New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-13
1c. &c. Sc.
BROADWAY q 14TH ST.
RELIEF FOR THE BRIDGE.
TO INCREASE THE RAILROAD FACILITIES
THE BARNEsMARTIN PLAN ADOPTED BY THE
TRUsTEE5-wHAT IT rs

THE BARNEsMARTIN PLAN ADOPTED By THE
TnUsTEEs-wHAT IT rs
Superintendent Martin said yesterday that the
trustees of the Brooklyn Bridge had adopted .
plan for increasing the capacity of tho cable
road. 1t is known as the Barnes-Martin plan
and was devised by General Alfred c. Barnes. one
Of the trustees, and Mr.. Martin, chief engineer
and superintendent. Practical railroad men do
not believe that 1t will give the required relief
to the present overtaxed facilities, but grant
that it may do as q makeshift until new bridge
is built It has the merit of cheapness end
presents no engineering difficulties
In brief, the Barnes-Martin plan, 70 far as the
New-York terminus is concerned, consists In
widening the station until it covers both wagon
ways, thus making room for two additional
tracks one on the north side for inbound trains
and the other on the south side for trains loading
for Brooklyn. The new tracks will be arranged
as sidings joining the main lines short distance
from the station. The present cable will supply
all the motive power needed Incoming trains
win reach the station by gravity after dropping
the cable Outgoing trains on the south switch
will be started by an engine. Those on the main
line will continue to pick up the cable a. they
do now.
With four parallel tracks there should be no
danger Of rear collisions. About once In every
twenty-four hours under the present system an
inbound train has to be shifted to the south track
before dscharging its passengers, In order to get
oat of the way of the train behind it and thereby
avoid collision. AS the second train comes in
by gravity it would not do to check it, as in that
case it could not get under way again without
the assistance OF the shifting engine. Such
course would cause serious delays, block the road
no1o CO from RroollvU
unable to leave the cars quickly enough on the
north platform, are forced to remain within until
the train reaches the south side. where they have
to fight their way through the inrushing crowd.
There would be none of this with four tracks.
In the busy hours of the morning and after
noon trains are run on a Roadway Of less than
two minutes With two inbound and two out
bound tracks, it is possible that trains might be
dispatched on a Roadway of one minute or less
But the less the Roadway the greater the danger.
The daily average Of passengers carried In De-
cember was 92,16 Ga, an increase f AHA over
the preceding month. THIS Is o severe tax on
the present facilities the inadcquacy Of which is
trying the tempers Of nearly all who ride
Frank G. Smith, a civil engineer well known
in this city, exhibited to President Howell yes
terday an ingenious device for doubling or
trebling the capacity Of the bridge railroad at
a comparatively small expense. His plan in
wolves no purchase Of land, nc widening Of sta
t,ons, no interference with the present arrange
ment but consists simply in building double
deck structure at the end for the reception Of
two additio A, tracks, which are TO join the main
lines at a at near the first flight OF steps on
Mr. Howell told Mr. Smith that similar plan
had been submitted to the trustees. At his sug-
cestion. however, Mr. Smith exhibited 1t TO Mr..
Martin, who said positively that nothing like
n had been offered He complimented the in
ventor highly on the arIaneemcnt and said that
he could make but one objection to II, namely,
the necessity Of climbing two tights OF stairs TO
reach the upper platforms.
He then Informed Mr. Smith that the fore
going phn-thc Barnes-Martin plan-hsd been
adopted But when it would be put in operation
he could not say.