers 2 Ia Billion.
When Mr. Turner was recalled as the
days first witness he showed that the
total traffic carried in 1920 on all city
lines was 1896, 100000. That figure, he
said, is an increase of about 2S5, ,00O, 900
over the number carried in 1919, and is
q bout double the volume of combined
traffic OH all the steam railroads in the
country. For an average month OF 1920
there were 100000 more passengers
carried than during the corresponding
month of the previous year. And every
tomorrow, the witness said, adds it's
additional burden of 4,200 to the burden
of to-day.
Clarence J. Shearn, the examiner.
elected the fact that it requires at least
five years TO build new trunk line
subway. Then he drew from the engi-
neer what the latter considered the best
temporary expedient to relieve subway
congestion.
Mr.. Turner described the rush hour
traffic as between z 80 and 80 in the
morning and 5 and z in the evening.
The maximum fifteen minute period In
each direction--the peak" of the load
he declared, showed $4,000 passengers
carried, whereas seats are provided for
only $4,000. This means, the engineer
said, that the over.oading on the sub
ways at such periods amounts to 100
per cent. In Manhattan the peak is
reached, he said, just before o'clock
and just before o'clock in the uptown
evening scramble.
II believe" said the witness. that
one of the most effective ways Of meet
ing the traffic growth In anticipation of
new facilities is to make an effort to
spread tho traffic peak. During these
rush hour periods 81 per cent. of the
total daily traffic is moving in one direc-
ton. and during the worst half hour of
the day--between 6 and 630--5.3 per
cent. of the total days trafflc Is moving
one way. During that trying half hour
the percentages figure out that there are
$500 seats supplied for 10000 pas
sengers carried"
More Comfort Minus Cost.
Subway facilities, Mr.. Turner said.
during these rush periods could be ex-
tended practically 60 per cent. on the
marlborough lines without a penny Of
expenditure simply by spreading out
tho present peak of the load to cover
slightly greater periods of time This
change. he thought. could be effected by
large downtown business houses through
slight rearrangement of opening and
closing hours, as was done during the
epidemic. Members OF the commission
pointed out afterward that this would be
merely extending to city traffic time ar
engagements not unlike those which pre-
vent elevator congestion I'm such large
business blocks as the Equitable, the
Woolworth and the Municipal Building.
tn which are housed many thousands OF
employees.
II would not suggest any such idea
as this as permanent remedy" said
former Justice Shearn, but / do sug-
gcst 1t as q practical means of getting
relief from conditions that have grown
almost intolerable at the present time
You have TO walt Ave years before you
can open UP new trunk line. Some
thing has to be done for the travelling
public in the meantime. Here Is q
practical idea. With the cooperation OF
Continued on Pnge Eight.