New-York tribune., 1897-08-24
NEWS OF BROOKLYN.
BRIDGE CONTRACTS SIGNED
THE SCHEME NEARLY DEFEATED AT
THE LAST MOMENT.
r,o,,rv po,ns TRIED TO INSIST on THE
sANps-sT PLAN--rHEovGH TRANSIT
ppovrsrD ny JANUARY l.

PROMISED BY JANtAhl l.
Tho officials of the elevated and surface railroads
IN Brooklyn III particular! HAPPY i"", -, -
mind to-day The project which they have iohe
cherished and for which they have worked lo'
months that of running Brooklyn cars over 'ne
Bridge to New-York IS nearer an assured 'ao' 'i''
ever. The contracts between the bri"st '"S'
and TN. respective officials Of the BROOKLYN rai-
roads were signed yesterday in the bfi"se ONE
and their execution is only matter or rev
months The plans Of each ROAD ior croS''hs IA.
structure are complete. They have been approved
by the Bridge officials. and were attached 10 tne
rcspeciiNc contracts. There remains no" TIE wor.
~ constructing the approaches and roadway and
the alteration OF the rolling stock TO meet tne
demands OF the contracts. For the eNec"on y.
this work the trolley companies nave SIX H'oi'"'
time President Rossitor representing theS'' SaEs'
however that they are prepared to rush '''"
work night and day. ara expect TO have tnel' cars
running over the Bridge before January /
The Brooklyn Elevated Railroad has ten months
time in which TO carry out its contract Inc
KINGS County Elevated receives an additional
month In order that IL may have time to equip i'S
road as it ia thinking of doing. with elecirlcltF'
At II a. m yesterday the following rairoad
officials assembled in the Office OF the Srdse ''uS
tees: President Clinton L. Rossiter' secretary l.
S. Williams Engineer Breckenridge ana ffo'eSSoi
Collins OF the Brooklyn Heights road; iteSuoil'
Albert johnson and Secretary Ham. Of the Nassau
Company. President Partridge and Secretary o""-
non. OF the Brooklyn City ard NewtoWh I'VSiu'"'
Sullivan and Secretary NInGe!HOoi' VI nv
Island and Brooklyn Company: President rrco-
,rjck Uhlmann General Wmgate Secretary EHsha
DYER il and Engineer Cornell. OF the bfoohH"
Union Elevated and President James Jonfoah'
Secretary Robinson and Treasurer trothihsh'n'
of the Kings County Elevated.
A; the head of the table sat William Berr presl-
dent of the Bridge trustees, surrounded by MS COL
leagues Seth l.. Keency. G. A. HenriqueS. Secie-
,ary Harry Beam and Treasurer william h"'''
Lawyer Bergen and Engineer Martin were also on
hand 10 look OF; for the interests OF the bTidse'
Mr. Bergen was busy aflixing the respective plans
of the railroad companies 10 their contracts. Every
thing seemed mapped on, In advance. and every
one expected that the business would be completed
in short time
President Rossitor threw bomb into the camp
when asked to present lbe plans for the tolieE
companies which he represented by presenting the
old plans which called for the use of Sands-st. by
the cars Of all the companies except the brooklyn
Heights on their return from the Bridge to WASH
ington-st. These plans. which were offered by the
trolley companies at the conference week ago.
were strenuously objected TO by Presden, Berri Of
the Bridge trustees because he said. he would
not have the south and west entrances 10 the
Bridge station blocked by continuous line Of
cars swinging around the plaza into Sands-st. AT
that conference ii was agreed by all the repre-
sentatives Of the trolley companies except Presi-
dent Partridge o. the BROOKLYN and Newtown. who
was not at the meeting. TO abandon the SaEds-si.
protec; and run their cars back TO " asniAgtohsst
by way Of Prospects,. just to the norm OF M .Mhe
bridge station But thiS route woud & delaS a nos re
relish it; they decided to make another stand FOR
brought the matter forward President Berr was
firm and said that not only would he not enter
exit from the Bridge. but Furthermore the tracks
in that free1 w9qG naTt to be torn torn n.y. rs
the tracks belonged to the Brooklyn city Company.
and he & ek % I cod mo, s one e1C onm
Partridge. president OF the Brooklyn City and New
stand that ssnds-st was TO he used. he did not
feel justified in signing contra, win s sny o!rer hr
officials Of the trolley companies then w wthdrew 1 10
Heights Railroad Company.
While they were gore the presidents and secre-
taTies OF the two elevated railroads signed their
contracts. about which there was no dispute. This
completed at 1890 O'Clock
until he could sisn the conracts with the trolley
people at the same time. It is we'll known that his
that it should be ''all none" The elevated peo-
in the afternoon President Rosser led his band Of
protestants back into the Bridge office in compro-
missing frame of mind They were willing TO accede
to the demands of President Berr and use the
the OF Prospect instead OF Sands the street
upon which to return TO WaS9inst t1&n-s & from the
that he had no authority 70 order The tracks in
pany Will sun continue - use ;hen as now 1t
has been expressly stipulated; however; that no
which use the Bridge shall run on that street
After the contracts had been altered 10 this effect
the trolley officials. representing tneir respective
JOaIS signed anu S.dltu il'In fTtSluelt iNOSSlttf
who was the last affixed his signature ard the seal
OF MS company at just o'clock. President Berri
then sat down and made ali the contracts complete
and valid by attaching TO them his signature and
Bridge seal
Residents of Brooklyn regard this action as al
most important the opening Of the Bridge.
For /: means redoubled usefulness for the Bridge
and ehe attraction TO Brooklyn of thousands Of
residents, VINO at present are deferred from the
CITY OF Homes" on account of the slow tranSpOr-
tatiOn facilities 10 New-YOrk President Chlmann
Of the Brooklyn Elevated Company, VITO has been
one OF the foremost workers in the fight of the
local roads 10 cross the Bridge said after the con-
tracts signed Il happy ! can hardly