New-York tribune., 1901-10-09
PLANS FOR BRIDGE RELIEF.
RAISING OF TROLLEY TRACKS AT
MANHATTAN TERMINAL AND UN-
DERGROUND WALKS FOR
PASSENGERS.

II the recommendations of the committee or
rasineers appointed to devise ways and means
Of overcoming the discomforts attendant upon
t,sne over the New-York and Brooklyn Bridge
during rush hours are carried out by Bridge
Commissioner John Z. Shea, or his successor.
rsdtcal changes will be made at the Manhattan
Asrniaal- The cornrnittee. which consists OF
Colonel Henry G. Prout chairman; A ?. Boiler
and Samuel Winery after an investigation and
Inspection Of the bridge occupying three months
YESTERDAY afternoon submitted TO Mr.. Shea their
report covering forty-eight typewriter pages
The report recommends that the trolley tracks
over which the public is now compelled TO walk
the imminent risk of life, be raised, and
two passageways be placed underneath one
for outgoing and the other for incoming
passengers. The trolley tracks, which are
the cause OF the greatest annoyance ana
discontinue TO the public. may be raised within
four months. The engineers recommend that
this work be begun Immediately.
A P. Boiler gave description of the plan 10
q Tribune reporter last night.
THE Manhattan end Of the bridge is In
terrible situation at present., he said. l can
not imagine how such a plan could ever nave
been put into operation. The most crying neeu
is for the removal of the trolley tracks from
their present location. We have recommended
that they be raised, and this could be accom-
plished within a short period and without any
particular inconvenience TO the public ohoer
the tracks then we propose making passage
ways for the incoming and outgoing passeh-
gers without conflicting. The crowds at the
entrance TO the bridge are great during rush
hours that people jostle and jolt against each
other and things are generally uncomfortable
There will be no crossing Of trolley tracks as
there is now. The passengers will walk unoer
them"
Bridge Commissioner Shea said last night
that he had not had sufficient time to STUDY the
report and plans submitted by the committee OIL
engineers The report, he said, was IN lhe
hands Of the printer. and it would be Two OF
three days before he could acquaint himseH
with its recommendations.
Bridge Commissioner Shea put sixty painters
81 work yesterday on the bridge. They worked
all day scratching off the old, scaly paint ana
rust, and applying copious quantities or cleah
white paint. By night they had covered con-
Siderable part Of the ironWork extending iroi,i
the Brooklyn tower TO the Brooklyn terfninai'
and il presented striking contrast TO the par 10
that had not yet been attacked by the painters.
Passengers on the bridge who noticed the men
at work naturally supposed that IT was cam
psasn manRuVre on the part OF Mr. Shea, VINO
IS d well versed Democratic politician, anu
never fails 10 turn trick when possible, put -
=. Martin. chief engineer of the bridge set 'he
gossip at rest when he explained. .
1t is the usual thing" he said we do 1t
once in every four years, and the time Tor a
liesh coat has now arrived The prloge nc
suffered injury from rust. SO far as Mr.
Philbin's report is concerned, if il had never
been made the time for the painting would nave
arrived just the same .
Y is singular however, that the time shoulo
nave arrived on the eve Of a political campaign.
Inc work viii take until the beginning OF Ihe
year, so that by the time Election Day has ar
rlYed the bridge will have had at least one coa'
q fresh paint, and will present a neat appear
anee
One unkind individual who stood contempiat-
ing the men they applied the white paint op-
served:
4 suppose next they'll give the bridge man
seement coat of whitewash."