New-York tribune., 1902-03-14
HILDENBR4ND DEFENDS PLAN.
HE REPLIES TO IINDENTHALS CRITICISM
OF WIDENING SCHEME AS WORSE
THAN USELESS"

THAN USELESS"
To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: If Commissioner Lindenthal had reject
ed my proposition of widening the roadways Of
the Brooklyn Bridge for technical or economical
reasons he might have succeeded in sustaining
his objections by plausible arguments; but
merely pronouncing the plan to be worse than
useless is one of Mr.. Lindenthals character
istic criticisms which are sharp. but unfounded
and meaningless.
To say that plan is worse than useless In
dicates that its execution would give less ac-
commodation and more discomfort to the public
than There exists at present. Any person can
comprehend that my plan is not of that kind.
inasmuch as it will almost double the capacity
OF the bridge by doubling the facilities Of wagon
traffic and by giving rapid transit TO the trolley
cars on free and unimpeded tracks. which are
at present constantly obstructed by Vehicles-
That a sure and quick circulation of cars will.
incidentally. help to diminish the crush at the
terminals is self-evident though do not claim
that IL would be a radical remedy. ON the con-
trarv | believe that one or the other of the
plans proposed for improving the termlhaI Ia
cilites will be just as necessary IN CohJuIlol'oh
with my plan as IL is now without the SaiIle'
What l claim is hat no terminal plan, be II
ever so extensive successful, will be complete
facilities on the bridge Itself and that all can
be accomplished, as described in my proposi,
ton by widening each roadway about SIX anu
a half feet, giving clear width or 1of2 rect
outside the tracks.
The advantages derived from this plan are
unmistakable, and were practically demon
strated at the reconstruction Of the Cincinnati
suspension bridge. where n similar widening or
the roadway removed at once all former lncon-
veniences, and transformed the structure INTO
a rapid transit" bridge.
adequate to the expenditure OF S9ooOoo or not!
'''''N WILHELM HILDENBRAND.
Engineer for the cables of the New East River
New-York. March II. 1902
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE NEGRO.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: While the colored man of this country has
much 20 discourage him, he has a great deal 10
encourage him to do his best.
His people are not dying out. When the people
OF Ireland their population becoming less and
less year after year. we can fancy that many lose
heart and say, Nothing can be done to improve
our condition" There is other country to which
the colored people can go with any hope of i'm
proving their condition. Hence. the natural CROWN
of his race is here remain And. while this natu-
raj growth may not be quite equal TO that OF some
years In the past yet there is steady increase
Nor is he like the Indian. pushed out to the from
tier on reservations which are set apart Tor hlm'
He has his home where population is the densest
and where all the advantages OF the white man are
found.
He has no men Of great influence opposing him.
or course he has his enemies. and especially when
some vTanous deed is performed by him, when he
ought not TO expect favor. But the men in au-
thority and the men who make the laws dare not
do A wrong thing that would hinder the growth
or the prosperity of the No great act of in
justice would be allowed.
His people making progress In various ways.
Their business league which held Its convention In
Chicago a few months ago, was revelation TO the
whole country. In city their business is carried
on with a capital of S10,OOOO0O. The homes of the
colored people in the United States are worth
S73OOO0O00, They have colleges. academies, high
schools and theological seminaries. They have
$l2 100000 school property and $0O0OO church prop
erty. They have forty thousand students In their
higher institutions and one million five hundred
thousand scholars in their public schools, State
progress The object lesson for which Booker r
Washington longed of honest men OF their race
succeeding magnifcently is presented In many
parts of the country.
They have to-day more able men than they ever
had before to plead their cause. There a time
when the colored man had no of his race to
justice. Douglass rose up. sort of John the
Baptist. and he did valiant service for his
Douglass but that he is behind him in influence
we cannot admit. Then several ministers, in the
Methodist. Baptist and Presbyterian churches are
far behind in their devotion to their people
and their ability to defend and lead them.
The convention held at Tuskegee week two
ago showed degree of progress that had never
been reported at any other annual convention At
that convention the negroes gave account of
tbeIr nrorress and their Intentions In the estima-
outlook was cheering and hopeful. The opinion OF
these who watchful of every indication of ad-
The situation. While to the casual observer white
or black there may be but few signs of progress,
to those who have the means OF forming a correct
estimate there may be evidences of the most cheer
ing character. ROBERT II. WILLIAMS.