The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-23
B. R. T. IS DOING lis BEST.
LACKS POWER FOR TRACTION,
AND ROOM ON FULTON STREET.
Tells Railroad Commission II b UsinO
Every Car II Can Get Electricity for
but Can't nun More Cara on Main
ThorOughfare-" - Jury May Act.

A public hearing ~ be held in the
Borough Hall in Brooklyn next Monday
by the State Railroad Commissioners In
relation to the transit facilities in that
borough. and the various complaints made
, against the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
pany. This is part Of a communication
sent by President Greatsinger Of the com
pany to the Commissioners in response
to a notification about the hearing:
we are at present operating. during
rush hours, every car for which we can
manufacture or buy electric power. Tie
contracts for our new power house called
for its completion during the past summer
. but notwithstanding our best efforts, owing
to the failure to obtain material, to strikes
In the shops Of manufacturers and
various other unavoidable delays, we will
be unable to get any power from this source
for six weeks or two months. but expect
TO obtain power from one OF the engines
BY the middle Of February. and from others
at succeeding intervals Of two weeks to
. month.
'We have been purchasing for the last
year from the Edison Electric Company
Of Brooklyn all Of the power which their
plant was able to supply during the rush
hours, and have tried without success to
obtain power from other sources. When
> additional power is obtained It will be
, possible to put on more cars in the subur-
ban. districts, but no more cars can be
; run on Fulton street or on the Bridge than
are now operated.
, 3, Contracts for the construction OF four
> Additional loops on the New York end of
: the Bridge at the sole cost of this COM
: pany have been placed, which we expect
VII, to a degree. alleviate the conditions
Z, at that point.
I'VE have a force Of men engaged in
counting the passengers upon the different
. lines at various points along the system,
and as fast as their reports indicate that
sufficient service is not fur nished during
+. non-rush hours we are adding additional
!, service.
The fact that these complaints are made
at this time undoubtedly arises from the
condition Of the streets in Brooklyn dur
Ing the last two or three weeks. The
accumulation of ice upon the sides Of the
trucks to drive upon our tracks Very
many OF these trucks were overloaded,
and A. a consequence became stalled upon
the tracks. or broke down, and very IRE
quently 1t was necessary for one OF our
cars to push a truck for a long distance
before II coulu be induced to leave the
track. These delays were universal
throughout the city and continued until
yesterday.
With regard to the heating of the cars
orders were given out two weeks ago to
heat every car thoroughly before II left the
barn In the morning and to keep the heat
turned on at all hours. except during the
two hours in the tv ming. when, owing
to the lack Of power for the operation Of
the cars, II was impossible to furnish
power for heating.
We would be very glad to have your
board investigate the question Of the num-
Der Of cars operated during non-rush hours,
and would be very glad to adopt any suE-
gest'ons made BY you with reference to
an Improvement In the service.
"We cannot, however, take any action
upon complaints such as those sent us by
you which do not state the lines where the
service is found deficient.
presentment Ia expected in q few DAYS
by the Kings County Grand Jury, which
has been engaged for more than q week
IN Investigating the complaints Of the
Manufacturers Association against the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company.