New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-14
THE BRIDGE EXPERTS REPORT.

The report of the Board of Experts appointed
to devise means of increasing the capacity OF
the Bridge railroad is grave disappointment
to all who have hoped for a comprehensive and
rational solution of the problems involved. The
Bridge Trustees will, of course, be satisfied
with the report, for 1t is virtual Endorsement
of the plan adopted by them some four years
ago, but which they have not dared to put in
operation on account of the admitted dangers
that are inseparabIe from its practical use. The
position of the present experts, Messrs. Spencer,
Pympton and Buckholz, is almost diametncat-
" opposed to the attitude of the equally emf
nent experts Walter Katie, Julius w. Adams
and Joseph Crawford, who were appointed to
consider the same question in November, 1887,
and made their report to the trustees IN the
following February.
The repolt lust submitted recommends an
enlargement of the present tail-switching sys-
TEN. under which trains are now run during
the busy hours at intervals OF ninety seconds
By doubling the platforms and using CANT
letted" tracks it is proposed to reduce the head
way to forty -fve or even to forty seconds rive
car trains-one car moro than are now run
are considered the greatest number that can
advantageously be used, and it is estimated
that perhaps 45, 900 passengers per hour can
be carried the cars being, of course, packed to
the limit of safety and, as at present, far be-
yond the limit of convenience. This is con-
sidered by the Board of Experts the ultimate
limit of the Bridge railroad, and the only hope
held out is that before that limit is reached
ether means than this Bridge will be required
for quick transit between Brooklyn and New
York.
1t is important to bear in mind that the tail
switching system was carefully considered by
the former experts and unanimously cast aside,
for these reasons
% Because its limit OF platform length IS for six cars
only without possibility OF further extension.
(o) IL requires the very Objectionable and Justly in
admissible necessity OF switching all trains on bridge
over Chatham and Centre SITS, almost to the Hall Of
Records in shifting them from the incoming to the
outgoing track.
Oh In order to obtain sufficient length for six-car
trains west Of the west end Of the station. 1t becomes
necessary to extend the eatery end far eascry as
10 cause an unreasonable distance for passengers to
walk in going and leaving the cars, and thereby to
create tendency to inequality In the loading OF the
trains
al By thus extending the easterly end Of the station
so far easwardy the necessity OF considerably raising
ITS grade level Is created owing to the steep gradient OF
the railway such extension is projected over adding
very seriously 10 the already sufficiently objectionable
rise by stairs to reach the PLATFORM leVel iOm "o
streets
Messrs Katie Crawford and Adams, 1t will
be remembered reported in the strongest way
in favor of the adoption of the circulating sys-
tenn invented by A. NJ Wellington, we'll
known civil engineer The idea was to run
trains of any number of cars up to eighteen
on continuous tracks, passing around circle
mt each terminus and practically providing for
an unlimited increase in the passenger carry
ing CAPACITY of the railroad. In our judgment
il was a serious mistake not to adopt this sys-
tenn at time when the land required in this
CITY could have been obtained at comparatively
reasonable figures. But is some modification
of it out of the question now? The present
experts in the last part of their report seem to
hint that il is not since they advise the max
ing of some experiments with circles instead
of switching tracks. But speaking generally
of loop systems, they say that "no device has
been submitted to the Board for the operation
of cable trains around such a loop which has
been sufficiently developed in practice TO war
rant its adoption now" The favorable judg-
ment of MeSsrs Katie, Adams and Crawford on
this question will carry fully as much weight
with the general public as the adverse opinion
of MesSrs. Spencer, Plympton and Buckholz
Of the adoption Of the report just submitted,
without substantial change there is little room
for doubt. As we have said, it is what the
trustees have wanted all aOng-the indorse
ment by reputable experts of plan whose con
feSSedly dangerous elements caused them to
hcsitaa--o TO proceed with it, In undertaking to
run trains at intervals of forty seconds on tracks
which of necessity cross each other nj both
termini, they arc assuming grave response
bility