New-York tribune., 1895-10-20
THE FUTURE OF THE PLAZA.
SHALL IT BE INVADED BY SURFACE RAIL-
ROAD TRACKS?
A STRONG FEELING IN BROOKLYN THAT THE
BRIDGE TRUSTEES SHOULD NOT YIELD TO
THE DEMAND OF THE HEIGHTS
RAILROAD COMPANY.
RAILROAD COMPANY.


One Of the uppermost questions IN brooNS"
at the present time relates to the future OF the
Bridge Plaza which the Bridge Trustees are
disposed to decide at once. 1t Is obvious that
no hasty action should be mad. and that au-
vantage should not be taken Of the fact that
popular interest is now centred on the poli'icai
campaign to decide it without thorough con-
sderation. 1t is not new question, OF COURSE
for It was first raised several weeks ago Inc
question is not directly that OF the future Of the
plaza but Of the best method Of bringing the
trolley-cars of the Brooklyn Heights Company
reasonably close to the new Bridge station. But.
lnasmuch as that company admits no solution OF
the problem save by running across the plaza, the
other way of putting the case is the correct one.
The company's proposal has undergone several
notifications. but from the first 1t has Insisted on
the right to make use OF the open space which
was provided by the people OF Brooklyn at large
cost as a suitable approach to the Bridge.
number OF alternative propositions have been
brought forward but none OF them by the rail-
road company, and the matter stands the COM
pany wants the privilege OF running It's cars
upon the plaza and the exclusive right to space
40 feet wide as a car-stand. For these privileges
1t is willing TO pay rental Of $1,000 year What
the company asked fol was 60 feet OF space IN
stead OF 40, but the Terminal Committee OF the
Trustees has consented to only the smaller allow
ance.
That the plaza Is not what 1t ought to be VIII
be admitted by every one who has seen It, This
is especially the case in its present condition. for
with the accumulation Of railroad Iron which mas
been piled there 1t is out Of the question to form
any true idea Of It. Apart from the large amount
OF iron work and other material which is In proc
Of removal. the most obvious thing about the
plaza is the fact that It is overshadowed by the
structures OF the elevated roads. They infringe
upon It to an extent that would be intolerable II
1t were not necessity. The question OF providing
suitable connections between them and the new
Bridge station was not an easy one and the re-
suit thus far does not indicate that the best
solution has been arrived at.
NO MONOPOLY BY RAILROADS WANTED.
Certainly the people OF Brooklyn had right to
expect that its officials would properly guard the
plaza and prevent 1t from. being monopolized by
railroad structures and railroad tracks. AS re-
spects the former this has not been done, and 1t
is now too late to provide remedy But there
is still time TO keep the surface of the plaza unob
structed. That II can ever be made pleasing TO
the eye Is impossible. The dozen elevated railway
columns more or less, which stand upon 1t. the
lowhanging structure of one Of the elevated roads
on the Futon-st. side with the gallery that runs
directly across the plaza and the contemplated
lofter tracks OF the other line which Will en-
circle the open space three sides. all Of these
things are familiar to Bridge travellers who come
downtown by the surface cars in Fulton-st. They
are aggressive and disagreeable facts. But ap-
parently they must be submitted to. That the
large number Of people coming to and going from
the Bridge by the elevated roads must have
suitable means OF entering and leaving the sta
ton easily is obvious to all. 1t Is possible that
some other plan Of securing this might have been
worked out. At all events 1t was not, and so long
as the present station is used the existing ar
rangement doubtless must continue.
But the existing distractions upon the plaza
need not be submitted to. and 1t is unquestion-
ably the opinion Of majority Of the people In
terested that the proposed surrender OF part Of
the plaza will be needless sacrifice. II Is not as
If there other means Of reaching the
Bridge directly by the surface Mayor Schie-
ren's suggestion that all the now running in
Fulton-st. should 90 down Westinghouse. make
a loop through Prospect.st. and return uptown
through Fulton-st., would not meet the question
of close connections between the Bridge and the
departing cars though. of course, 1t would land
passengers near the entrances to the station on
the Washngton-st. side.
MR. HOWELIs PLAN
The most practical solution OF the problem ap
pears to be that OF Bri lge President Howell.
though apparently he has now abandoned It,
This was that the Fulton-st cars should turn
into Tillary-st. and then under the storage
tracks Of the Bridge TO High st, where they
would be close to the new station and passengers
could enter them without going out OF doors at
ALL To this plan no substantial objection has been
made. 1t would involve the company In some ex-
pense I'm making the necessary changes. but that
Is certainly not a serious matter. The main
thing. far as the public Is concerned. Is that
the cars would thus be brought near 10 the
Bridge station and that tie plaza would be Kept
free from distractions.
II IL were an absolute necessity that the plaza
should be given over to the use Of the trolley
cars the people Of Brooklyn, even though they
have invested million In 1t. would be Willing TO
make the sacrifice. But that necessity cannot De
shown TO exist.
"Oh, but" say the advocates OF the surrender
OF the plaza. 'is beauty. If It ever had any. Is
already destroyed and the only thing remaining
is to make it useful as possible TO the public
But use was the chief thing In view when the
plaza was established 1t was to be a suitable ap- !
proach to the Bridge and do away with the shah
by surroundings OF the old Bridge entrance; and
II there was any beauty in the Bridge station IL
would afford an opportunity for 1t to be seen
Still. though the Bridge station has no such |
beauty that any one should desire to see 1t, the !
need OF an adequate approach to the Bridge is as
great as ever and nothing should be permitted 10 |
obstruct the free passage 1t Of carriages. trucks
and all other vehicles With the surface OF the /
plaza freed from obstructons this will be had In /
spite OF the frowning structures overhead. one /
or two OF the supporting columns. 1t is true, are !
directly in the way but that is all
THE ENTERING WEDGE.
Then there is another thing to be considered. |
II 1t obtains the use OF 40 feet of the plaza how
long will the railroad company be satisfied with |
that? Within year or two 1t Is almost certain
that the demand will be made for more. and 1t
will be enforced by the argument that since the |
plaza In itself is OF practical benefit TO the /
public the railroad might as well make some use /
OF II and thus render IT Of advantage 10 the city
II behooves the Trustees OF the Bridge TO look out
for the entering wedge. That is what the first In
vasion Of the plaza viii signify