New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-21
MANY CROSS NEW BRIDGE
Thousands Risk Elements to Go on
Span First Dag.

II Is evidently worth much discomfort to be able
TO say TO ones grandchildren, II walked the
Williamsburg Bridge the first day II opened"
At least the storm yesterday failed TO prevent
eral thousand men. women and small boys from
accomplishing that feat With battered umbrellas.
the high wind. and clothing dripping with
rain. al day long they splashed through the mud
puddles OF the south roadway 10 the tower then
walked the slippery wooden block pavement TO the
Brooklyn approach and then into the wind again.
At O'Clock last night the police closed the bridge
pedestrians. This was done because there
lights on the bridge. and il was deemed dan
gerous to allow any one to cross.
II still pitch dark o'clock this morning.
the time set for opening the bridge to vehicular
traffic.
The south roadway is the only one on the bridge
completed, and Il Will be several months before the
promenade is finished. Until that time pedestrians
VIII be forced walk the roadways for vehicles
The bridge was thrown open 10 the public at
o'clock yesterday morning. Expecting n great
crowd and not counting on the storm, Inspector
Sohmittberger had called for two hundred extra
20 guard the bridge. The order was not
oountermanded IN the early morning, and the po-
Icernen modified IN the Delancey-st station
About fifty OF them were sent the bridge and
fifty were kept in reserve at the station. The 9TH
ers were allowed 10 go back to their own stations
On account Of the storm the policemen worked in
four hour shifts.
Arrangements made by the Bridge Com
missioner TO take count Of the number Of persons
crossing the bridge the first day The ticket sellers
and ticket collectors went duty at O'Clock.
when the bridge opened. Two men, Patrick J.
adcALenomy and John Kenny. were stationed at the
first dollhouse from the Manhattan side. where the
vehicle tickets be sold. and James J. Clear
snd Thomas Saver at the collectors booth. further
along the roadway toward Brooklyn. Men were
also stationed at the Brooklyn end. These men
took turns in keeping count of the number Of per-
sons crossing the bridge.
From TO 9 o'clock 122 persons passed the two
tolIhouses going toward BROOKLYN. Most Of those
who crossed in that hour were men and boys.
From TO 10 O'Clock 10 persons crossed from the
Manhattan side. From 10 10 Il o'clock 1875 persons
crossed. and from Il to Z o'clock the number in
creased 70 LIB persons in hour. The tallymen
We're kept busy during the hour. for small boys
went over in big groups. From u to l o'clock the
number OF persons crossing was LlS1.
From Il 10 ] o'clock many women were among
those who went OCT 70 brave the storm. Most Of
them were dressed properly for the occasion. In
the first Eve hours more than five thousand people
had started walk across the bridge from the
Manhattan side.
The policemen kept busy watching for
souvenir hunters. There were many OF them in the
crowds crossed in the early hours of the day.
and they carried away many pounds of gravel,
rivets and pieces OF wood found along the uncom-
pleted portions The ropes Of evergreen used in the
Patrolmen smith OF the Delancey-st station ti'9I'
,@rc9-I1y1eted north roadway He ordered the man
10 know what he had his pockets. on examina-
lion they were found be filled with stones that
are. 10 be used in concreting the bicycle path at
the approaches. The man told Smith that he
souvenirs. He was told his pockets Of all
hut few OF the stones, and was allowed TO go on
There was some MISUNDERSTANDING. between the
police and the officials Of the United Eng1neering
and Contracting company, when is CONSTRUCTING
the roadways, as 10 what would oe done win me
vehicular traffic this morning; No vehicles will be
allowed until o'clock, when the collectors
viii be ready TO collect tolls: me question arose
The police said they understood that the north
roadway which is in course of construction. would
Bridge Cornnissf6ner Iindenthal said that the
police had been misinformed about the north road
way. and that for the present it would not be
Until the north roadway is completed said the
Commissions. the south roadway viii be used
half an hour or more 10 cross the bridge foot,
and 90 not shink many people viii care TO walk
for that length Of time over the rough pavement.
II there are only few people, / do not think they
viii De stationed along the roadway 70 Iook Gut
for them OF course. for the present the vehicles
way. II we get fine weather and there IS great
crush Of people arrangenents will be made 70 let
the pedestrians 80 over the north roadway. To 90
this they viii have TO go in single file. and they
Commissioners Iindenthal was asked what the
outlook was for speedy solution OF the problem
That question may be settled in five months
he said "and il may take five years. The uncer-
The application Of the moving platform company
represented by Schmidt q Gallatin viii probably
have 10 await special legs allon, as i does not
seem at present to agree with the charter pro
lying low III II Is sure OF now IL VIII be treated IN
connection with the elevated railroad. OF course,
OF the law. The company must apply first the
Board OF Estimate and Apporuonment. and then
OF Aldermen and the Bridge Commissioner in turn.
"a as sny Duhlic highway we had sad eEner--
the old bridge, and don't want to repeat it,