New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-13
B. R. T. ACCEPTS PLAZA OFFER.
CONTROLLER DENIES THAT LNDENTHAL CAN GIVE USE
OF S3OOO,O0O PLOT

OF $3,OOO,OOO

The astonishing offer of Bridge Commissioner
Lindenthal 10 let the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company lay trolley tracks. with four loops, On
the bridge plaza N Brooklyn. Of which The
Tribune had an exclusive account yesterday. IS
TO he accepted. Mr.. LindenthaI declares that
granting the use OF the plaza is the only way
by which a circulating trolley car service
the Brooklyn Bridge at the rush hours can lie
put into operation. He thinks he has the right
to turn over a part of the plaza for vhicn he
city paid S3,0O0,00O to the railroad company
without cent Of rental WHY not make the
railroad company pay back the S3.uunuUO to the
city, If II must have the plaza as a railroad
termlnaI?' is question that was asked by
many people yesterday.
map in Mr.. LindenthaTs office. prepared by
EuEene Mclean. one of the Bridge Department
I. engineers. shows that the trolley tracks and
loCTs would take up nearly a quarter OF the
plaza. The rest Of the space Mr.. Lindenthal
thinks would be sufficient room for the people
who leave the trolley cars on the Brooklyn side
and transfer to cars Of the different lines. The
railroad company, therefore would have the
benefit of the entire plaza either for its trolley
tracks and loops or for the distribution OF pas
senEers.
Mr.. Lindenthal declares his belief that the
best way to stop the crush at the Manhattan
end of the bridge at rush hours is 10 set in
operation the circulating trolley service and he
wants the experiment tried as quickly as pos
sbe. The only expense TO be incurred by the
railroad company is the cost of laying the tracks
and loops the plaza. The map shows that
the trolley track from the north side of the
bridge will be connected with the plaza by
short track running through Sands-st while
the south track on the bridge will be extended
directly across Sands-st to the plaza.
CIRCUIT OPPOSED. TO PLAN
Controller Grout says that Commissioner Lin
denthals latest plan for shuttle cars across the
bridge does not impress him as being practi-
cable
1T seems to me-" said Mr.. Grout yesterday.
that Mr.. Lindenthal has exceeded his iurisdic-
tion in planning to turn over the Liberty-st.
plaza. in Brooklyn. to the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company without first getting authority
Of the Board Of Estimate and the aldermen. It
does not make any difference what any one calls
a railroad across the plaza in Brooklyn
whether oysters or soap-it's all the same in the
eyes Of the law. and permission will have 10
be secured from the Board of Estimate and the
Board of Aldermen before he can do anything
1t strikes me that Brooklyn passengers will OBJ
ject strenuously to leaving Bridge on the
other side after they have once secured seats on
this side. They have become used to taking
for through ride from the Manhattan side
and it is doubtful If they will comply with any
other arrangement without protest There was
a great scandal in connection with the purchase
of the property TO make the Liberty-st. plaza
and its use now by any railroad will invite the
closest sort Of scrutiny"
Mr. LindenthaI says he believes that he has
jurisdiction and control of the plaza because
the plaza is part of the property transferred 10
the Department of Bridges. He has written 10
Corporation Counsel Rives for an opinion on the
subject. He declares that the permission for
the railroad company to occupy the plaza is to
be temporary. The right to remove the tracks
from the plaza on three days notice at any time
is TO be reserved. he says. To show the tenn
porary character of the arrangement proposed
Mr. LndenthaI yesterday exhibited a letter
which he wrote to President Greatsinger OF the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company few days
ago. The letter says:
LETTER TO GREATsINGER
as temporary eXpedient remove the present
crush at the Manhattan end of the bridge during
plans are being prepared by Assistant Engineer
Archibald Mclean and would request that YOU
10 inspect those plans. prepare estimate of their
cost ana OF the time required 70 put the tracks
tne necessary material, IN the form of rails
switches and crOSSovers, on hand, it would take
pordry shed can be erected over them 10 protect
passengers against inClement weather. l have No
suggesuons to make as to the arranging Of your
own tracks 10 taclntate the transfer from the
circulating tracks. but any facility which the
orIdSe department can consistently extend 20 YOU
VIII De cneSrtullN gwen. II -, OF course. under
stood. and here repeat it, that these circulating
the bridge crush at the Manhattan end In the
afternoon hours. and the circulating are 10