New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-12

plan was discussed. Before Mr.. Wells entered
Mr.. Lindenthars office. he was seen by Trib-
une reporter.
Our engineers and those OF the Bridge De
partment are now working plans for the
loops at the Brooklyn terminal" he said. I
have no doubt that within few days one of
these plans will be adopted, and the work OF
laying the tracks will then proceed with haste
The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company would
be glad to lay its tracks on the plaza That, I
think would relieve the situation and provide
great accommodation for the public Our
switching facilities in Washington-st are not
ample for the great number Of cars that would
come in there from Sands. Concord and Wash
ington SITS. There would be no way OF turning
them back. OF course we could use the switch
ing terminal at Fulton Ferry for all cars that
come down Fulton-st.. but that would mean
that people would have to walk clear across the
plaza 10 get their cars. If tracks were laid on
the plaza our cars could come right in there
ana take on the passengers dumped there from
the shuttle cars"
WOULD MEAN \ B. r. T. EXTENSION.
with its loops and tracks on the plaza. there
Is no doubt that the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company would take advantage Of the franchise
which it hold to Liberty-st. and Law double
tracks through that thoroughfare Before this
could be done Commissioner Lindenthals con
oSHt NOuId nave 10 be obtained, but said
'nat the company already has this consent
Commissioner Lindenthal has a new scheme
looking to the relief of the bridge He is going
10 let the people decide for themselves whether
or not they will use the ferries or whether they
prefer to be crushed and mauled al the Man
haitian end Of the bridge during the rush hours
The scheme of the Commissioner is this. In a
1ew days he Will have a number of large boxes
paced at the Manhattan end of the bridge He
mas prepared a number OF questions that the
newspapers will be asked to print in the form, or
a coupon suitable for cutting out and droppina,
INTO the boxes. The questions ask the name
ana addresses of persons who live in BROOKLYN
ana come TO business in Manhattan; what hours
they use the bridge, if they the bridge every
uay except Sundays, and whether they dispcrse
north or south of Chambers st when thew reach
Manhattan. The question is then asked if with
increased facilities on the ferries and adequate
car service to the ferries. the people would turn
from the bridge and the boats
Inc boxes will be left up only one day and
every one is requested to fill out the coupon and
ur3p II In the box. Then the coupons will be
taken to the Bridge Department and carefrlI,,
counted and arranged 1t will be figured what
proportion OF the travel has its objective point
south OF Chambers-st, and how MANY nersons
constituting that proportion are willing to take
the ferries when the service conditions are I'M
proved If the promises of the people are SUI
hclent in number to warrant measures being
taken to bring about change in the, car and
ferry service, the Commissioner will begin nepo-
uations with the companies TO meet the public
demand.
CRUSH UNDER NEW PLAN.
There was greater crush than usual at the
trolley loops at the bridge last night. and this
condition was due it said by policemen
and others on hand there who are familiar with
the situation, to the fact that the Fifth-ave
lne across the bridge had been discontinued
Within the last twenty -four hours this line of
cars that carries thousands of people TO Manhat-
tan daily and takes the same number home has
been diverted to ferry terminals in BROOKLYN
the idea being that this would relieve the traffic
on the bridge.
Instead Of relieving it. according TO the de-
velopments of last night, the crush was aug
mented. Hundreds and hundreds Of persons
surged around the trolley loops looking for
Fifth lave. cars, and soon they got word
that that line had been discontinued over the
bridge, they made rush for the bridge trains
where every once in a while through trains run
from the Manhattan terminal TO Bay Ridge bv
the Fifth-ave and Third-ave. elevated lines
When these hundreds of persons rushed I'D
TO the bridge platform TO take these trains the
crush simply terrific and there We're NOT
accommodations for one-half of them Women
and men were jostIed hither and thither on
the trains, and many of them. getting tired Of
waiting for Fifth-ave. elevated train. took the
regular bridge trains with the hope of getting
to Brooklyn anyhow, and then trusting to luck
TO catch Fifth-ave. surface cars their way
from the ferries.
So great was the congestion Of traffic on the
trolley lines crossing the bridge that the 102
feet spacing demanded by the regulations be-
tween the towers disregarded utterly by
the motormen, who their cars not more, than
forty feet apart
According TO the police reports, there were no
persons injured in the crush last night.