New-York tribune., 1896-12-06
THE NEWS OF BROOKLYN.
THE BRIDGE MOTOR CARS
urccrss OF THE NEW METHOD oF
SWITCHING TRAINS.


rrEs-ApvANTAGEs OF THE ELECTRIC sYs-
rpM-No REASON NOW FOR cRowDING
AND PUSHING wHRN BOARD
ING THE CARS.
white mark should be placed TO the credit OF
Che Bridge trustees. Those who have followed Win
any care tho history of the sole INK CONNECTING
Brooklyn with New-York will have no difculiy Oh
appreciat.ng the novelty of such suggestion Here
tofore II thero has been Cne thing Tor whch lhe
trustees were noted above another 1t has been ior
Tho soyyness with which they have carried out tne
plans on which they had determined. In the mines
OF many people, the phrase "as SLOW as 'he biiuke
trustees" has come TO be regarded as synonymous
with ..as slow as a tortoise" The changes which
have been going on in tho stations icr haidy any
body knows how many years. for the purpose OF
Increasing the capacity of the railroad no as to per-
init moro trains 10 be run furnish an instance III
point Another. yet freshly in the puoic Hihu
was the extreme deliberation which marked inc
Introduction OF e.ectric lighting in the railway cars
which consumed many months
The thought Of the Bridge authorities getting
anything they undertook done ahead Of time has
hitherto been almost inconceivable. But at last
they have broken all records and established
precedent that has the mcri' of absolute novelty
When IL was decided few months ago 10 use eIec-
tricity for switching the trains at each end OF INC
Bridge instead of locomotives, 1t was the caicua-
sion that the change might be made by the begin
ming of 1897 Even twi.hn few weeks that was
the date set by Superintendent Martin But IN
point Of fact, more than month was gained IN
some way. and the new system Of switching was
actually introduced a week ago.
Notwithstanding the gain thus made, the motor
cars have given good satisfaction. and there nave
been no bitches due to haste In making the substi-
tuition The two mshaps occurring lass week "ero
not duo 10 the use OF electricity. Simply perfect
was the delighted exclamation OF one OF the Brlose
officials when asked yesterday how the new method
Of switching trains working. u never saw
ANYTHING like It," no added. 1T has worked with
out a hitch. and everybody must sec how much
better 1t is than the old way.
THE CABLE STILL TO BE USED.
Despite the frequent correct statements that have
been made in reference to the scope OF the use OF
electricity on the Bridge. the Idea Still perVades
some minds IT Is the intention OF the trustees
TO do away with the use Of the cable altogether
and use the nlotor-cars the sole traction power
sober assertion to this effect was made in the
editorial columns of of the Brooklyn papers
few evenings ago. But such purpose has beeh
entertained by the Bridge trustees; or. II they nave
thought of it, 1t is certain that Superintendent Mar
tin never has He is firmly welded 20 the use OF
. cable on tho Bridge railroad. and While ne hoios
the responsible office of chief engineer and super
intendent there is little prospect of change in the
general method Of operating the Bridge cars. In
explaining the advantages of the cable. Mr.. Martin
said few days ago.
''When the. changes which have been making IN
the stations completed, and we are able 10 re-
duce the headway Of trains. there viii durinS the
busy hours of morning and evening be distance
Of only 200 feet between trains. With the cable. we
shall be able to keep that distance absolutely UNI
FORM and thus the danger of collisions VIII DO
greatly reduced. In no other way that can con-
ceive OF is it possible maintain the same distance
between one train and another. With the motor
- 10 70
the Bridge with the greatest ease. but to 40 40 50
shonid not want to feel responsible for Or course
II is possible 10 run the cable at higher rate OF
Consider the speed high enough. for should be re-
membcred that we have 10 bring All trains 10
stop not long after they descend tho grace on each
In case Of the cable giving out the moior-car at,
thus the railway service will be by means so badly
crippled 1t has been in like circumstances ,s before re-
operated Electricity is also used 10 propel tho trains
run Tor M hrse or IS iUaI owed 10 N take e and hs
ynotor-cars have been found to work well at these
hours during the last week
NO NEED TO JAM AND PUSH.
One important advantage Of the electric system re-
mains to be pointed out There has yet been no at
tempt TO reduce the headway Of trains. but those
who crossed the Bridge In the busy hours last week
must have noticed that one train followed another
into the station with unusual quckness Formerly m l
the locomotive used 10 push loaded train out OF tho
station mad 10 run back out of the way before the
next tram could come up the platform. Now that
train following one about 10 can up within
few feet of IT, and take lis place alongside the plat.
station. Hence. passengers have e walt only lew
seconds for train and the crowding that formerly
Unfortunately many Of The passengers have .,i, not
Sood deal OF needless showing Instead Of waiting
the platform and then making rush for the doors %
the people can go IN in comparative leisure ano tnen
wait after having entered the car w M sd"n De ia
the system Of running trains at short Intervals ID
One Of the officials said yesterday that he expected
20 see the headway reduced few seconds perhaps
e many as TENN few days, as soon as the MOTOR
She running Of trains from both sides OF the pat
Sorms could not be started quite ye he expected ss
they would be ready 10 make this improvement Dy
the beginning OF the new year
TO REDUCE HEADwAY To FIFTY SECONDS.
"Now." said he. 1.-The trains are run on a headway
Of ninety seconds. We expect 10 cut that down TO
nifty seconds and then are done That Is all that
lcan be accomplished with this Bridge and after that
Ithe only thing DO is 10 build another"
The motormen who handle the have evi-
IDENTIFY been carefully trained, and a rule. they
who are standing little trouble There has been
OF the trolley jerk" of which many Brookynites
ec%mDd dnso Wnos last Is to power for running
the motor-cars has not yet been completed. and II
VII be week or more pe,oTs s rsr Is as n paer
inow securing the current they need from the Brook
Iiyn Heights Railroad Company. so. ,. A..
The cost OF the improvement has been large Act
ing Bridge President Henrques said day or two ago
that he thought i would mo- fall snort OF s2s oV 70:
has had TO pay s900-he lowest price at ,hich they
could be secured. tho result of public advertis-
STATUS OF BRIDGE POLICEMEN.
EA py