New-York tribune., 1889-12-26
MORE RAPID TRANSIT FOR BROOKLYN

The need of additional means Of rapid transit
has become increasingly apparent in Brooklyn
of late. The impetus given to the city by the
building OF the great Bridge and by the ele
waited roads, the Oldest of which has been in
operation nearly four years, has been power
fully felt, and with its growth md expansion
in all directions the necessity of means for
quick and easy transportation between differ
ent parts of the city, and between all parts of
it and the greater metropolis on this side of
the East River, has been made evident in such
a way that the supply will doubtless in no long
time come reasonably near to the demand.
How earnest is the demand is shown by the
fact that two rapidtransit commissions have
lately been appointed by Mayor Chaplin for the
purpose of dealing with different sections of
the city.
One of these is understood to be in the in
terest of the Brooklyn Union Company, which
already has several lines in operation in both
the Western and the Eastern District, and
which is desirous of extending one of it's roads
(tbat in Fifth-ave) in the direction of Bay
Ridge and Fort Hamilton. The other COM
mission is to consider the desirablity of an
elevated road in Atlantic-aye. AS to the de-
STABILITY Of removing the surface tracks which
disfgure that street and form constant source
of danger to human life there is not room for
two opinions. To the credit of the Long Island
Railroad Company it is to be remembered that
its willingness to do this was manifested sever
al years ago, at the time when another rapid
transit commission wrestled with the prob
lem and laid out plan for an elevated road
hn of Atlnntic-aVo
Common Council, however, has never given
its consent to the construction of such road
as was proposed, and objections were made by
certain property owners on the ground that
the company would abuse its privilege and
construct too many tracks for their con-
venience 1t has been commonly believed that
the Aldermen had reasons for their nonactiOn
that would not bear the bright sunlight OF
publicity. BE that as it may, it is desirable
from every point of view that the work of the
present commission shall be successful. One
point which seems essential is that the building
of an elevated road should make a final end
of the surface tracks. The retention OF them
with the proviso that they should be used only
during certain hours at night for the hauling
of freight would confer dangerous privilege.
to successful issues, they will 60 a long way
toward supplying the needed means of rapid
transit. but similar steps in other directions
are almost as mperatively demanded. Flat
hush the most attractive suburb of Brooklyn,
has long suffered because of the difficulty and
discomfort which are inseparabe from living
there and doing business in either of the two
cities There seems to be brighter prospect
now than hitherto that this region will be
brought into reader communication with both
BROOKLYN and New-York. Tho need can be
met by the conjunction of the Kings County
Elevated Road and the Brighton Beach Rail
road and such an arrangement would open up
to settlement the whole district lying between
Brooklyn and COney Island.
In connection with all schemes for supplying
Brooklyn with rapid transit one i'm
portant consideration must not be over
looked. That is, the necessity of
more adequate approaches to the Bridge
than have yet been supplied. The Brooklyn
Union system is already embarrassed by its
numerous trains and branches and annoying
DELAYS are of almost daily occurrence while
tbe Kings County Roads connection with the
Bridge is exasperatngly deficient. The ques
ton rs a whole is one that requires the most
thoughtful study. The best engineering skill
sbould be brought to bear upon it, and the city
Of Brooklyn should stand ready to do its part
in the solution.