New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-02
TRAFFIC TOO HEA Wy.
BELIEF THAT BRIDGE OFFICIALS ARE
OVERLOOKING THE STRUCTURE
A LoNG-suFFERIHG PUBLIC AROUSED By THE
RECENT BUCKLING OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
AND RAILROAD MEN DECLARE THERE


cars that pass over Brooklyn Bridge Mt rush hours
close together has already injured the great span
b. causing ono OF the stays to sag has drawn pub
lie attention more strongly than ever to the mis-
management Of the cars and trains that run from
one borough TO ne other. Ever since the trolley
and the elevated companies began 10 run cars over
the Bridge the public that Is compelled to travel
over II has had hard time. Ii has endured lis
dscomforts with remarkable patience but now
that It appears that to the great Inconvenience
there is likely be added positive danger. unless
due precautions are taken the pubic Is beginning
TO demand that steps I've taken 10 protect 1t.
Brldsc Commissioner John L. Shea yesterday re-
ce!ved a number CT letters from people VINO nave 10
use the Bridge lines. complaining about the con-
dition Of the structure. Most OF the writer's found
fault with the trolley companies for running It's
cars so together in the rush hours OF the
day Several Of them urged the necessity Of forcing
the TO be kept at least one hundred feet apart
and thereby relieve the span from the great STRAIN
to which II is now subject. II Is pointed out that
the Bridge was never built with view to the Cjc
TO which 1t is now put. and that reasonauIe pre-
cautions should therefore be taken Siill other
writers asked that the companies be Obliged TO keep
the Bridge in good repair.
Commissioner Shea said: Il have instructed the
engineers Gve their attention 10 those COM
plants, and If find that the trolley companies are
TO blame in the matter will hold them to strict
accountability"
Several members of the Municipal Assembly also
received comp,arts about the condition of the
Bridge Few Of them were about the city Han yes
terday. but TamraEy member said he should
advocate the passage Of an ordinance forcing 'h'
mianics their cars 10 feet apart. Inc
same member declared that Il WAS only Just TO
make the companies keep the Bridge in order. and
such an ordinance. he said. would probably be IN
tioducei at to-days meeting Of the Municipal AS
sembly If quorum could be secured
President Gugeenheimer. now acting Mayor, said
that ne could not discuss the matter intellisentV
until he heard the facts in the case from Commits
soner Shea.
There is 70 question that the citizens OF Brook
Ign consider that the Brooklyn B!idge Is al present
wofuliy overcrowded. In spite ~ the fact that {.
c. Martin the chief engineer declares. rs do also
the other OH -ials Of the structure and the officials
~ the railroad corporations who have extended
their tracks until they have now almost sole pos
session OF the structure mat the hug hr'dS, Vas
calculated to hold much moro than The WEIGHT That
is Z CROWNS feeling that the Bridge i being called
on FOR more work than 1; Is capable Of PERFORMING
THE ACCIDENT LAST FRIDAY.
This conviction has been pressed home strongly
within the last few days 10y the uneven expansion
Of the ironwork which resulted in the buckling OF
three trusses Friday night. That this is a fire.
ouent occurrence In hot weather Is the answer OF
the engineers to those inclined to ask for an -
PLANTATION OF the accident. But the engineers admit
greater than ever before. as the huckng was more
extensive. and the report which acc9mi nice ~,
giving way Of the steel was 50 load mat AT hrst II
thought an explosion had TAXI place" In"n
tie rumGi spread around ihai me lase n9u d Fr o
ley-cars were relieved when they finally got OH
the structure
II the trolley-cars continue TO over he
Bridge az they Will, the conditions nat prevailed
strains upon the Bridge Will. without doubt. have
their effect In time on the structure"
Bridge OF portion Of The tram, appeals TO cyeryy-
one az a wise measure natural ana adequate
e1v Irf 10
structon Of another bridge lh's - Jlsi Wna'
A bill Drawn up In "A larg" melsur" according -
the advice 81 William Berri former pr.s ld'lt %:
man Brennan II passed the House. but WAS
turned down by ne sen,e WIN only o. o. i'rase
spanning the East River a. ms point 'nt N,'.
yenienee 10 the publ ara TIE GaF.ST n 1 be- M
calcuah.e II II should hecotne n"e"-s'ty !" 10.
the present structure for even a icw days II
Of 1sw H sfdse viii be bToast; W again Ths
william BERT who Was one 81 ~" -. "il i 90" -,
yocafes for extending the privileges or me haf" 10
the trolley and elevated roads Of Hfg'N' D. h,l'Nr'
that necessity calls FOR an additional of'S'' u biz
nhcant
MANY TURN TO THE FERRIES
while a casual observer would have been unable
"a note any lesscninE 81 traffic over the Bridge
Yesterday It H. a fact that tho ferries nave not
done such business In years ns they d!d on sun
day and yesterday The simple buckling OF IL"
Orders which, the engineers say. ~ Hl"'hs
matter and has not weakened the structure In the
IL
nervous that they have turned again to the anti
quated ferries But In the mad rush 10 get TO and
home from business the little accident OF Frlhay
has been forgotten. ana IN" cars S'e" I" Nv J'''
Whenever the officials Of the Brooklyn H"ish;s
Railroad who have been the agents of all the Other
trolley roads In crossing the Bridge" speak OF mo
'bucking" IT IL but to soon AT NJ i"nrs o, nh ny
VINO dare to say the incident Indicates that lhc
structure is being called upon 10 bear strain
from ,hs rUss{ tsrs Sforc clinton IS Rooster
the president OF the Brooklyn Heights Railroad
III there was any danger In our going over the
Bridge this morning you may rest assured thai ""
You can depend on Il that We VIII not keep our
cars on the Bridge Il We learn that there IL the
nothing new on the bridge. Il aes happened be
fore The r9eys went oyer the dse ANA " foI
entire truss TO be taken out OF a bridge structure
trafiic This littl~ affair has nothing to do WIN
impairing The sr,nsth OF inc hrdEc so w ib,
the Bridge is capable OF supporting weight which
would bo caused by the roadways being crowded
OF the structure to the other.
Mr. Rossiter insisted that the lO2.foot rule was
strictly enforced by the three inspectors VINO were
placed on the Bridge span lor tnat very purpo,r.
rule the approaches. az they are just as tafe IA
the streets ,, -, ,,, ,,or , -,
BROOKLYN Hcighis road. who was in charge Of ,he
work Of installing the ,rolsys on NE hridse talked
declared that the C2-foot rule was strictly en-
forced and S 10 f The oSm Una" Of the rocYs
on the bridge He said that the girders buckled
were small affairs which did not weigh more than
twenty pounds to the foot
PLAIN VIOLATIONS OF THE RULE.
The inspectors. employees ~ the trolley compa-
MES who are supposed TO enforce the proper rcgu-
lnions Of trolley traffic on the Bridge, vigorously
protest that the have never been run less
than 1872 feet apart on the span Of the Bridge All
these declarations made In the face Of plain
evidence which be procured by any one who
takes the trouble to watch the cars they go
speeding across the span. especially during the rush
hours Frequently there H. not more than twenty
feet between several cars In succession Every one
who walks across the Bridge knows this to be- true.
The policemen on the Bridge know IL 20 be so. and
they hesitate to talk about H. Many OF these