New-York tribune., 1896-10-27
THE RENO INCLINED ELEVATOR.
PROVIDED Fol

yelled at five Bridge Trustees being together all
at once they were all heartily glad OF it. j.
Seaver Page was in the chair Gathered around
him were Mayors Wurster and Strong and
Trustees Keeney and Henriques. 1t an i'm
portant meeting. and several questions on which
the dust of ancient history had become thick
were taken UP and disposed OF. far as they
could be at one lone meeting. Mayor Wurster
did a splendid turn for the citizens of Brook
lyn by coming out fatfooted against the Plaza
scheme and in favo' of surface and Bridge
cars running direct to NewYork. Mr.. keeney,
who is a friend Of the Brooklyn Heights Kali
road Company. was quietly disgusted at the
Mayors remarks but he was polite and made
only feeble remonstrance. The question came
up on the old resolution of Controller Palmer.
and the plan favored by Engineer Martin to
allow tracks on the Plaza contiguous 10 the
station at a rental of $1,000 year Before
the matter came to a vote Mayor Wurster made
a most vigorous speech and protest against
the present inadequate system Of mterciiy
Transportation. He said that the building Of
the Bridge without providing for continuous
traffic was a piece OF shortsightedness or a
misapprehension the part OF the builders as
70 the actual needs of the future growth Of the
city.
DIRECT TRANSIT NEEDED.
III am In favor" he continued "of both the
elevated and surface roads using the Bridge
This problem is something we've got to face.
and the sooner we get at 1t the bette" ii VIII
be for us. ! say this not as the Mayor OF
Brooklyn. but citizen. The present hioue
Of people, compelled to go 10 New-fork daily
riding In a car twenty or thirty minutes
then getting off and mounting long flights of
stairs crossing the Bridge to New-York then
going downstairs and perhaps. climbing two or
three fights of stairs again II they wish TO &"
uptown in New-York. is not only an ihcoh-
yenience but an imposition. If the question
resolves itself into an engineering problem. lei
us look at i, from that standpoint. We should
call upon other engineering experts and have
the matter settled once for all as to the feast
bility OF Brooklyn roads occupying the Bridge
! have great confidence in Mr. Martin from his
splendid work on the Bridge. but as 1t Is
question of great responsibility II IL better
for several experts to pass upon the matter
than that the word of one should be taken We
will. never become properly a part OF Greater
New-York until solve this transportation
problem | object. and most emphatcalY. to
any other solution than this. We should select
two engineers who, with Mr.. Martin, should
select a fourth to form Board of Engineers"
Mr. Page. in mild tone OF voice. asked the
"a be laid temporarily upon the plaza. The
Mayor replied that that was simply lodging the
question and delaying what should be done at
onca II was only matter he said. OF thirty or
sxtv davs to change the tracks, should trains
ne allowed TO cross the Bridge. and as 1t "A
,na.ter of ONLY 2OO or 300 feet from the terminal
curb 10 Fu,on-st he did not think that the
people could suffer much by little longer delay
Mr. Keeney then spoke up: Yes, and have the
people wadng through mud and slush all win
Ter" Mr. Keeney looked uncomfortable. and II
made him sour on the Mayor 10 have his pet
nroiect OF using the Plaza treated In such
temptuous way by the Chief Magistrate
Trustee Henrques. when he saw his dream OF
a nlaza with flower beds and waving trees melt
away in a plain cold vista Of facts. Inquired who
would pay the bill for the engineers. ,,.
"The Bridge Trustees. replied Mayor Wurster
"rhey are fully able TO do II and the impOrt3
of the question demands it, There need be no
unnecessary delay on the appointment OF this
hoard OF engineers and the consequent report"
After further talk It was decided to employ
three engineers. who together with MT Martln'
should form a board OF engineers TO examine the
Bridge and settle once for all the feaslblilty OF
through and continuous traffic, and $1,000 was
ordered appropriated for this purpose. Two en-
gIneers are 10 be selected by the Mayors or the
two cities and the third one by the vice-president
or president Of the Board. Trustee Henriques
made a strong effort for the trustees to have
finger in the pie but the others did not see IL
that way The Plaza matter laid on the
table pending the report Of the board OF engl-
neers.
MAIL TUBES PROVIDED FOR.
The question Of pneumatic mail tubes between
the New-York and Brooklyn postofces was
brought up and settled. to the great satisfaction
Of the postal authorities and Senator McNulty.
who represented the New-York Mail and News
paper Transportation Company. and others.
Senator McNulty explained the advantages or
the tube system. There are TO be two tubes
of eight inches in diameter. the terminal sta
l,o tn hn
$4,000 to build the plant. The contention all
along has been the matter OF rental. the
Bridge Trustees holding out for $3,OW II was
decided. however. to charge the company Sl.OO0
a wear rental a five-year contract. Mr.. Hen
rtoues offered q resolution In this connection
providing that the work should be done by
March 1; that II should be done under the
suDeryision OF Engineer Martin: that the Bridge
sioud be free from all liability OF accident either
20 the tubes or to Bridge employees The Gov
ernment is to pay the company $14OOO year
rental Senator McNulty expressed his ability
10 have the work done In the specified time. BY
this means letters can be sent to New-York or
BROOKLYN In two minutes. and saving OF from
one 10 two hours in the delivery Of mail mat
ter can be made.
'X'representative Of the Reno Inclined Eeva-
tor Company presented the claims Of his con-
Germ for the erection Of an experimental stair
way on the New-York side. The former re-
ouirement of q $50 900 bond was rescinded. and
the amount reduced to $1,000 Work on the
st.irway will be begun soon. the company as
oerting its ability to carry 1S,OW people an
hour without mishap.
piece OF property under tho bridge within
Che danger line at the New.York terminal was
ordered to be bought for $o0O0