New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-12
WOULD GIVE PLAZA TO B. R. T.
Observation-Disclosures PLANS TOMAKE CITY PROPERTY
A RAILWAY TERMINAL.


Bridge Commissioner Lindenthal made the
amazing announcement yesterday that he pro-
posed TO permit the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company TO lay four loops the Bridge Plaza
in Brooklyn. TO be used in connection with the
circulating shuttle plan which the railroad COM
pany has agreed to adopt as experiment. as
told exclusively in The Tribune yesterday The
Bridge Plaza was purchased several years ago
from the Brooklyn City Railroad Company now
a part OF the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company,
at a cost of S3,OOOOG0. 1t is now proposed to
turn this plaza over to the company from
which it was originally purchased. The railroad
company will pay nothing for the use OF the
property excepting the expense Of laying four
loops. which will be matter Of only a few
thousand dollars When the tracks are once
laid they will become the property Of the city,
but the railroad company will use them in
definitely. Thus the Bridge Plaza, which was
originally intended for beautiful park, with
trees, flowers and fountains. will become
great railroad terminal
Over the tracks Commissioner LindenthaI pro-
posed place a shed TO protect passengers
from the inclement weather. This shed is to be
a temporary structure, but it is safe TO say
that once there, it will never be removed unless
replaced by permanent railroad terminal. AS
stated in The Tribune yesterday. John c. Brack-
enrdge. general manager Of the railroad COM
pany, has a plan for cutting away the lower
part Of the Brooklyn terminal TO accommodate
the four loops. This plan would involve the
expenditure of between $4,000 and 100000 by
the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company. Mr..
Breckenridge and President Greatsinger will, OF
course, be willing to waive this plan in favor Of
that suggested by Mr.. Lindenthal. since the
railroad company has for a long time, been
eager to get hold of the Bridge Plaza. The feel
ing is general that this valuable piece Of land
ought not to be turned over to the railroad
company without cost.
Yesterday afternoon Eugene Mclean, one of
the Bridge Department engineers, took the plaza
plan to Brooklyn to exhibit it to President
Greatsinger and his engineers Commissioner
Lindenthal said he would know this morning
whether or not this plan was acceptable to the
railroad company.
PLAN GOES TO GREATSINGER
THE plan that I ask for" said Commissioner
Lindenthal yesterday afternoon. was taken to
President Greatsnger this afternoon. 1t con-
templates using the plaza. where there are now
no tracks at all. With the material at hand
the loops could be put down within three or
four days II they have no material it would
have to be ordered and would probably be
ready in three or four days. 1t wouldn't require
any cutting down of the terminal at all. Mr.
Brackenridge's plan is all bosh His idea OF the
expense is all wrong. 1t wouldn't cost anything
like $4,000 Ny idea is to erect a temporary
shed over the loops so to protect passengers
from stormy weather.
II am waiting to hear If the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company has accepted my plan. They
have agreed to try the circulating shuttle sys-
TEN experiment and all that remains is
10 decide upon the place to lay the loops I
can't order the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
pany 10 do anything; I can't regulate the num-
ber of cars they operate. I can merely regulate
the distance between cars and the speed. AS
far as 1 am concerned, everything that can be
done to relieve the congestion will be done
They are opposed to the shuttle plan, but have |
a greed to try it, and il remains for them to |
nrovide enough cars at the Brooklyn terminal |
to carry passengers to their destinations as fast
as they arrive. While 1 have no hand in the |
of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit |
Company. the people always look TO me TO regu- |
late the abuses of that company. OF course if !
they don't furnish enough cars at the Brooklyn |
end the people will look to me and I will have
10 face the music
John L. Wells, counsel for the Brooklyn Rapid |
transit Company who was the mouthpiece of |
president Greatsinger at the recent meetings |
,n Frooklvn Of the Committee of Fifty and the !
anufacturers' Association. had a long confer |
.noe with Commissioner Lindenthal yesterday
a afternoon. at which it is supposed the shuttle