New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-18
SIDEWALK PLAN SHELvED.
EfNDENTHAL WILL GRADE BRIDGE TO
TUNNEL LEVEL
MAYOR LOW DIRECTS MR.. PARSONS TO PRE-
PARE WORKING PLANS FOR SUB
WAY BETWEEN STRUCTURES


william Barclay Parsons, chief engineer Of
Nhe Rapid Transit Commission, and Commas
sioner Lindenthal. OF the Bridge Department
have been directed by Mayor Low to prepare
working plans of the scheme submitted some
time ago by Mr. Parsons for the relief of the
congestion on the Brooklyn Bridge. Mr.. Par
sons will confine his attention to the subway to
connect the Brooklyn with the Manhattan
Bridge while Mr. Lindenthal will provide for
the grading OF the bridge by means OF
which elevated trains may run into the
subway. From what the Mayor said on
the sobject, IL was believed yesterday that
the moving platform scheme which has been
advocated for time By Mr. Linden
thai had been abandoned. for time at least
Mr. Lndenthal said. however. that one plan did
not exclude the other, and that in connection
with his part Of the Parsons plan he would
also submit 10 Mayor Low a plan for a moving
platform II is assumed therefore. that since
Nr. Lindenthal has said that TO accommodate
both elevated trains and moving platform the
bridge must be rebuilt into double decker his
plan viii call for a suspended structure, to
cost 100000, the price estimated by him at
the last meeting Of the Rapid Transit Com
mission.
Mr.. Parsons and Mr. Lindenthal went up with
Mayor Low on his yacht on Wednesday after
noon Mr. Parsons remained at the Mayors
home overnight.
we discussed the general plan Of subways
for the bridges said Mayor Low yesterday,
sand decided in favor Of the plan to connect the
two bridges proposed by Mr.. Parsons. Mr.
Ilndenthsl will prepare plans for the bridge
and Mr.. Parsons will produce a scheme for the
subway part. i hope TO have these plans sub
mitted to me by September 1 after my short
absence"
Was the moving platform plan discussed?"
was asked.
Yes we discussed all schemes, but decided
to so ahead with the Parsons plan"
From this It was inferred that the moving
platform plan had been sidetracked. Mr.. Lin
oenthal was seen later by a Tribune reporter.
He said that he had by no means relinquished
the moving platform plan. The Parsons plan,
he said. could not be finished within three years,
while the public was clamoring for immediate
relief from the bridge crush.
Tine moving platform can be installed within
nine months" said Mr.. Lindenthal. We need
Immediate relief on the bridge, where the condi-
tions during rush hours disgraceful. They
are not so noticeable in the summer. At this
time Of year the crush is distributed over a
longer stretch of time. People leave their offices
any time between 400 and o'clock, while in
the winter they leave between . and $50
o'clock The open cars loaded in about a
third Of the time il takes TO load the winter
cars All these things help to alleviate the con-
ditions. which will return however. next fall,
e'ith perhaps increased Vigor because Of an en-
larged population
Y.
Here have two million of people in Man
haitian, ana one million five hundred thousand
IN Brooklyn. with only one highway leading
from one borough TO the other. How can we
expect it 10 accommodate the people who wish
TO cross il every day. for the feTryboats do
practically no business
II was suggested that by the time the moving
platform installed, even if 1t was adopted
on September ]. the Williamsburg Bridge will be
almost completed.
Yes" replied Mr.. Lindenthal 'the bridge
proper viii be ready then, but the approaches
will not and il will be time before 1t can
be used And even then 1t will afford little re-
lief tn the Brooklyn Bridge. The latter will be
as crowded ever, because there will be no
connection between the two bridges until two
years later
Mr.. LindenthaI said that the moving platform
could be placed on the portion of the bridge now
used by bridge and elevated trains, and later
when the Parsons plan installed. IL could
be shifted TO the second deck. which would be
ready by that time