New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-12
BROOKLYN TROLLEY SYSTEM AGAIN

Va
Commissioners at yesterdays hearing on She
arplication of the Coney Island and brooklyn
Railroad Company to introduce us danger
ous trolley system within the city nhis VI
Brocklvn. managed TO elicit some feelng on MS
own mart and considerable indignation OH uie
mart of the Park Commissioners OF brook9n'
bnt he brought ont few facts bearing upon tle
nnortant question as to whether or not TINS
,oii,oad companv had laid its trolley under
,no,,rd wire within the city limits in advance
If any authorization by the commissioners 10
change the motive power OF the line. 1eu Vhe
o..or,,or NJ tbe road admitted that this work
nd haen done before any authority to use the
trolley system had been granted Inc Oohi-
,rissoners did not even ask the roads repre-
sentative if Il had done any such work. III con.
tented itself with the admission on the part OF
tho oompany that the work had not been done
s,,rreptitiously, and the declaration on the par1
If the board that there had been no collusloh
between it and the Coney Island and Brooklyn
Railroad Company.
The BOARD may disclaim collision and the
r,ad NAV iprotest till doomsday that it did not
mean knowingly to Offend but the fact never
tboIess. remains that pending its several appll-
road COMPANY has laid the underground wire
necessary to operate its trolley railway "ithin
the CITY limits. 1t did this under permit OF
the Park Commissioners to repair its tracks, IN
which permit it was specifically stated (and the
condition accepted in wTiting) that the company
was not to lay trolley wires or rails under tnat
permit, but was to apply again If necessary
1t laid these wires and rails at considerable
exnense. Park Commissioner Brewer was
perfectly right and consistent in maintain
ing his previous assertion that the railroad was
other in contempt of or in collision with the
Railroad Commissioners. We believe the COM
pany was guilty of the former offence. II tne
Railroad Commissioners should now decide IN
reversal of all their former decisions IN this
and other cases, TO let this abortion OF trolley
road within the city limits there are many Gt-
liens in Brooklyn who may be convinced that
there was quiet understanding between the
anplicant railroad and the consenting Commits
sion: and the Board and company will have
only themselves to blame for any scandal which
may result
One curious thing was developed in yester-
davis proceedings. II came out that the con-
sent of large majority Of holders OF assessed
property principal street throueh "iIoh ~
is proposed tn run this trolley road was signed
by the company applying for permission; and
that the property represented consisted OF the
stables of the company itself And yet one
argument this same company had advanced to
the Park Commissioners, as Commissioner
Brewer stated, in favor OF substituting cleo
tricity for horse power, was that the change
would relieve the street and park Of the nuisance
of its own stables
The advantages Of change of motive power
over this line for such short distance are so
insignificant that the suspicion is created that
there is a great deal more behind it. Brooklyn
taxpayers may be sure there is. II one COM
pany is let in all must be admitted within the
CITY limits. The Railroad Commissioners can
not let one line in and exclude superior sys-
TENS which may be advocated and in the end
the CITY will be overrun by trolley roads That
the Coney Island and Brooklyn Railroad Com
pany's trolley system is far from being per
feet is evident from the fact that it proclaim'
by placards posted in every car on the portion
Of the road now operated that transit over II
is positively dangerous owing to the TACT ina
the single row of posts between the tracks arr
only two feet from the side of the car