New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-17
HOWELLS BIG SCHEME.
AN ALL-RAIL BRIDGE TO NETWORK
AMONG THE POSSIBILITIES.
POSSIBLE EXPLANATION or THE lNDlFfEh-
ENCE OF THE BRIDGE RULERS TO THE
UHGMANN PLAN-THE EXTENSION
OF FrATBUsH- PART
OF THE IDEA.

OF FLATBUsH-AvE. PART
OF THE IDEA
President Howell Of the Brooklyn Bridge Trus-
tees is quietly but deeply interested in the pro-
posed scheme for a new all-rail bridge across
the East River having New-York terminus
near Chatham Square The Brooklyn terminus
according to his plars would be somewhat
north Of the present Brooklyn terminus. and di-
rectly In line with the proposed extension oi
Flatbush-ave which he is anxious should De
opened from its intersection with Fulton-st.'
going straight down to the river thus opening
up a new thoroughfare. and cutting through the
Intervening business blocks and houses
President Howells scheme is perhaps an eH-
PLANTATION Of the studied indifference OF the
Bridge Trustees to the plan of President Uni
mann TO run trains across the bridge. The pup
lie is entirely familiar with that story IL mas
dragged along all spring and summer ana D'us
fair to be brought up by the persistent oh'inahh
before future meetings Of the Bridge trustees
at many meetings To come. a prominent ran
road man. much averse 10 having MS ha''e
mentioned. gave it out yesterday that 'he rea'
opposition of President Howell to the Ohl'nahh
proposition is the fact that he has great uea'
of property. in Adams-st which would be vastly
benefited by the building Of the proposed all
rail bridge and that. therefore. he mas useu All
his influence to kill OH effectuay any PROPOSE
ton relating to the of the bridge ny the
surface and elevated lines There is great
deal Of interesting history in the hght pe'Weeh
Thlmann and Howell II it could be brought out
Another but an old reason given FOR hoW'l ;
opposition 10 the Thlmann scheme Is MS owner
ship Of stock in the surface roads. ana tha' also
applies to Seth L. Keenev. between whom anu
Mr. Howell there Is the utmost brotherly love
and steadfastness Of purpose 50 far as this one
object Is concerned. As the foregoing statement
was made With great deal Of postiveness, it
was further added tina. the animus OIL Engineer
Martins adverse report to the effect that the
bridge could no. stand the extra trat1c was Ill
rec,ed by Howell partly for the benefit Of his
associates What will be done in the near
future with this proposed all-rail bridge depends
a great deal upon the health Of Mr. Howell II
is a great undertaking. and will demand ire
mendous labor and many millions of money.
The question OF extending Flatbush-ave was
brouch; up a year or Two ago. but at that time
the Legislature . City Council frowned upon II
and the subject was dropped.
The question Of railroad traffic in Brooklyn
and New York in the near future. added the
official. opens up great possibilities and there is
LITTLE. doubt that within five years after cOnsoi-
dalton many surprising changes VIII be mace
The most sensible way To relieve the pressure
Of traffic in the Western District said the ON
clal referred to- lis 10 build "A new bridge with
a terminus near the City Hall. II Is much more
contra and available than would be the Cnat-
ham SQUARE terminus. 1t would be- easier Tor
people To reach the Yves; side Of New YORK than
from Chatham Square. Taking the situation TO-
dav there is not the slightest DOUBT that the
present Bridge could stand the added tratnc OF
continuous elevated trains between BROOKLYN
and New York The scheme Is perfectly feasible
in every way except for the opposition or HOW
ell But the ideG OF giving the Bridge over 20
I-hlrnanr and Could Is one. think. Whlcn WOulu
he frowneG upon by a large proportion OF the
population whether right or wrong. IL Is the
feeling Of the people against monopoly, ana IN
them Mr. Howell may feel that he has aOe al
lies But leaving that question aside. venture
IN say that the next five years Will see great
change i'm the traffic between New-lor ana
rroolslvn Even if no other bridge Is built In the
Western District, to my mind il Is a most prop
able thing that surface cars as well as elevated
railroads will run from upper New hork through
the streets of Brooklyn and vice versa. The fact
that Boswell p Flower and other NewYork men
have control Of the Brooklyn Heights system is
a step in this direction. Now that the Metro
nolitan Traction Company has leased the tourth-
ave lin. in New York thus giving II greater
control in the streets is another factor that Dids
fair for the innovation Of which | have JUST
enolen In fact, | have already heard the mat
ter talked over i'm a general way in New foVK
CITY and YOU can set II down as something hoIe
tban rea SOM bly, sure to happen that either the
METROPOLITAN Traction Company Of New York,
Roswell p Flower other big railroad men
will eobhle up the Brooklyn lines not many years
after consolidation. and then the inter-cty traIc
will be settled once and for all