New-York tribune., 1901-07-29
: BRIDGE TRAFFIC LIGHT.
CARS RUN On REGULAR SCHEDULE,
BUT ONLY PARTLY FILLED.
MR., SHEA SAID TO REGARD THE BREAK
INCIDENT" AS CLOsED-MR. PHIL
BINS INQUIRY.

BINS INQUIRY.
..Tbey're 'fraid Of the big bridge. It's like a
Sunday in winter" said the starter Of the troll
lev cars yesterday at the Manhattan end of the
Brooklyn Bridge. glance at the cars whlch
kept rolling in and out around the big horseshoe
was all that was needed TO confirm the starter S
statement Half the were empty when they
arrived and only half filled when they swung
out again for the return trip.
In the afternoon when the rush Tor Cohey
Island is at its height the cars bound for that
resort were far from their usual condition, with
passengers packed five in a seat, with extra
rows damned in between, and cloud of coats
hats and trousers huttering in the wind from the
rear platform
The schedule of bridge trains was the same
Yesterday as on other Sundays There were SIX
bridge trains with a through express for baih
Beach. These were operated with three
minute headway.
From figures obtained from the broohlSh
Rapid Transit officials. the traffic on the troley
lines was only little more than one-half the
average amount.
The full schedule Of trains both for the bridge
s.,5 the trolley cars will be put on tomorrow,
although the officials still expect the trafhc TO
ifan below the average.
Still further evidence of the fact that the
break in the bridge rods which was discovered
"Wednesday afternoon has frightened away null
i1itudes TO other means of transportation WAS
the continued heavy traffic on the ferries. Ihls
was most noticeable the Broadway CBrook-
lyn) ferries Thousands Of tenement dwellers in
this city who are won't TO enjoy the cool breeZes
and hot frankfurters of Coney Island changed
their point Of destination yesterday 10 RockawaN
Beach They made this change because they coulo
get there without going over the bridge. In con-
,;ot, and ar RrOa
Brooklyn and the five and six car trains which
travelled 10 and fro between this terminal and
Rockaway were crowded to their utmost ca
pacity Many Of those who were bound TO go to
Coney Island anyway made the trip by water
on the boats Of the Iron Steamboat Line.
Despite the scare the old crowd will come
back to us in another week" said one OF the
officials OF the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company
last night They a little frightened now,
and have found ways Of going and coming;
but the old habit will come back to them before
another Sunday"
Bridge Commissioner Shea was out of the city
yesterday but his friends said that he now con-
sidered the incident closed" By incident"
they mean the breaking Of nine suspender rods
of the bridge the saCging Of the roadway and
the suspension OF traffic for two days.
Mr.. Shea, they add, believes that the agita-
fion and the talk of an investigation will soon
blow over, and few strCL-es of grayish white
paint will obterate the memory Of the
breaks. 1t is even said that Mr. Shea considers
the break of the bridge of smaller conse-
quence than that Of Engineer Probasco when he
said the rods had cracked from heat The for
mer has been repaired. but the latter seems TO
defy repair.
District Attorney Philbin will begin active
work to-day in his investigation of the condition
of the bridge 1t said yesterday that he
would not only rely the engineer whom he
has chosen for the work, but would consult with
other engineers who essentially bridge en-
- gineers.
Assistant District Attorney lie Barber on
reading the interview in The Tribune yesterday
with J. J. r. CrOes president Of the American
Society Of Civil Engineers, III which Mr.. Croes
recommended a careful examination of the
bridge by competent bridge engineers outside Of
the city government, said:
Mr.. CrOeS looks at this question in the right
light The facts in regard TO the repairs and
the traffic Of the bridge should be made known
The state OF the public mind demands ii. When
Mr.. Croes says that constant. careful and sys-
tematic investigation is absolutely essential to
the security Of the structure he strikes the
keynote of the question. If the present Bridge
Department is not looking after the bridge in
this way the office of the District Attorney
to find it out and put those responsible on
trial"