New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-02
p,pyD TBfNSJT IN BROOKLTN

RAPID TR1NSII ~ BHOOhLlN.
The need of some more expeditions method
of transit than the antiquatcd horsr-car has be-
come more and more evident in Brooklyn
since the success Of the elevated roads has been
demonstrated in this city; but the solution OF
the problem Of rapid transit on the other side
of the East River seems to he nearly IA tar III
the future az ever. This is not due To any
lack of efforts to solve il. Indeed. one elevated
road is partially built, intending to run by "a
rather CircuitOus route from Fulton Ferry To
East New York but no work has been done
ON il for nearly two years: its affairs are tied
up in the courts, the company having had at
one time no less than four receivers, and
at present there seems little likelihood
that this scheme will ever prove n success.
The route was badly chosen so far as securing
custom from the better sections OF the city Is
concerned it was probably selected Tor the
reason that it would meet with less opposition
from propcrty-owucrs along the line than II 1t
had been laid out through more desirable
ncighborhoods. Then. too, the style OF Struc-
turr is not such IN to command general APP
proval. For the greater part of the distance
the road runs through narrow streets. Both
lines of supporting columns are placed IN the
roadway instead of at the curbinr thus prac-
ticaly confscating the whole street. and render
inc il undesirable either for business or resi-
dcnCcs.
Numerous other schemes 10 supply Brooklyn
with read, means of communication with the
Metropolis have been set on foot from time to
time. but none of them seem to have advanced
far beyond the initial steps. The most notable
a. -. L ..l.t t,.l.i
proposcd practically to gridiron the entire city,
running an elevated road through nearly every
principal street, and reaching ont to East New
York, FlathuSh. South Brooklyn and Green
point This plan laid out by a Commission
appointed by the Mayor. was approved by The
Common Council twicc--bcing passed Ger tn
Mayors veto-sccnrcd Il favorable judgment
from a Supreme Court Commission and from
the General Term, but was finally defeated in
the Court Of Appeals. Since then routes and
plans have been decided upon 10y three or
more Commissions duly appointed 10y the
Mayor, and companies have been organized
but still the good people OF Brooklyn ride 10
and from their homes uncompannsly in the
slow-going street ears.
We think il doubtful if Brooklyn is furnished
with the dcsidcratun before tie completion of
the East River Bridge. When that event will
occur no one can venture 10 predict. Within
the next two or three years perhaps 1t may be
fairly looked for. With this will come a great
impetus to Brooklyn. New life will be infused
into the city and many New-Iorllcrs who have
hitherto entertained a strange and unaccount-
able prejudice against the City of Churches as
a place of residence will doubtless move
a. ,,.;I1 l..
vance in rents and an Increase in building
operations and then will come such loud and
general demand for rapid transit that it will
not go UNDECIDED.
The difficulties encountered in supplying our
sister city with elevated rOads-which have
become such an indispensable part of our
existence that after only two or three
years we wonder how life was at all
cndurablc without them-are more numer-
Gus and less easy to surmount than those
which presented themselves here. The confor-
nation of the two cities Is entirely different
Brooklyn covers such vast area that not
less than six or eight lines of road would
be necessary in order to reach all parts
of the city; and even then there would
be large districts at much greater
distance from an elevated line than any part
Of Manhattan Island is from the roads now in
operation II will readily be seen that each of
these roads would draw its custom from a COM
paratively limited area, lying on each side of
it within convenient walking distance More
over, except during the hours in the morning
and evening when men and women go to and |
from their places of business, the elevated
roads would have few passengers. There would |
be no transient travel. The influx of strangers
and sight-scer> which is a daily occurrence |
here is unknown there, and there would be !
far fewer women out shopping who would use |
these roads than in this city. 1t can
not be doubted however. that elevated |
roads III Brooklyn, properly located and prop |
crly managed, would be good paying invest |
ment. OF the urgent need Of them there can |
be no question, if Brooklyn wishes to retain |
its present population and add TO it. The |
completion of the Bridge will be IA long step ,
toward the unifcatiOn of the two cities, which |
are practically one and with it, we may be
sure, there will come to Brooklyn an adequate
system of rapid transit.
THE JEANETTE.
Tho fate Of tla rannptt il a t,vs4or,- IA OF ,,,o,,