New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-22
Il STREET NAME THAT NEEDS CHANGING
THE CONFUSION THAT ,BRIDGEsT. IN BROOK
LYN CAUsEs-A sTKIKING MIsNOMER.

THE CONFUSION THAT BRIDGE-sT. IN BROOK
LYN CAUsEs-A Striking MIsNoMER.
There is one street in Brooklyn the name Of which
cannot be changed too quickly. 1t seems strange that
a change has not been made before this time. The
name of the street is Bridge. 1t Is bad name, be-
cause, In the first place, IL doesn't now and never did
mean anything in connection with any bridge-at
least not with any that any body in the present gem
GRAFTON knows anything about; and In the second
place, ii leads to continual confusion and misunder
standing This is the for the reason that both OF
the elevated roads now running in Brooklyn have sta
tons at Bridgost, and almost every train coming
down town there are passengers who, when Bridge
st. is called out, think that they have reached the
point where they must leave the train In order to take
the cars the Brooklyn Bridge. The guards arc
constantly telling strangers that they have not yet got
to the Bridge, and in fact, some Of them have grown
so weary OF setting people right in this matter that
they add TO the usual call Bridgest," the words,
Not the Brooklyn Brdge.s On the Brooklyn Elevat-
ed road the trouble IS not so great for IL passenger
intending to go to the Bridge gets of at Bridgest
he is only three four blocks. away from his desnar
ton But II you aght at Bridge-st. from a train in
Myrtleave., you are mile distant from the Bridge-a
fact that is likely to prove embarrassing in most cases
The suggestion is made that the trouble on tho
Brooklyn Elevated line might be avoided by simply
abandoning the Brdge-st station, or rather remov-
ing It, At present 1t is little used less that any
other station the road by far 1t is really scarcely
needed at all But what is needed is station that
will land people reasonably near the Navy Yard. That
would DO real public convenience and meet a real
public want The idea, then, would be to abolish the
Brdgest. station, and movo 1t to the point nearest
the Navy Yard, which would be in York-st, Just be-
fore the curve into Hudson-ave. is made. The new
station could DO called either the Yorkst station, or
the Hudson-aye station. There is no doubt that IL
would be largely patronzed. At present there is
direct way of conveyance from the Bridge or from
Fulton Ferry to the Navy Yard, although many peo-
pie wish that there The change here proposed
would meet this lack, and, besides, IL would prevent
passengers from leaving the elevated trains at the
wrong place.
But while this would put all end TO the confusion
one of the elevated lines 10 would do nothing for
the trouble IN Myrtlesye 1t seems that that oan
only be stopped by changing the name of the street
There is q comnendsble prejudice against changing
the names of longcstablished streets without good
reason. The general opinion is that this should not
90 done to crafty any bodys within or prejudice. No
one but q Hew-York Alderman would ever have
thought Of wiping out the historic name Of Chatham
st. because there notion that IL interfcred with
the business there carried on, and that Park Row
sounded better and would give the street air OF
responsibility that Il did not otherwise possess. But
where the reasons for change sound and strong
sary action. There was no objection 10 Bridgest,
before there was bridge, even II the name was moan
ingess, Il most certainly was but In view OF the
situation here described, the need Of change is I'm
Will continue 10 be the source OF endless confusion and
embarrassment III Mayor Chaplin Is looking for
subject which TO write letter that will give gen
erl public satisfaction, here Is ready TO hand