The sun., 1902-03-02
COSTLY BRIDGE IMPROVING.
MR.. Observation-Disclosures
nsTAhTS ZEITUNG" BUILDING.
Expense Guessed at Eight Millions Comp
trolIer Grout Opposed Commissioner
pan Involves Two-story Railroadins
on Property the City Would buy'

troller GrOut Opposeu u e"i""s'
Plan Involves Two-story Raiiroadins
on Property the CITY would buy'
oomptroller Grout In opposed to the
l.test plan for relief Of the congested condi-
tions at the Manhattan end OF the brooklyn
Bridge which has been put forward by
Commissioner Lindenthal OF the Depart
ment OF Bridges, on account OF the immense
cost OF carrying II out, which 1t was de-
clared last evening would be In excess OF
Ssy0Oo,ooo.
This latest plan advocated by the Com
missioner of Bridges includes the purchase
by the city OF the land In the block where
the Stdats Zeituno building stands and all
OF the land In the block bounded by the
Bridge. Park row, North William street
and Chambers street.
Mr.. Ldndenthal thinks that the city could
ACQUIRE these properties by purchase, or
n this was found to be impossible he would
have them taken by condemnation pro-
ceedings. His plan is for an entire re-
arrangement OF the terminal facilities OF
the roads that now use the Bridge and also
of the terminals OF the Metropolitan Street
Railway lines that run to the end OF the
Bridge.
Upon the irregular block now occupied
by the Stats Zsitung Building he would
erect an elevated structure at the level OF
the elevated railway tracks now on the
Bridge. On this structure he would build
loops for the Bridge trains. so that they
could run continuously without switching
In this way there would be considsrabie
saving Of time, and the method OF handling
tho trains would be simplifed.
Mr.. Lndenthal would leave the ground
under this structure clear and free, and
would lease It TO the Metropolitan Street
Railway Company for the accommodation
OF the lines that run through Centre street
10 the Bridge and TO City Hall. At present
ali Of the Fourth and Second avenue cars
have TO change ends in running from the
Post Office north or north from the end OF
the Bridge where many OF them stop. Mr..
Jindenthal is Of the opinion that by putting
loops ON the new space the cars couId De
handled with greater ease and freedom
from danger. and the tim spent in SWITCH
ing them around would DO saved.
An incident TO the situation is the fact
that Park row from the Bridge TO Broad
way is practically monopohzed by the
street railways and II Will be even more
difficult to cross it when the new lines OF
the Metropolitan are running than IL is at
present.
for the surface cars In the land that he
would acquire north Of the entrance to
the Bridge. The city already owns some
of the land in the block, and Mr.. Lindenthal
thinks that the proper thing TO do is 70
tear down all Of the buildings and give all
OF the surface over TO the loops OF the
BROOKLYN Rapid Transit Company.
All Of the surface cars come from Brooklyn
on the north roadway Of the Bridge, so
that the tracks could be run on 10 the new
land without any difficulty, though there
would be the question OF how TO dispose
of the carriage and wagon trafhc, whlch
tisae the same roadway.
Commissioner Lindenthal has not made
all the details Of this plan public yet. II
was said last evening that he had plan Tor
disposing Of the cart and truck trathc by
diyerting Il at a point where IL would not
have TO cross the trolley tracks. Under
the present arrangement the tracks Tor the
surface cars are inside the roadway ana AT
no point does the other traffic have TO cross
them Any plan which would involve
the crossing Of the trolley tracks at grade
by the other traffic would be open to the
most serious objections for the reason that
II would be practically impossible to avoid
accidents.
Mr.. Lindenthal thinks that a physical
connection between the Brooklyn Bridge
tracks and the tracks OF the Manhattan
Elevated Railway might be good thing,
and under this plan it would be possible
to bring such a thing as this about.
1t was pointed out yesterday that with
the Stdafs Zeitunp building gone It would
be possible for the Manhattan company
TO make tho improvements IL ls anxious
TO make In the City Hall terminal. The
crowding and crushing on the company's
platform at night are as bad as that AT the
Brooklyn trolley loops. With the Stats
Zeifuno building out Of the way the ele-
waited railroad structure could be 30 en-
larged that the platform room would be
greater. II would also be possible TO build
a loop that would enable the company TO
run it's trains without changing ends and
thus great deal Of time could be saved.
Edward Uhl and Herman Ridder Of the
Stats Zeitung are not ready to have the
citv take their property and they would
oppose any plan that included this. The
plan would not he opposed, It was said,
last evening by the men who own property
in the block TO the north OF the Bridge.