New-York tribune., 1903-01-07
GREATSINGER ON STAND.
HE DEPENDS THE b. r.. T..
Says Problem rs Different From Any
OTHER Place IN the Worid

Six hours were spent yesterday by the Rail
road Commission in considering the case of the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company at the second
bearing on the subject given in the Borough
Hall. Brooklyn. The hearing viii be resumed
&: 10 a. to-day.
President Greatsinger went the stand for
an hour yesterday afternoon, and just before
adjournment William z. Sheehan. one OF the
company's counsel, made q speech in which he
defended the road and its management In the
morning Professo- Collin had submitted TO the
Commission and read answer to the COM
plants on file before that body. Many of the
conditions complained of are denied. and the ex-
cuses IF lack OF power and proper trackage
facilities given In connection with others. Judge
4 H Daley represented the compainants as
counsel yesterday. as he did last week
Counsel began by Questioning Mr.. Greatsinger
about his capacity for operating a railroad, and
the latter said he had been in the business for
thirty vears. Then Judge Daley asked about
the number Of cars being operated now, and
was told that there were 113o surface cars
and something over three hundred elevated cars
When asked il il were true that less cars We're
being operated now than year ago and what
the reason for reducing the number was, Presi-
dent CSres tsinzer replied:
We took of many short four wheeled cars and
put eight wheeled cars. having CARRYING ca
rei1ed 3 2s If these cars Thev have been coming
since last fell. They not all in operation yet
What do you do about complaints concerning the
service7- asked Judge Daley President Great
singer replied:
.Taey are referred TO Superintendent Smith. and
he investigates and reports back 10 me We do
something to remedy any trouble if it does injure
any one else. There is shifting population Some
days one line is crowded and the next day the
crush comes on another part of the system
Isn't it practicable to have empty cars at the
Brooklyn end of the bridge to which passengers
could b fransferred?"
This has been tried and was failure. You can't
get people TO get of loaded car and board an
enlu1y one Besides il would block the lines.
Regarding The provisions being made to get
more power President Greatsinger said they
we're engaged in improvements that would dou-
HE il Meanwhile they were purchasing $1,000
worth Of current from the Edison Company
ever, month.
Asked If any provisions were being made 70
operate cars on the Williamsburg Bridge when
x should he done President Greats:nger replied
in the affirmative. He said the company had
Necessary tracks and rights of way. and smiled
When ne declared II would take the company
q out fifteen minutes to get onto the bridge
wren that structure was ready 20 receive cars
Judge Daley then took up the East New
York loop. which was the target Of much Of the
astiTnony yesterday
o--Don't you know that the loop-the way You
j.fin= property in the Twenty-sixth Nard2 A
Do YOU know or not know that a less number
81 is being operated over the Brloge than lasT
Near2 Al don't know All knoS Is tha1 oliS to
would You be able to improve your service If
M Tsrooklyn plaza Of the Bridge we're useuE A
j Rculd help little
After several more witnesses for the COM
plainants had been called Mr. Sheehan was al
lowed to make d speech in defence Of the rail-
road company. He said:
There may be shortcomings but We always
working a solution OF the problems We do
every Individual in the Borough Of Brooklyn There
There is orly outlet TO Manhsttsn-the bridge
sane solutions We assure the public that they
viii b treated fairly II VII DO no good TO excite
This road is the largest taxpayer in the com
10 s56aea and expects TO make more; but the
road must be allowed 10 make the money
The answer Of the railroad company, read
early IN the hearing. contained little that had
net beer advanced before in defence Of the COM
pany. Work on the power house. IL said.
had been delayed. so that the expected addi-
tional power would not be obtained before next
March. Additional power from the Edison com
pany vas expected within few weeks. so that
some heat could be turned on in the cars dur
ing the rush hours after January 10
The company says 1t cannot operate rush hour
service during the entire day. as the supply of
good coal TO be obtained is sufficient only for
rush hours The statement suggests that the
service over the bridge could be benefited If an
overhead crossing Of Sands-st at the entrance
70 the structure could be provided, and when
the cars left the bridge they were allowed to go
straight across the Plaza and into Fulton-st by
way OF Llberty-st. Much good would also re-
,.I-e
on the bridge were kept absolutely free from
traffic Of vehicles. These three improvements
with the additional four loop now in process
OF construction I'M the Manhattan terminal the
company believes would increase by % per cent
the number of surface cars that could be oper-
sted across the bridge in rush hours