New-York tribune., 1899-05-14
BROOKLYN RAPID TRANSIT.
HOW THE EX-GOVERNOR VITALIZED
COMPANY WHICH PREVIOUS MAN
Ayers HAD FAILED TO MAKE


At a time when public interest is centred on the
successful life OF Ex-Governor Roswell T. Flower
through his untimely death on Friday night, a
short account OF the organization and achieve
ments Of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company
which has always been considered one or the most
marked evidences of the foresight and astuteness
of the hnancler as well Of his capabilities "s
an organizer. may not be out OF place
The Brooklyn Rapid Transit system has always
been considered the pet enterprise of Mr.. Flower,
and It is gratifying to those who were associa'eu
with him to know that his ideas have been so lar
carried out in the consolidation OF the railroad III
terests In Brooklyn He frequently visited BROOM
lvn and would go over all the lines or the system
and make unerrng comments ABOUT Ns co'"
and capablity for usefulness
When Mr. Flower first became interested IN the
company It controlled approximately Two nu"oreu
miles OF track and employed four tnousahu men
Now nearly six hundred miles or railroad Is "noei
the direction OF the Rapid Transit Company ana
the list OF employees contains over twelve thousand
names From a system with wretched roadoeo
o,d n miserable equipment, the Brooklyn Heights
svs,em has been advanced to the position OF
first t-class property. with heavy roaoDeu anu tie
most modern That the other roaus WHICH
have more recently come under the influence OF the
Rapid Transit Company Will be improVeu Ill t''e
same manner there is no doubt
It was In the spring OF 1896 that Mr.. Flower oe-
caroe factor in the local railroad situation lie
interested Anthony y. Brady and the Nanderoh'
interests in the project and associated with MIN
men whom he knew TO be thorough railroad men,
The Long Island Traction Company, when AT the
time controlled the property. was unable 10 make
# nav and gladly sold out to the Flower syndicate
on easy terms. The management OF the company
has since been a liberal scale. The lines now
controlled by the Rapid Transit Company include
all the surface trolley companies with the excep-
ton OF the Coney Island and Brooklyn. and ooth
OF the elevated companies-that Is the brooklyn
"I has actually passed into the possesssloh OF ne
stronger company and the Kings county i. prac-
tically So as 1, s being reorganized along
lines laid down by the managers or the RAPID iran
sit Company with a view TO a more complete con-
The directors Of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com.
pany were greatly graihed last night that the raid
on Rapid Transit by the bears on account OF the
death OF Ex-Governor Flower did not amount TO any
than 1t did. ,. .., an
the stock said II. c. Du Val to Tribune reporter
last night ''but the stock stood splenddly. ana
| I'm fully satished now that the public mas a pet
ter appreciation OF the transit company than ever
has had At time like to-day there are many
people holding shares who become hysterical inder
a sudden strain, and they fall over each other IN
rea azing on their holdings As matter or fact the
RAPID Transit Company Is doing 30 well under ls
nresent mana cement that II withstoo1 the attack
slIccessfully Its earnings increasing from week
TO week and the future is most rosy 90
NO meeting OF the directors has been caleu as
vet TO take action the death OF Mr.. Flower, out
am expecting a notice Of a special meeting