New-York tribune., 1899-02-14
PLAIN TALE FROM THE BRIDGE.

cororal correspondents have recently COM
rontod dcploringly upon the depressed state OF
tho roaltv market In Brooklyn the numDer ol
vacant houscs 10 be found in some of the most
desirable streets and the tendency OF people 10
mayo away from that borough 10 The Bronx
~ Richmond, to New-Jersey or some other
Mace. Some surprise is expressed at this con-
dttion Of affairs. following so soon after the
consolidation Of the cities. which was to bring
esnocial prosperity to Brooklyn. and after the
surrender of the Bridge TO the transportation
comnanjcs. which was To facilitate transit be-
tvvocn tho boroughs 10 so great degree Ihe
connlaints arc well founded, but not the sur
rrise as simple statement OF literal fact will
make plain.
ON SUNDAY NIGHT a week ago a man started to
90 from Manhattan to Brooklyn. He wanted TO
20 70 that choice residence part OF the latter
horouqh which lies on the Prospect Park Slope.
and accordingly meant TO ride in Seventhave.
troIIn,-cor lie went 10 the Manhattan end or
the Fridge The only car of the Nassau system
70 be found was one OF the Fifth-ave. line AMI
# was one Of the dead open and shut variety.
He stood in the cold and damp and waited.
Five minutes later the Fifth-ave car. crowded
10 the dashboards, started The would-be pas
other car of the Nassau system came into sight
Then another Flfth-ave "coflln-car' arrived.
Five minutes further waiting showed no other
car Of the Nassau lines coming. and then the
traveller decided to try his fortune on the Gle
waited road.
\Go.ng upstairs on the Bridge car was soon
found which gave prompt transit to the Brook
lvn terminus. There he climbed up to the
rofn IN -
Ing and the only ohtainable information was
that one might be along in about ten minutes.
The platform was open and exposed to freezing
blasts. and the traveller sought shelter. At the
end of the long platform most remote from the
point at which the trains stop he found small
waiting-room containing Il stove. There were
nineteen persons in the room. Seventeen Of
them were Of the male sex. Two were women.
Sixteen Of the former were seated, occupying
every available seat in the room. The other
man and the two women were compelled to
stand Seven Of the seated persons were smok-
ing The air was thick with foul smoke. and
the floor was Shiny and slippery with more foul
expectorations There was scarcely square
foot where one could stand without getting his
boots soiled with filth. Three other women I'M
able to endure such veness were patiently
waiting outside on the cold, dark platform
How long they had already been waiting the
traveller did not ascertain. But he had to wait
eight minutes longer before train came in
Then he got aboard II, endured the fumes of
two bad cigars in the car in which the women
were, although there was another car expressly
for smokers, and finally reached his destination
about an hour and ten minutes from the time
OF his departure from Park Row. He could
have made the trip more quickly by walking
The proper time by either trolley or elevated
road is not more than thirty minutes
That is a truthful picture Of transit facilities
between the chief boroughs Of the second city
in the world. That IS a truthful account Of the