New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-04
True BRIDGE RELIEF.

Most of the discussion of plans for relieving
the Brooklyn Bridge proceeds upon the as
sumption that the City Hall Park is the centre
of congestion which must be reached by lines
intended TO take part of the present traffic
Before plans are adopted calling for the con-
struction at great expense of tracks bringing
Williamsburg Bridge trains TO the City Hall
the true nature of that congestion should be
considered 1t is temporary and accidental not
permanent and necessary. The crowds throng
to the Brooklyn Bridge because there is no other
place for them TO go They come this way in
the morning from Brooklyn, not because they
want 10, but because they have to. After reach
ing the city they dispense as quickly as posi-
bic In all directions, and the great majority of
them go TO a considerable distance OF the thou
sands that pour up Broadway and Park Row
every afternoon. comparatively few come from
offices or workshops which are nearer the bridge
than any other route which could be opened to
Brooklyn within the time required for the con-
etruction of a grand terminal such as Com
missioner Lindenthal proposes. The same is
true with regard TO those who come from up
town. If they could make direct connection
with their homes by other routes they would
do So and the bridge traffic would be confined
10 those who really had an object in coming to
this neighborhood.
Therefore instead Of spending millions 10 ac-
eommodate the crowds artiicially congested
here. without after all adding TO the actual car
rying capacity of the bridge II would he better
10 turn ST once TO the construction of other ave
nues of travel which would take people where
they want TO go. The Brooklyn extension of
the rapid transit subway will do this A large
number of people who now travel between up-
town Manhattan and the bridge will take sub
way trains direct TO Brooklyn. Thousands who
work on the East Side will cross the Williams
burg Bridge by cars which will distribute them
70 their homes all over Brooklyn. II tunnel
were TO be built in place of the proposed Navy
Yard bridge, it could be finished long before the
bridge, and another artery for diffusion opened
This tunnel could be built for onethird the cost
of the proposed terminal ard elevated railroad
extensions OF the Brooklyn Bridge. and could he
in operation almost as soon. Through such p
tunnel direct connection might be made with all
East Side lines which now converge at the CITY
Hall. and their passengers could be landed in
Brooklyn convenient 10 existing lines but far
enough away from the Fulton-st lam to re-
lieye the congestion there. 1t might indeed be
possible 10 run through cars from upper Man
haitian out along the main avenues of travel in
Brooklyn At any rate, II would easily be posi-
BILE TO divert a large part of the crowd now
using the Brooklyn Bridge from the neighbor-
hood Of that structure at both ends If still
further relief is needed. another tunnel in the
neighborhood Of FultOn-st, Manhattan would
be equally effective.
With these additional means of communica-
ton In operation, the Brooklyn Bridge would
be left 10 care for fits legitimate traffic Then IN
might be possible to make the bridge more con-
venient for that traffic. All the proposed
changes will not enable IL TO carry an additional
passenger The cars can load now faster than