New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-09
WHAT BROOKLYN TALKS OF.
MIDSUMMER TOPICS IN THE METROPOLIS
OF LONG ISLAND.

begun tear down the buildings which stand upon 1t.
But until they get possession of other property, not
much be accomplished. since what they ara at
work is IT, the middle OF the block between Concord
and Tillazy stS. Superintendent Martin has been so
rash as 70 predict that by next summer the Bridge
cars viii be running under the new systematic system
approved by the recent welpaid Board Of Experts.
II this is done II only be the result Of the in
trcducton OF life and energy into the management,
which will contrvene all the Bridge traditions Presi-
dent wagstaa may mean to push things, however
But Is II altogether matter of rejoicing that things
are TO be pushed the direction of the Introduction of
system which Is confessecly dangerous, and which
has been condemned by some of tie most eminent rail-
road experts In the country? One only hope Tor
the best; and possibly the proposed method Of run
ming the cars VIII prove more practicable than IL has
seemed TO many observers. That it VIII exhanst the
capacity of the Bridge is rot claimed even by its ad-
vocates though that is what adequate system ought
surely to do.
The delegation of citizens OF south Brooklyn who
waited upon ;he Park Commissioners and asked for the
establishment of park in their quarter of the city
submitted a reasonable proposition, but one which
cannot be seriously entertained at present, since
there is no money available with which TO purchase
site few years ago 100000 was appropriated by
net of the legislature for providing the city with
small parks, and some people seemed to expect That
a dozen or more parks would he provided with that
sum The fact is that ii was nearly exhausted in
n1rf
believed that it was expended judicously. 1t would
seen, though, TO stand The city In hand 90 make
more ample provision for parks at once before land
tncreas in value TO lGrgeroXtent The south Brook
,vn park advocates claim that blocks OF land between
Fortvnlnth and Fy-hfths sts and sixth and seventh
ayes Gan be purchased for about S3o,OOO; In half
dozen years in all probability the cost of the same
nroner1v will be twice as much without taking into
aroount the fact that this land is likely to be built
pon and so become unavailable for park purposes IL
park is ever TO be located in the Eighth Ward,
il should be done in the future and the same is
true of other parts OF the city in which similar
needs exist.
Mr. Halndays proposition that another statue OF
Mr. Beecher should be erected in Prospect Park does
not appear 10 have fired the popular heart Up TO
this time his subscription OF SO stands alone and 1t
bids hir 70 remain IN its solitary position at the
head Of the list. II Henry W. Sage had not changed
his will however, Mr.. Halliday niSht have received
valuable support from that quarter IL appears that
Mr.. SAGE set apart $4,000 in his will made several
years ago for statue of Tie pastor OF Plymouth Church
in the Park in the expectation That Mr.. Deecher would
outive him. After the ldtters death however, he
decided that the best of the money would be 10
turn il into an annuity for the benefit of Mrs Beecher
and tbs accordingly done.
Some of the guards the elevated roads In need
OF instruction regarding the proper pronunciation and
enunciatiOn of the names Of the stations. When
elevated roads were q new thing in Brooklyn there
was little fault TO ind this score and the people
congratulated themselves being better of in this
respect than their neighbOrs in New-York But the
signs of growth of the slipshOd method are now
too numerous TO be overlooked by the observing
1t Is no uncommon thing 10 hear Cumberland
pronounced that ii scarcely be distinguished
from sumner Dnggs7 Gnd Bridge" in the brake
mans mouth have the sound; and OF late
! have heard "Nostrand" shouted so that the
inctons had been called instead Incidentally it may
be remarked that there is difference of opinion
among these officers to whether the %" in the
first syllable OF Nostrand" is long or shoTt0 One
Of the most annoying things in the pronunciation line
Is the almost invaNable custom Of making two
syIalles out OF the simple word Elm" On account
of the peculiar juXtaposition Of many streets
with FuhcnSt ii happens that not a few OF the
stations on fhe Kings County road abut upon two
streets that double name has 20 be called by
the tainmen And Duffeld aud Elluuf" is what
is customarily heard at point the line. 1t is
exasperating 10 sensitive but truth to say it is
hot misleading unlntellgible. a school Of In
structon of Elsvated Trainmen seems, on the whole
TO he decidedly needed.
"Walking over the Bridge nowadays. said a man
Yesterday, reminds OF the old times BY the old
times mean days when the Bridge first opened
That waslet me seeyes, eight years ago How tempus
does fugit, as the boys used say in college still
longer ago. Everybody remembers that when the
Bridge novelty crowds of people Of all sorts and
conditions Ocked 10 it, and in the first few days after
it opened was not matter one crossing
it in a hurry 10 make satisfactory Roadway There
were too many people there, and too many of them
wished 10 stop and look around. | well remember the
day when the great accident occurred. l came down
town in Brooklyn that afternoon and got of my car In
order 10 cross the Bridge when found the entrance
closed and great excitement prevailing There were
oil NOR hats had
one then knew precisely what, and no one dreamed Of
Tie extent Of the loss Of life 1t was most sepseless
accident too-absOlutely without any excuse Do YOU
recall the suggestions that were made to the
trustees Immediately afterward in order insure safety
on the Bridge? The that seemed most 10 impress
the advisers OF the trustees that railing should be
built the length OF the Bridge along the middle Of the
promenade that people going in direction could
be separated from those going in the other Nothing
OF the kind done, seriously contemplated sup
pose and IL proved that there necessity Of
The only thing the trustees did was TO put up
numerous signs to Keep 10 the right and keep moving
and 10 instruct the police. If any stopped TO take
a look around. 10 order him to move on. These signs
disappeared loag ago and for years the Bridge fooway
was little used until ii was thrown open free TO the
public two months ago. on every non-rainy evening
this it has proved godSend to the people from
the tenement houses. who flock up there and spend
hours. have crossed several times lately early In the
evening, ana nave been impressed WIFI Ule Uenehe W
the poor which the footwsy Is 1t pathetic 70
see people go up there with their babies ard baby
carriages II Is not quite pleasant walking as IL there
fewer people if they were Of different order
but for myself am willing TO submit 10 some personal
inconvenience for the sake Of allowing an outing to those
who apparently need II 50 much"
II is generally understood that the Brooklyn IN
stitute will during the next year continue TO have its
headquarters In the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton Building. which proved central and convenient
In many respects last year Indeed as have pointed
cut before. after the Institute is established In the
museum building which will soon be erected near
Prospect Park il will need downtown place OF meet
ing and convenient hall in which It's numerous
lectures may DO given. Whether Association Hal
will be nerman emily nsed nnrnoSe l.