New-York tribune., 1902-07-16
LINDENTHALA LAMENDSPLAN
TO CONFER WITH THE MAYOR ON THE
BRIDGE PROBLEM.
TROLLEY LOOPS IN BROOKLYN IN CoNNEC-
TIoN WITH THE MOVING PLAT
FORM PROPOSED.

Bridge Commissioner Lindenthal and Mayor
Low will hold a conference to-day 20 discuss the
various plans that have been submitted for the
relief of the congestion on the Brooklyn Bridge.
Mr.. Lindenthal has made a number of changes
IN his moving platform plan. which is believed
to be an alternative of the Parsons plan. based
upon popular and friendly criticism. He has
abandoned his purpose of turning over to the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company the plaza at
the Brooklyn end OF the bridge and has decided
to suggest to the Mayor that the moving plat
form be extended the bridge railroad yard
to Tillary-st which would carry passengers
to within five minutes walk of the Borough
Hall and the business section OF Brooklyn.
Under this arrangement passengers could
allght from the moving platform at any point
between Sands and Hillary SITS. Instead of MAX
ing railroad terminal of the plaza. series of
trolley loops would be laid In the cross streets
under the railroad yard. The would take
these loops from Washington and Adams sts
and leave them by way of Fulton-st. This plan
would overcome the objection raised by Presi-
dent Orr of the Rapid Transit Commission that
the congestion would be transferred from the
Manhattan to the Brooklyn end of the bridge by
the moving platform. The loops would be spread
over so great an area, Mr. Lindenthal believes
that there would be congestion to speak of
However, even if the plaza is to be used for a
tTOley terminal, COntrOIer circuit SAID yeSIeT-
day that the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company
would not obtain control of II unless the city
was adequately compensated.
At the recent meeting of the Rapid Transit
Commission Controller Grout raised the objec-
tion that the people of Brooklyn not all
masters of their time. and would not take kindly
TO the inconvenience and loss of time involved
in changing from the moving platform to the
trolley cars at the Brooklyn terminal. He also
said that the extra two cent charge for crossing
on the platform would not meet approval
Mr.. LindenthaI says that all the business peo-
pie who now pay five cents the trolleys be-
tween Borough Hall. Brooklyn, and the City
Hall would save four cents by using the plat
form. which would take them TO within three or
four blocks of their destination in Brooklyn.
The vast population living along the Brooklyn
waterfront and on Columbia Heights he says.
would also be benefited by this arrangement.
Mr LindenthaI believes that II would he well
to allow the trolley cars to remain the bridge
after the moving platform is installed. He
is OF the opinion that people would prefer to use
the moving platform, and that the trolley cars
would eventually withdraw from the bridge for
lack of business.
Mr. Lindenthal denies that the moving plat
form is an alternative of the Parsons plan.
He says that after the bridge is rebuilt, and
made into a double decker. the platform could
be raised TO the second deck and the first deck
used for the elevated trains. The reconstruc-
ton of the bridge would cost about S2,Ooo,oOO.
The Bridge Commissioner believes that while
the streets leading to the bridge are now
crowded in rush hours. when thirty-eight thou
sand people carried over each hour the
moving platform could carry sixty-hve thou
sand without much congestion in the streets.
The reason for this is that the crowds are
halted continually by the difficulty Of loading
the trolley cars. while the platform would keep
them in motion.
To a Tribune reporter yesterday Controller
Grout said
II agree with Mr. Lindenthal that the bridge
plazas. which not now utilized for any pur-
pose ought to he put to some practical use.
There would be harm in turning the Brook
lyn Bridge plaza over 10 the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company, but you may rest assured
that II IL is done the city will be adequately
compensated / do not care to discuss the NOV
ing platform scheme. ! prefer to hear other
people make suggestions"