New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-20

JAMAICA TO MANHATTAN.
LONG ISLAND RAILROAD PREPARING TO
USE THE BRIDGE.
BRooKLYN ELEVATED TRACKS TO BE CON-
NDcTEp WITH THE SURFACE ROAD. AND
THE SPAN TO BE CROSSED UNDER
CONTRACT WITH THE COMPANY
WHICH NOW HOLDS
THE FRANCHISE.

THE FRANCHISE.
From all that can be learned II seems TO be the
intention OF the Long Island Railroad TO get
terminal al the lower end OF Manhattan Arrange
ments are now being made preparatory to running
the cars OF this company over the Brooklyn Bridge
In the spring This will be done under a hfty-year
contract with the Brooklyn Union Elevated Rail-
road Company, and the Long Islands officials DO
not see why they should not be able 10 run their
trains across the Bridge under this contract In
spite OF any protests that may be made by ordinary
citizens and taxpayers. II Is said that although
the Long Island cannot Immediately reap great
benefit from this arrangement on account Of the
limited facilities for handling cars in the Manhattan
terminal yet the fact that the corporation has
foothold on the present Bridge will give 4, some
claims on any future all-railroad bridge, or VIII
make the Legislature only too glad TO give the COM
pany privileges for the construction OF its proposed
tunnel under the East River II II will rid the Bridge
OF the pressure which the hauling OF so many extra
trains Will bring
A Tribune reporter endeavored to President
Baldwin OF the Long Island Railroad last evening.
but told that he out of town. When
Charles NJ. Pratt. the first president, was
asked II his company intended 10 run trains across
the Bridge, he did not deny IT. He said:
Yes building an elevated structure
and an inclined plane, which will allow to reach
the tracks of the Brooklyn Elevated Railroad in
Flatbush From there will TO the
Manhattan terminal Of the Bridge over the tracks
OF the elevated company"
Mr. Pratt made no pretence that the trains would
be run Brooklyn Elevated trains in order TO keep
the public from awakening TO the fact that the
Long Island Railroad had in reality acquired
terminal at the Manhattan end Of the Bridge
we shall run our own trains" said Mr.. Pratt
We are now having large number Of cars built
for this service They will have name them.
and be run as our trains We will the
tracks OF the Brooklyn Elevated by the rights
which we have CARED from that company in
hfty-year contract"
But have you got any rights in your charter
which will allow you the Bridge?"
asked
Il believe that originally we had some charter
privileges 10 the Bridge But that Is q minor
matter. as you will operate under a contract
With the Brooklyn Elevated AS to whether there
are any legal objections that could be raised had
rather you would speak TO Mr.. Baldwin as ne has
thoroughly studied up the legal aspect Of the Ques-
ton and believe is sure OF his ground
THE only limitations that I can see on our run.
ming our trains across the Bridge lie in the ability
of the tracks in the Manhattan terminal provide
for the traffic We cannot run any of our regular
trains from places other than Jamaica because the
cars TO around curves the elevated struct
ure, must be smaller and shorter than those we
For this reason the trains which will
run across the Bridge will be made up Of the new
cars they will from Jamaica. and all trafic
will have to be transferred there the lighter
I'VE have one hundred and fifty at work
the connection al Flatbush ave. and expect to be
ready to run trains TO Manhattan in the SPRING
The connection is TO be made by extending the
elevated structure from the Long Island road sta
ton OF the elevated road out over the Long Island
tracks TO Sixth-ave. Here the Long Island road
has yards on the south side of Atlantic-ave., ex-
tending from SXth-ave TO Carlton-ave. The ele
waited structure will then be carried Atlantic
ave. the yard. where the tracks will be carried
10 the surface tracks
The Corporation Counsel gave an opinion yes
terday regarding the right OF the Long Island Rail-
road Company to connect with the. Brooklyn ele-
waited. and run cars over the Bridge. He says:
THE exact and only question determined by the
Corporation Counsel in his opinion that the
Long Island Railroad and the Brooklyn Elevated
Railroad companies being the owners Of tracks In
Atlantic and Flatbush aves., separated by a block
Of private land had the right. so far as the city
was concerned. TO connect the tracks
The owner OF the land making objection, the
question whether the rights of the respective
companies enable them TO carry their tracks to the
side of each street in question. The right OF cross
ing parts of str set by company having the
right occupy such street for the purpose of max
ing connection with other companies, IS not
franchise and need not he sold under the charter
or the railroad law. Whether the Long Island
Railroad Company had the right 10 cross the New
York and Brooklyn Bridge is another matter