Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-07-08
New York Traffic Little
Hampered by Sub Strike
Company Officials Claim Nearly
Normal Services trik e
Leaders Warn of Unsafe
Operation of Crowded Trains
Assert Being Manned by
Green Workers-Also Say
Safety Devices Not Working

New York, July 7.-tP-Further
improvement of traffic conditions was
noted by the city authorities today as
the second day Of the subway strike
ended.
The better acquaintance of the pub
lie with emergency routes and increas-
ed service on the unaffected subway
and elevated lines were cited as major
contributing factors.
Striking motormen and switchmen
on the Interborough Rapid Transit
met the company's announcement that
nearly normal service was being
maintained by laying before the public
commission charges of unsafe opera
ton of the crowded trains. Crews are
being used, they asserted. who have
had no experience with the special
technique of the intricate underground
system.
Further efforts to tie up the reliev-
ing transit arteries are in progress to-
night by the strike leaders. More
than 100 elevated operators already
have Joined the strike, they declared,
but this was declared as ridiculous"
by officials of those lines.
No serious acts of sabotage nor any
serious complaints from the incon-
venienced public had been received by
the police. The general opinion among
good-natured crowds jamming the un-
affected transit lines seemed TO be that
the strike was a matter between the
subway company and it's employees
and the public preferred to sit on the
fench and watch.
Thousands of persons, of course, did
continue use of the affected subway
lines, at the rush hours crowding the
cars In a manner reminiscent of pre-
strike days, but to a large extent they
switched their patronage to trolleys,
elevated lines, buses or taxis. AS
result the reduced number of subway
trains kept running We're less crowded
than almost every other means of
transportation. including the side
walks.
Clashes between strikers, their sup
planters and the company were purely
verbal Strikers made official complaint
that safety devices were being elimi-
mated by the company SO that service
might be maintained at any cost, but
subway officials vigorously denied
this. Strike leaders claimed that en-
ployes of the marlborough Elevated
Lines. not previously affected by the
strike, Were joining the strikers ranks
in large numbers. Subway chief re-
sponded that only handful of IL"
men had left their posts and charged
that a large group of elevated end
ployes" who had appeared at a strik-
ers' meeting to swear allegiance to the
strike cause were dummies"
The safety devices which strikers
charged were being tempered with on
the subways are the dead mans but
tions," the "trippers' and the emer-
gency valves.
The dead mans button" is button
in the motormans control handle on
every train which must be continu-
ously held down to keep the train run
ming. 1t was devised so that if mo-
torman should drop dead the train
would automatically come to a stop.
1t was charged these buttons had been
tied down.
The ''trippers" are levers in the
track which rise after train has
passed and prevent another train, fol-
lowing too close behind-these also, it
was charged. had been tied down.
The emergency valves, strikers said,
had been plugged so that the safety
cord running through each train by
which conductor or passenger may
stop the train, was made imperative.