New-York tribune., 1903-06-08
A Bridge WITHOUT CARS
RAILROADS. HOLD 4LOOF.
LndentEaI focuses Them of Trying
to Force Lo7c Rental.

Although the Williamsburg bridge is raplGl!
nearing completion. the Brooklyn-M Mahha''aii
traffic congestion may not, according 10 1iie
present outlook be relieved for a long lihe' "a
lief of the Brooklyn Bridge crush, the heceSsi'S
for which WAS shown afresh in Saturdays panic
is not likely to he effected. says ConilllsSioi'i
Iandenthal of the Department of Bridges De
cause the two companies which coulo use 'iie
new bridge are not making application for tha'
privilege hut ar. waiting until the public de-
rnand for better transportation facilities De
comes SO strong that. under this pressure the
city authorities may forced TO let the raiiW0H
privilege on the new bridge at rental ~"
enough to suit the railroad companies
The solution of this much mooted problem
lies the commissioners declare. with the NOV
ing platform company which now mas an dP-
plication for franchise before the kappa ian
sit Commission. This concern. for two cent
fare would transport passengers from the
BROOKLYN end of the new bridge. through the
Rowerv and Nassau and Broad SITS to Bowling
Green and the Battery
FRIDGE FINISHED BY NOVEMBER !.
The Williamsburg Bridge will be ready for
cuhlic use by about November /. The placing
of the suspended steel work viii be completed
about September l. after which the flooring
will be laid. No streetcars could run, now
ever until the annual payment for the use OF
the bridge was decided on.
--AU that we have to do after completing the
bridge is to tear down the houses and build the
Delancey-st. approach said Commissioner LIN
denthal yesterday. but the city can't go out
TO ask the streetcar companies 10 come and
use the bridge. The Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company or certain Manhattan company
either one. could transport the passengers, but
they are taking advantage of the city govern
r71ent. They are holding off until conditions be
come so unbearable that. under the pressure OF
gree public protest. the city will let this priv
nege at low price. The people would realize
this if they stopped to think about it
The Brooklyn company could bring people
across the bridge. but il could not run cars on
this side. because it uses the overhead trolley.
The COMPANY on this side could run its cars
across the bridge but it would not lay under
ground trolleys in Brooklyn. SO. you see. an
other reason neither company is applying Tor
this privilege is that as the people would not
pay two fares. one to cross the bridge and one
for over here the two companies would have 10
have some transfer understanding
ADMITS COMPANY Is WAITING
J. F Calderwood. general manager of the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit system, said yesterday
that his company waiting for the city to
name some figure for the privilege of using the
new bridge Then We'll be able TO know what
TO do he added AS to the congestion on the
brooklyn 6riGSe- ne declared tAoi IN
ago the company bought the material for four
additional loops at the Manhattan end of the
bridge These were TO be placed east Of the
present ones. the stairways being removed
Some preliminary work even was done. but
JIvties Brothers. who have wine vaults under
the approach. stopped proceedings beca use their
property would he damaged. II is expected that
Mayor Low will take up this subject with them
Tomorrow. II would take about two months TO
complete this work. which would greatly faclli-
yate the unloading of the Brooklyn cars. and to
a large extent do away with the jam at the
Manhattan entrance. although it might not en-
able the railroad company TO carry more pas
sengers. he said.
still" continued Mr.. Calderwood. by speed
ing UP the cars a little, as should be able to
do we might get a few more across in an
hour