New-York tribune., 1888-04-19
TIE BrIpGE TRUsTEEy DECISION.

TIE BRIDGE TRUSTEES DECISION.
The work Of the Board of Experts who gave
to the question of increasing the carrying ca
nacity of the Bridge railroad the careful and
thorough consideration which the Importance
If the subject demanded was done In vain.
Their experience and acknowledged competency
have been set at naught. The Bridge trustees
are wiser than their advisers, in spite Of the
fact that they almost to man are laymen and
unsIsilled in the handling and solution Of en-
gineering problems. The conclusions of the
three experts Messrs. Walter Katie, julius
Adams and Joseph Crawford. may be accepted
as fairly embodying the opinions Of capable en-
gineers ON this matter. At any rate. there has
been nothing said or shown on the other side.
These three men without dissent gave their un-
qualified approval to the Wellington circulat-
ing system, which proposed to run trains OF
any number Of cars up to eighteen on contin-
uous tracks, without switching or crossing, and
to carry 10000 passengers an hour, giving
each one seat. In connection with this there
were to be large and commodious station build
ings, with numerous entrances on every side.
and sufficient open space was to be left about
the Newly ork terminus to put an end for good
an insufferable nuisance In that quarter during
the busy hours.
To make this Improvement would require the
purchase Of considerable land but this is most
" occupied with buildings Of little value, and
It is evident that It could be obtained at smaller
cost now than at any time In the future. The
plan adopted by the trustees, as they them
selves admit, will only meet the demands made
on the Bridge for seven years to come, and at
the end Of that time further increase Of IA
cilities will be required. Suppose that In the
meantime costly buildings are erected where
worthless ones now stand. II in 1895 It be-
comes necessary to take up Mr.. Yelling
toms idea, or something of tho same nature,
the expense will far exceed the estimates now
made by Chief Engineer Martin. 1t would be
true economy to make the expenditure at the
present time. Temporizing with the matter
is short-sighted policy. II is merely putting
off the Inevitable day. 1t IS not the part Of
true wisdom.
Moreover, the plan which has received ap-
proval Is open to serious objections. The
crossing Of tracks is constant source Of dan
ger and to run trains, as is proposed at intervals
of forty seconds is perilously close approach
to the danger point. One Of the most COM
mendable features of the Wellington system is
that every passenger would have seat while
with any possible enlargement of the method
of running and switching trains now in use
there will soon be the same crowding that
makes travel on the Bridge so inconvenient and
annoying at present. Then, too, the necessity
Of making more room at this end of the struct-
ure is becoming every day more apparent. The
trustees have overlooked this essential point
entirely. 1t is not too late yet to have the &C
tion Of Tuesday reversed and the whole gues-
ton decided In way free from narrow and
petty considerations. We do not look for any
change of heart on the part of the trustees, how
ever. But if the Legislature does its duty this
matter will speedily be removed from the con-
troll of the present trustees. Their latest ac-
ton Is an additional reason for putting an end
to their official existence The Senators and
Assemblymen should not postpone for single
needless moment the passage of the act plac-
ing the management of the Bridge in the hands
of board directly responsible to the people,
and which will do its work with due regard to
the peoples interests.