Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-10-23
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
Rapid Transit on Brooklyn Bridge = a
Marvellous Engineering Feat.
Clever Work by Convicts.
IspeAl Correspondence

SrOWlerS, WIZ SCCllictl w 4sHOio WV A"S'
that traffic over that structure had III
creased so rapidly that it was unreason-
able to expect that the accommodations
would not fall behind the demand for n
short time at least At last after stand
ing tho growls for us long time as
they could, tho bridge commissioners
determined to inaugurate cable car
system on tho bridge that would re-
spond to any demands made upon it.
To do this, however, radical alterations
were necessary The old steel stations
on both sides of the river must be torn
down and replaced by higher and larger
ones. This was done. New stations
hundreds of feet long were built mp i'll
place of the old ones, and yet, despite
the apparent impossibility of the task,
all this WAS accomplished without in
terfering with the enormous daily
traffic.
Passengers to and from Brooklyn
stumbled over saws, planes and all sorts
of tools for few months, and the air
was blue with the imprecations, many
of which were suggested by tho news
papers, whose supposed funny men could
see nothing serious i'll tho stupendous
engineering feat which was being &C
complished Finally it was done, and
the commissioners went step further
by dispensing with the annoying little
switching engines and eQuippinS the
end cars of each train with III electric
motor, so that the trains were self shift
ing from enc to another of the four
tracks which had been provided.
A New Chance to Kick.
\ third rail was put down in each
roadbed, so that the trains could be run
by electricity whenever necessary, and
in addition TO all this an extra cable
was kept running, so that in case of
break there would be no such thing rs
the old nuisance of being stalled Ill the
middle OF the bridge The croallers were
silenced. There may be better transpor-
tation facilities somewhere on the face
of this globe but those who are famll-
lar with such matters have not heard OF
it, and they are on the lookout for just
such information too. There is always,
or very nearly always seat for a pas
senser, aud even those who are crowded
out of one train have only to wait about
half minute for another. The croak-
ers were for time nonplused, but
they did not have long to wait, for the
deal was soon made whereby the elevat-
ed and trolley lines of Brooklyn are
permitted to run their cars over the
bridge. That of itself was bad enough,
for there is none too much room there
now, and every one knows that the re-
suit will only be delay i'll getting across
the river, but little later the an
nouncement was made that the trolley
people would be allowed to run their
cars down to the street level on this
side. That was the cue for the croakers
to begin their wall. But this time they
have almost everybody except the troll
ley officials in sympathy with them.
Clever Work by Convicts.
The prison exhibition recently
held in this city was a most unique sort
of affair, and to persons of a semimorbid
turn of mind it was not without its in
teresting side.
Every visitor to the exhibition was
privileged to be measured by the Bertil-
lon system, and the cards in such cases
were given him.
Among the "curios" were the electric
chair from Sing Sing, woodwork by
convicts in New York state prisons,
model of the Eastern penitentiary at
Philadelphia, the plan Of which has
been adopted in England, and jap
anese prison exhibit showing the modes
of punishment il vogue i'll the Flowery
Kingdom 20 years ago and modern i'm
provements thereon.
There were prison locks and keys
without end, many Of them with inter
esting histories. There was model of
the key of the Bastille foot long, and
copies of the keys used in many Euro
pean prisons.
Family of Prison wardens.
The original commission of Moses
Pillsbury as warden OF the penal insti-
tuition of Maine, issued in 1877, was on
file. His son, Amos Pillsbury, was
warden at Albany, and his grandson,
Louis A. Pillsbury, is now warden at
Blaclwell's island.
A woman living in Harlem, which,
as most persons are aware, is that por-
ton of New York city devoted almost
exclusively to flats, trolley cars and
goats, has received letter from fe-
male friend who has gone to the Klon-
dixie in search of wealth and adventure.
womans Klub of Klondike.
The letter brings news of the Wom-
ans klub Of Klondike. Although just
organized, the society shows that it
has already grasped the spirit and in
tention of the great The list
of subjects for discussion shows that
nothing of the slightest relevance to
anything nearer than the antipodes
will be allowed She who looks for such
topics as "How to Cut Ice, I" "The Way
to Keep Warm With the Mercury at
Vanishing Point and ga Comparative
Analysis of the Gastronomic Merits OF
Rubber Boots and Book Backs will be
disappointed. The motto of the club is
"Kulture In Koldest Klondille. J" The
colors are yellow and white, signifying
the principal products of the region
gold and snow. The badge is in the
form of pin aud bears the design Of
gold pick rampant upon field of ice.
To this its youngest daughter, so heart
lily in accord with its constitutional aims
and interests, the General Federation OF
Women's Clubs has already sent cor
dial invitation to become member OF
the great body. JOSEPH RUSSELL
Short Cycle Notes.
E. G. Bald, Americas greatest short
distance cyclist, is to make European
tour.