New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-07

SO a Number Say-Rush Hour
Schedule Made Trouble an Test.

The plan which Neils Pouson president Of the
Hecla Iron Works. devised for facilitating the
heavy trolley traffic at the Brooklyn Bridge re-
ceved preliminary trial yesterday from to
p. m. Though there were some practical difficulties
in the way Of a perfect test it felt by num-
Der who witnessed the trial that the feasibility of
the scheme will soon be demonstrated.
The trouble with the present system is that the
crowds which throng the four loops in rush hours
impede the progress of the and cause much
confusion. Mr.. Poulson proposes to only one
loop. having one cross the track. unloading the
cars side in lines of five time and load
ing in the order the other side.
At ! o'clock yesterday all wagon traffic was
stopped in order that passengers might the
roadways each side leaving and taking the cars.
All but the outer loop were switched Off and line
of cars backed up on the incoming track almost to
the river span. Each series of five
loaded on the north side of the loop and then
around to the south side, where the outgoing pas
sengers were waiting. and load another series Of
five unloading meanwhile Sixty-fve seconds were
allowed for each operation. In the first half hour
the ordinary midday schedule of 100 hour
maintained, and the plan appeared work adj
mirably. The congestion the bridge cleared
in twenty minutes. and there crovdng of
passengers At 1S0 o'clock the full number of
used in rush hours put on. 2So in all. Then
there was a good deal of difficulty manifested
Each conductor and motorman had be instructed
as his came in and the passengers were slow 10
comprehend the situation also. As a consequence a
rate or not over 40 cars hour was reached. AT
p the test abandoned by Mr.. Poulson for
the present
1t was found on ending the test that elghty-hve
cars had gone around in the first half hour and
100 in the next twenty-five minutes Before dem
onstrating the plan practical, II must be shown
that go cars ne handled in the same time.
Mr.. Poulson proposes also TO raise the track at
the end of the loop that the passengers may
under a waiting platform within the loop. On the
north side will be five numbered gates where the
cars will unload. and on the south side. fvesmilary
numbered. for loading The will start and stop
together at the sounding of in the centre
This device IL is believed. will solve the difficulties
which appeared yesterday, though the handling
Of the seventeen Brooklyn lines termna ting here
is admittedly serious problem.
Archibald Mclean, engineer in charge of the
bridge. who watched the closely and had
number of men keeping careful records and making
observations. said afterward: 1T worked well ap-
parently until put the rush hour schedule into
operation. and then began to get stalled.
That is why discontinued the test to soon
Mr.. Poulson still believes in his system. The
chief drawback to-day that the motormen lost
much time in starting from each roadway he
said. Time lost because they waited for the
conductors starting bell instead Of starting when
the gong rang 1t would be impossible TO handle
the rush crowds, however until the changes have
been made providing suitable platforms and APP
proa ches to them for the passengers. Considering
the fact that the motormen did not understand the
system. think the test very successful
This view shared by David Porter. president
OF the Citizens Association of Bay Ridge and Fort
Hamilton.