New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-28
IN BROOKLYN.
FOUR COMPANIES DEMAND The TROLLEY.
PROPERTY OWNERS OBJECT 10 THE DANGEROUS

PROPERTY OWNERS OBJECT 10 THE DANGEROUS
SYSTEM.
There meeting Of representatives OF the street
railroad companies and interested property in
tho Common Council chamber Of the City Hall yeSter
day afternoon to present arguments for ana against e
application of four principal companies for permission
to substitute the electric trolley for horses In
propeling street The railroad companies were
represented by Presidents D. F. Lewis Of the BROOKLYN
City; william Richardson. OF the Atlantic AVchuc.
General Henry w. Slocum, OF the Coney isiaho anu
BROOKLYN and Colonel John n. Partridge, OF the brooR
Ign City and Newtown companies The railroad Cohf
mitee OF the Board OF Aldermen. consisting OF Aiocr
men Cofey, Wafer, McGarry. McGrath and lhomas'
listened to the arguments. Among those present were
ex-Mayor Hunter Thomas f. Smith, Henry h. hutchh-
son. ex-Judgc S. D. Norris Ex-Governor Joim D "ise'
George W. Van Allen. cX-Alderman Daniel oeohhen'
John Lenerts and ii. NJ. Bosrtlman
The opponents of the application had an opportunity
In he heard first and cN-.\derman OConncll SPOKE III
behalf Of propertyowners In Bergenst and Fanderbllt
ave. opposing the overhead trolley system as dangerous
to life and property and depreclatng values. JAMES
f. Muncie also opposed the use OF the trolley.
Thomas c. Smith, a wealthy resident OF Greenpolnt,
opposed the trolley system mere makeshft iie
was opposed to system that had nothing TO recon-
mend It over the of horses and TO change against
the wishes of property-ov ners. Alderman corey
assured him that the companies would have TO secure
the consent OF AUDITING property to any change
Ex- Mayor John w. Hunter said tnat notilnS hiOie
should dlsfgure the streets.
Daniel F. Lewis, president Of the Brooklyn City
Railroad Company set forth the application made by
his company for change of motive power from
horses to the electric system, first made IN june looo
The delay In acting upon 1t had been favorable Tor
the State Railroad Commissioners had given PERMISSION
to.one company, and Supreme Court Commission had
also given a favorable decision The different COM
panes related to each other that 1t was almost
essential that they all adopt the same system. In
order TO adopt the system, cars would be needed
and the old would be gotten rid OF which were not
satisfactory to travelling public Much better time
s,uld be made by the cars. II would also AID 10
building up the suburbs The electric system would
release 10000 horses from use on cars The streets
would DO far more ocanly The neighborhoods In the
vicinity of car stables would be vastly improved.
On the question of danger Mr.. Lewis said that after
three years OF Investigation he was firmly assured that
electric roads could be made absolutely safe. Inc
operation Of the electric road from South Brooklyn 10
Rensonhurst had been perfect Not trip had been
missed by any fault of construction. No fire had
ever been directly traced to a railroad current by
the use OF guard wires the currents OF other wires
could be kept off the railroad wires.
Mr. smith said that from experience in many cities
in this country and abroad he believed that the street
railroad service In Brooklyn was the worst In the
world The sole reason for adopting the trolley sys-
tenn was its cheapness. Ex-Mayor Hunter said he
had little confidence in the public spirit OF companies
which divided Ia per cent first.
General slocum took exception to this and proceeded
TO declare that he priced his good name too much to
do anything that would be Of harm to the city for all
the horse railroads in city. He held that the only
objection to the trolley system was 10 the putting Oh
poles in the streets. But they were little higher haa
them as well as Beacon-st., Boston, and stateSt:,
Albany In $50 cities Of this country the trolley
system was in successful operation and none of them
wanted TO get rid of 1t.
John +. McKeon, OF Broadway and Beo1ord-aNe.'
rsed the need of facilities travelling from the East
err District TO the City Hall, which now took from
forty 10 sixty minutes. . A.,
William Richardson presented the wishes of the
Atlantic Avenue Company and argued the safety ana
utility of the proposed system. His company mas he
consent Of the state Railroad Commissioner TO put
the trolley in operation in Atlantic and Fifth aves
but he urged that Ii would be far better for all the
companies to make the change at the same tune, as
their tracks the same in some score OF places;
The Bushwick and Queens County Company presented
On application TO be included in the consent granted.
The hearing adjourned indefinitely, but II any
property owner desires TO be heard hearing VIII De