The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 37, July 22, 1897: A Weekly Magazine for Boys and Girls — John Shaqi
The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 37, July 22, 1897: A Weekly Magazine for Boys and GirlsVarious
History
The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 37, July 22, 1897: A Weekly Magazine for Boys and Girls
Various
History, Modern -- 19th century -- Juvenile literature -- Periodicals
During the crowded hours of the day it does not seem possible to put on
enough cars to seat the passengers.
Men and women have to stand in these crowded cars, packed as closely as
herrings in a barrel.
After enduring this nuisance for many years with surprising patience,
the people have at last sought the aid of the Board of Health.
They have complained to the Board that standing in the cars is injurious
to the health of women and persons in delicate health.
When the summer came on and the crowding nuisance was not abated, but
the discomforts were considerably increased by the neglect of the
companies to provide straps in the open cars for the people to hold on
to, the complaints increased to such an extent that the Board of Health
decided to take immediate action.
A careful investigation was commenced, and it was found that in rounding
the curve at Fourteenth Street and Broadway, and the sharp curves at
Fifty-third Street, every person who was not provided with a seat was in
danger of losing life or limb.
The standing passengers were jostled, jolted, and flung this way and
that, without sufficient protection against being thrown off the cars.
Inspectors from the Health Board were stationed at the different points
to ascertain just how many persons were forced to travel in this
dangerous manner.
The inspector detailed to watch the Lexington Avenue branch of the cable
road reported that during two hours, 1,750 had been standing up in the
135 cars that had passed him.
From the various reports it was seen that most of this crowding could be
stopped if the companies made rules to regulate the number of passengers
allowed in each car, and provided enough cars to accommodate their
patrons.
When the reports were all in, the Health Board met to discuss the
matter.
One of its members is the President of the Board of Police. His
department has had a great deal of trouble with the Broadway Cable
Company.
It has been necessary to station extra policemen along the route to help
people to cross the tracks in safety. Several policemen have been
injured at the curves, and the Police Board has no love for the
railroad.
At the meeting he introduced a resolution which he wished to make a part
of the Sanitary Code.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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