New-York tribune., 1922-10-01

ing accommodations.
with all this talk about improvement of
UansiS facilities, untangling OF the traction
ssngle and recapturing of the subway lines
~ II they were runaway bronchos, it seems
mat II Time Tor some one to advance a plan
1or the Pulmanizing Of the subways. New
IorKers, having demonstrated long ago that
theyfe race Of burrowers, have certainly
demonstrated IN late years that they're race
OF Underground sleepers. BY night or day it
makes no difference--subways sleeping Is quite
the thing. Unlike the straw hat, it doesn't go
out OF fashion in the middle of September or
: the middle Of any other month 1t can--and
does-prevail the year round. The art Of
sleeping while sitting erect and holding a roll
OF papers under one arm has been perfected
here IN Manhattan. The experienced subway
snoozer can doze off completely after board.
ing tbs train at Brooklyn Bridge, and nine
times out of ten awake just in time to slide
desperately through the center door at his
home station without the loss Of so much as
cuff button. The tenth time he may be car
rfed far, far above his accustomed stop. That's
just the chance he takes. The statistics, how
ever, are vastly in his favor, and that means
that the old, the young, the rich, the roor,
sleep as they ride. It's habit as you know
The company doesn't care; the other passen-
gers don't. Nobody does. Subway sleeping
will continue
So why not Pullmanize the subways? Some
body should put the thing on businesslike
basis, charging nominal fee for the sleep
ing privilege. That could be easily adjusted
And Mr.. Hedley might we'll add the invention
Of an all-steel underground sleeper to his
already notable list Of devices, including the
new coin detector, not yet introduced to a
skeptical public.
The subway Pullman plan would have
many benefits. Most of the ticket choppers
who lost work when the featherweight press
ure gates got work could straightway be re-
hired as special Pullman conductors or porters,
and II enough Of them weren't available the
Interborough might rake in some of the tried
and true porters In the employ of the New
York Central and Pennsylvania systems
They're probably tired Of dull routine; new
work might appeal to them.
1t seems that the new plan might be put
into effect in short time. The new sleeper Of
the subway tubes could retain the long cane
seats, with berths erected above them. Slight
ly used green curtains might be obtained at a
good price from the railroads, and with the
beds as stationary as the sides of the car, that
bothersome task Of making up beds of eve-
nings would be eliminated. They would al
ways remain ready for occupancy and the
porter, therefore, would not lead so wearying
life. The plan outlined here would call
for uppers only, but If the thing met with
general public favor--and it seems certain
that it could not do otherwise-the long seats
might be eliminated entirely and upper and
lower berths installed upon all cars.
ot +bo
protest against the charging by the company
of few additional cents for sleeping priv-
leges. The long spin through the tunnels, now
dreaded by many habitual subway riders,
could not fail to be source Of pleasure to a
tired Manhattapite if he could but realize that
when he boarded train at the Chambers
Street station he could climb jauntily to his
berth and enjoy q sound snooze all the way
up to Van Cortlandt Park. If he were of
the type not given to vast exertons and one
avoiding haste upon all occasions, he could
leave call, say, at station along about
Dyckman Street and then lesurely put him
self together for the climb to the floor.
Perhaps 1t could be arranged so that berths
might be reserved in advance. The busy
broker, upon learning with little irrita-
+, tion that his limousine would not be sent for
him on certain afternoon because his wife
happened to be giving the chow dog and rela-
tives from Red Valley, Idaho, an airing on
Fifth Avenue, would merely have to shove
the buzzer on his desk. Enter Miss Secretary.
Brief instructions, understanding nod and
exit. When the 1S0th Street Bronx Park
express pulled out Of the Wall Street station
at sos it would have the busy broker as an
occupant of birth No. z, third car from the
front.
Inspection of berths would be necessary at
/ each END Of the line to avoid repeaters, as
thu typical New York subway sleeper, given
to profound and prolonged sumber while sit
ti,g erect and having fat ladies swinging
AZ ainst his knees, might snooze comfortably
Il rough an entire week end if once allowed to
a rawi out fiat on his back
The Puilmanizing of the subway lines, with
] "a c8 fits manifold benefits, would not be with
mt its discouragements to berth occupants
! 1owever. as quite some delay might be ex-
4 rsrienced in getting down and out during a
3 panic and safety depended upon speedy exit
There's something else that should be noted
S III case berth occupant found himself un-
I able to sleep after sprawling out the length
at his bed he might lie quite still for 242