New-York tribune., 1901-10-11
BRIDGE PLAN NOT LIKED.
ELEVATED ROADS CONSIDERED AN
EXPENSIVE AND UNDESIRABLE
METHOD OF GIVING TEN
PORARY RELIEF

There is general dissatisfaction with the plan
proposed by Alfred p. Boiler H. G. Prout and 8
Whinnery, the bridge experts who appointed
by Commissioner Shea to find a way to relieve the
congestion at the Manhattan terminus of the
Brooklyn Bridge. The proposal to allow the build
ing OF an elevated road along Park Row is specially
offensive to many. II is urged that this street as
well as the other thoroughfares through which IL is
proposed to build elevated structures needs relief
from congestion rather than further incapacity
for the immense traffic that flows through IT,
Even the proposers of the plan are staggered when
they see the figures of the estimated OF what
would be- at best, only a temporary relief 1t is
admitted in the report that no permanent relief
can be had Until the completion of the bridges.
with which IL is proposed to establish connection
by means of elevated roads.
The time seems to me to be particularly inop-
perfume for such plan" said Controller Coler
Before the new bridge be finished the tunnel
under the river to Brooklyn will be ready for op-
Grafton This will afford better and cheaper relief
than will any extension of the Manhattan terminal
Even If this were not so. the plan is a good
one. The streets of Manhattan Borough al
ready sufficiently incommoded by elevated struct-
ures Elevated railroads cannot furnish the
rapid transit. Tunnels are the method that this
city should adopt for everything of this kind. If
the new tunnel, upon which work will probably be
begun soon. is not sufficient. build another one
FOR the 81 IO2 400 which IL is proposed spend
this scheme tunnel can be built under the river
and then the city will have something that will
1 IaSt Ihe Item of damages will doubtless enter
Alo tilc cost or an elevated road
| OIL a tunnel, and this alone should form a great
argument for the latter OF course the city would
| not pay for either tunnel elevated road.
| III might furnish the money by issue of bonds.
OUT the contracting parties would pay the interest
On the sum advanced and create a sinking fund for
| the retirement of the bonds at their maturity.
| WOULD INCREASE THE BRIDGE TRAFFIC.
| Another thing: The plan proposed by the engi-
heers has, as corollary. the addition of a large
amount of traffic to the already crowded bridge.
| Why don't they let the poor bridge alone? There
| is enough on 1t now. and according to all who
have examined the structure. relief will be better
/ than additional burden"
| The idea of building curb along the middle of
| the roadways by which to prevent wagons from
going on the tracks of the trolley cars is decried
| by those whose business comDels them to send
| wagons and trucks across the bridge The legal
| spacing of the cars 102 feet would. if enforced.
| allow light wagon carriage to turn out and
pass loaded truck. If that part of the roadway
cut off from the trolley tracks % sDg o6stTuction
| such as the breaking down of truck other
congestion OF traffic. and. II it occurred between
| the towers. would make a dangerous load the
bridge; AS il. is now. the wagons do not interfere
| with the trolley cars. The cars travel at a speed
wagon behind him. Rarely does wagon
| rage remain on the tracks longer than is neces-
| truck.
| MERCHANTS OPPOSED TO THE PLAN.
| The greatest opposition the elevated roads
plan comes from the merchants ard property hold
| ers in the streets through which the elevated
| structures projected, especially along Park
| Row and Vesey-st II is doubtful If anything like
| the necessary number of consents could be OBJ
| tanned, and the damages. estimated by one
| who has had considerable to do with this feature
| in elevated railroad building would amount to
less than $4,000. The aesthetic considerations"
| which the report brushes aside with a word. also
! enter into the calculations OF people who do not
| care to see City Hall Park fanked by an elevated
| railroad.
There is another point said merchant OF
| best that is promised by this plan is temporary
| relief. What then is to become of the unSightly
structures after the need for temporary relief has
| passed? They will simply furnish the Manhat-
| business and will be of real value to the people.
Besides. elevated station is established in
| old West-st. elevated railroad grab that now
| seems to be dead but which died so hard that the
| whole city alarmed by ITS death struggle.
| Then too, IL to me. the Pennsylvania Rail-
| road will be getting something pretty cheap. The
| elevated road proposed would lead directly to the
railroad ferry at Corandt-St.. and give the Penn
| sylvanta a practically unoroken system 70 Ihe
Flatbush-ave. station of the Long Island Railroad
| in Brooklyn. This would suit il 10 nicely, es-
| peciay if it did not have TO pay for the accom-
| mediation IL to me absurd for the city to
| give away. under the guise of facilitating the
| travel of BrookyniteS to their homes. such a
| valuable franchise this would be. l do not
think many merchants, or anybody else, VIII raVor
| the plan
| Abram S Hewitt chairman of the Chamber of
| Commerce committee which appointed for
| the purpose OF examining into the cOngeSted con-
/ bridge, said he had not examined the plan thor
| oughly but from what he had of IL he Thought
ent He declined to discuss 1t until he had talked
| with engineers.