New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-24
Mr.. ROSSITER'S EXPLANATION.

We were glad to give place in yesterdays
Tribune to n letter from Mr.. Rosster, the pres
ident Of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company
In reply to recent criticisms made by us ana
BY correspondents upon some details or man
agcment Of some Of the transportation lines
under his control We accept his explanation,
of course in entire good faith. We believe
that. as he says and as we have ourselves
hitherto often said. 1t Is the desire OF his COM
panv to give all reasonable facilities for travel
We agree. most emphatlcally. with him IN say
ing that the running Of Rldgewood and Long
Island Railroad trains directly to the Bridge
IS now great convenience to the public, and
that the running Of Fifth-ave. and East New
York trains across the Bridge at all hours with
out change will add still more TO the COM
fort and convenience Of the public. We are
willing to believe that when this lastnamed
Improvement Is effected there will be no rea-
sonable cause of complaint against the service,
and we gladly testify that, despite the delay
which Mr. ROssiter deplores, the work OF trans
forming the roads so to put it into operation
has been pressed with admirable expedition.
Nevertheless Mr. ROsSlters explanation does
not quite reach the root Of the matter Grant
ed that the discomfort ut the Bridge OF which
we have complained, and which he does not
deny. Is only temporary. and will be abolished
In n month. or week. or a few days. 1t has
already lasted for months. And 1t ought never
10 have existed for n single day. 1t ought not
TO last for another hour The company has no
right TO infct what can he described only as
an outrage upon It's patrons for time, with
promise of better things In future, when that
outrage IS absolutely unnecessary. And, de-
spite Mr.. Rossiter's disclaimer, we must still
consider the outrage in questionable crowdlng
Of Messengers in single file through narrow
gates-as absolutely unnecessary. Mr. Rosster
saws he does not deem II safe 10 use the side
doors lest when the trains are running round
curves at high speed they fly open and spill
ont the passengers We have not asked that
they be opened at all stations. There Is no
need of opening them anywhere save at the
Fridge Does Mr. ROsster mean to say that
they cannot be opened at the Bridge. and then
locked again as securely as ever before the
train starts, not to be unlocked again until the
train gets back to the Bridge? Does he mean
n say that there Is no known device for hold
ing those doors securely shut. that will permit
the openIng Of them at the Bridge and there
alone? It is incredible. There are dozen
such fastenlngs In common USE any one OF
which would answer perfectly.
No: that one point in Mr.. Rosslter's otherwise
satisfactory explanation must be regarded as
insufficient and unsatisfactory. We are afraid
that we shall be driven, though with reluctance.
TO the conclusion that Mr.. Rosters company
is simply unwilling to GO to the slight the very
slight, expense that would be required to put
an end to that abCminable crowdlng at once
that II prefers to make the public suffer dis
comfort and outrage for time, until ii can
complete It's whole scheme Of improvements
That must he regarded as nm unworthy att-
| tude for such n corporation 70 assume. And
we take the liberty OF assuring Mr.. Rossiter
In advance that ii will not work. Those side
doors Will have to be opened when the trains
are run directly across the Bridge or else there
will still be cause. and reasonable cause, for
complaint And If II Is his purpose to have the
doors opened then, why not do It now?