New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-27
THE BRIDGE And ITS DEMANDS


A great many people have discovered sudden
" that we have bridge to Brooklyn and that
hencetoIth an enormous volume OF travel WEI
be poured into street which is not at all ade-
auate to receive it. Everybody admits now,
what few persons were able to fOresee before
the Bridge was opened, that TryOn Row must
be enlarged both above and below the Bridge
entra nee, and must be cleared OF street-car
tracks. The Mayor says that correspondents
are making to him the suggestion made by The
TRIBUNE on the day OF the opening, that 1t may
be found necessary to remove the buildings on
the east side Of the square both above and be-
low the Bridge entrance. Much space could he
secured Nv removing French's Hotel and all the
other buildings between the entrance aud
rank forrest The Elevated Railway station is
to be carried fifty feet up Cbatham-st., aud the
buildings on the east side of the street for that
distance may also have to he cleared away.
Then on the Park side little space may be
gained by taking narrow strip from the Park
after the Hall of Records has been taken away.
This should be very slight, and should be taken
only for the purpose of enlarging the outlet
into Centre and Chambers SITS.
The complete removal Of the street-car tracks
is a paramount necessity. 1t is natural that the
companies should strenuously object to this,
but we believe they will soon find it to their
own advantage to do it, They will discover
presently that the Bridge has shifted the centre
of travel. 1t will no longer cluster about the
Ast0r House. but must inevitably find its focus
in Tryon Row. To meet the great stream which
is henceforth to pour INCREASINGLY in both direc-
tons over the Bridge. all the agencies of trans
portation in this city will soon see the necessity
of changing their lower termini The east side
street-car lines will not be the only ones which
will fnd 1t to their advantage to stop above and
near Tryon Row. Already some of the Broad
way omnibus lines are talking of running
through Chambers-st to Chatham and it will
not be surprising to see the Sixth and Eighth Av-
enue and Broadway street-car companies either
seeking the privilege of crossing Broadway at
Chambers or Reade st., what would be
much better, moving up two or three blocks
from their present points, and striking Broad
way at Murray and Warren and Chambers. TO
carry the passenger travel directly to Broad
way, it will probably be found necessary to cut
a straight broad pathway between the City Hall
and the New Court House, and there can be no
objection to this. To shut their eyes to the fact
that the streams of travel have found a new
channel will be pure folly on the part of the car
companies Their interests and the Bridge
interests and the travelling pubc's interests are
all the same in this case, and the sooner the car
companies recognize this fact and act upon it
the better will it be for all concerned. As for
the cars which run to tue ferries through Print
Ing House Square, they can easily find another
route, reaching the river through streets east of
the square
The Elevated railways will also have to adapt
themselves to the new order of things. 1t is
evident that the Third Avenue Elevated will
not only find night trains on the City Hall
branch imperative, but will also discover that
the best way to accommodate the greatly in
creased day travel will be to run through trains
upon the same branch at all hours. The pres
ent system of switch trains at Chatham Square
is vexatious enough at present. 1t will be SIM
ply intolerable with the increased passengers
which the Bridge cars are certain to bring when |
they are put on next month. The Sixth Avenue |
Elevated may attempt to secure some of the new |
travel by building spur through Cham bers-st |
to Chatham. The privilege was given this |
company to build such a spur IL the original |
act authorizing the construction Of the Gilbert |
road, but whether the privilege is still good or |
has lapsed from non-usage is point which is
because it has not been considered. |
If the company still has the right to buid.there,
or is able to get 1t under the railroad law by
securing consent of half the property Owners on
Chambers-st., 1t will be very likely to avail
Itself of it, There would doubtless be objection
10 have an elevated road cross Broadway, but
this could possibly be overcome by having the
track inclosed at the point of crossing.
II the travel over the Bridge shall fall of per-