New-York tribune., 1902-03-15
DRIVE THEM TO FERRIES.
COMMISSIONER LINDENTHAL CoNsID
ERING CHIEFLY DIVERSION OF
TRAFFIC. FROM THE BRIDGE.

In making plans for circulating trolley car
service the Brooklyn Bridge at the rush
hours. Bridge Commissioner Lindenthal has had
in mind the possible effect which such a service
would have in diverting some Of the traffic from
the bridge TO the ferries at such hours. II is
expected that many people who now join In the
fierce struggle for seats in trolley at the
Manhattan end OF the bridge every evening
would find less satisfaction in it If they were
obliged to change cars at the Brooklyn end, walk
some distance and take their chances OF getting
seats in a OF the line they patronize They
might conclude that the privilege of getting
seat for a ride across the bridge not worth
while fighting for, and they might return to
ferry travel.
1t is well known that thousands OF people liv-
ing in Brooklyn have left the ferries, which
furnished the most direct lines of travel to
their homes and have helped TO increase the
crush the bridge. simply because they know
IL they can capture a seat in a trolley car at
The Manhattan end of the bridge they hold
the seat for a continuous ride all the way to
their homes. The continuous ride across the
bridge and TO distant sections of Brooklyn is
believed TO have been more of an incentive for
Joining in the bridge crush than the saving
of a cent. which the ferry travel would cost.
A change of cars at the Brooklyn end of the
bridge would cause great storm of protest by
passengers Il Is believed but il probably would
decrease the bridge crush
The effect of the circulating system on the
bridge would be felt most severely, 1t is said by
the trolley lines which have their tracks IN
Washington-st. If the scheme to have the
loops for the circulating system on the plaza at
the Brooklyn end of the bridge Is carried out
The passengers who obliged TO leave the
cars on the plaza and go 10 Of the lines
having switches in Westinghouse. would have
10 walk more than block. Such walk in
stormy weather would be extremely discour-
aging. President Greatsnger OF the Brooklyn
Rapid Transit Company has declared that thou
sands Of Brooklyn people would not tolerate
such treatment. Mr.. Lindenthal spent some
engineers. at the Brooklyn end of the bridge.
studying the situation and observing the traffic
on the cars going through Washtngton-st. A
railroad official who with them said yester-
day that the plan for laying tracks and loops
3n the plaza for a circulating system probably
would be abandoned. Alr. Lindenthal had said
than next fall.
The Bridge Commissioner, however. has in
mind plan by which circulating system for
the larger part Of the trolley traffic on the
bridge could be combined with a through travel
system for the lines going through Washington
st. Such a plan. he has said, could be carried
out II there were two additional loops for troll
ley cars the Manhattan end Of the bridge.
The two additional loops, he says. could be used
by the cars going through Westinghouse, while
the present loops could be used at the rush
hours for a circulating trolley service, connect
!ng with the cars going through Fulton-st
Such mixed system on the bridge might make
confusion worse confounded, but Mr.. Lindenthal
is convinced that circulating system ought TO
be tried as the only remedy he think Of
for relieving the present intolerable crush at
the trolley loops at the Manhattan end Of the
bridge. Something must be done soon he says,
the authorities to stop the running OF trolley
ears on the bridge.