New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-24

Vas put into operation in July. 1894 on the
route OF the original stage line to Greenpoint
within a few days thereafter the Myrtle ave-.
Fulton st, Court Furman-st.. F1atbush- ave-
Third ave, Graham ave. Gates-ave. and Put
nam,ave lines ines were operated in the order
the Bushwick Railroad Company, New WILL
samsburg and Flatbush Railroad Company
Greenpont and Lorimer Street Railroad Com
pany: brooklyn Crosstown Railroad Company
Calvary Cemetery, Greenpoint and Brooklyn
Railroad Company, Grand Street and Newtown
Railroad Company, and South Brooklyn Street
Railway. In 1893 the Brooklyn Heights Rail-
road Company acquired by lease the entire sys-
tenn OF the Brooklyn City Railroad Company
In 1884 the Brooklyn Queens County and Sub
urban Railroad, which had been organized In
the preceding year. and was in itself CONSOLE
datfon of several roads lying mostly in the East
ern District. was also brought into this system.
In 1895 the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company
succeeded to the ownership, and now owns and
controls the Brooklyn Heights Railroad. is lessee
Of the Brooklyn City Railroad, and by lease
made in 1898, of the Brooklyn, Queens County
and Suburban Railroad, the Sea Beach Railway
and the Sea View Railroad. During the year
1854 Twenty-Five miles Of double track were
operated thirty-two cars used, motive power be-
ing furnished by 400 horses, and 800 men were
employed in its operation.
In 1898 the mileage is approximately lao miles
Of double track. Four powerhouses. aggregatng
1900 horse power, provide the motive power
and employment is given to upward OF 3OVO
men, 200 cars being required for the operation
Of the road During this year more than 12G.-
last three years some 175 miles OF track have
been relad the old style horse-rail being re-
placed by standard "9 girder rail. The coming
year will the entire mileage OF the system
rebuilt with this rail- During the same time TIE
company has purchased go standard closed
cars and 100 open cars $50 more open cars now
being made under contract, all, both open and
closed being double-truck cars and OF the most
approved construction. The company Is the
owner of franchises which will be built upon ss
growth Of the districts In which they lie de-
Dands IT..
The presidents Of the transportation company
from the beginning have been Seymour l..
Hustled II. N. COnklin. Ellis p. stanton, Alex
ander Studwell, Charles c. Belts. II r. fier.
son Thomas Sullivan. w. II. Hazard. Daniel r.
Lewis, Edward Merritt and Clinton /. Rossiter.
the last four only being alive at the present
time.
OVERHEAD TROLLEys IN BROOKLYN
The overhead trolley has taken strons
hold in Brooklyn in the last four years ana u
carries a large proportion Of the passenger tra'-
&c Including not only the SUBURBAN res'ue"''
but also the chance visitor and pleasure-seehe''
The progress OF the electric railway is only
limited by present knowledge and experience.
Notwithstanding the improvements wrought
ard about to be wrought by the extension OF 'he
underground trolley system in New-York, the
needs OF the city have increased so rapidly mat
something more is wanted. the capacity or
strained especially at certain hours Of the day
New methods are being studied out. and every
rhase of the question has been studied out by
the most competent engineers OF the country.
II is generally conceded that the existing sur
face and elevated railroads occupy as much
s1ace as can be used with safety. and consider
able thought is being given to the question Of
suberrancan route 1t is not unlikely that an
underground system will be an outcome of the
near future
The new arrangement by which troey-cars
now cross the Brooklyn Bridge has proved to he
one Of the most popular as well as convenient
features of the street railway system of New
York. and has facilitated communication be-
tween the two bOroughs 10 remarkahlc de-
gree.
A conspicuous feature, and one for which
New-Yorie rs are duly grateful has been the
introduction Of the Pintsch Light system in
many of the ears Of the city The poor iliuini-
nation OF many OF the roads was Tor many years
q source Of annoyance 10 passengers but the
of this excellent method Of lighting has re-
suited in general satisfaction. a general idea Of
the extent and Importance of some of the prin-
cipal street railway companies of New York
City may he had from the following statistics,
gathered from the report Of the Railroad Com
TiSsiCners for 1897:
METROPOLITAN STREET RAILWAY COM
PANY
Number Of passengers CARED. including
transfers ....... 49,. ................... ri
Number Of transfers ~ $50 I'll
II rrG
Aggregate salar-s 81 icI OJ1
The total length Of tracks and sidings owned
by the company is 30 II niles and those leased
cover 141.01 miles
It's equipment includes ili hOxcars
(motors) S'1 cars other than motors, 231 open
cars (motors) and 3G.} other than motors.
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS
Eumbc, Of passengers earned including
transfers .......... ... ........... III GaC 29I
OF transfers %
Average nurnb,r Of empoyc" 600 g. 5O0n