New-York tribune., 1903-04-12
FLATRUSH AVENUE, BROOKLYN.

The extension OF Flatbush-ave., Brooklyn, to
the Brooklyn Bridge is again proposed 1t is
regarded by many thoughtful people as practl-
cally essential to the development of an ade-
uuate system of thoroughfares in that borough.
We are inclined to think they are right The
street plan Of Manhattan is bad enough, but
that of Brooklyn is, if possible. worse 1t could
not have been designed in much more maladrolt
fashion if the purpose had been to congest
traffic and to hamper the growth OF the COM
munity. 1t will probably never be possible to
reform the plan of either borough so as to make
it what it should be or should have been. But
so far as it is possible there should be reforma-
ton. and that at the earliest practicable date.
1t is now about twenty years since the Flat
bush-ave extension was first suggested. 1t was
observed at that time that If continued across
Fulton-st, with just the slightest DETECTION
from a straight line, it would meet the bridge
at the BROOKLYN end Of the latter, and thus form
with the bridge a continuous and practically
straight highway from Park Row to Prospect
Park and, indeed, far beyond the park to the
shore of Sheepshead or Of Jamaica Bay The
scheme was a ma gnificent one, and as practical
as it was magnificent. 1t was also, even at
that time. much needed thing. But it was not
politics or it was too far in advance of the
parochiaI ideas of some Brooklyn people. or in
some way was not commended to the ruling
powers So it was laid aside, and every year
since the need of it has become more apparent
and more urgent, and. of course. the cost of 1t
has become greater.
Now men talking Of the necessity OF cut
ting new street which shall connect the Brook
lyn end of the Manhattan Bridge with Fulton
ST, and are naming Macomber Square. at the
junction of FuIton-st, Fleet-st and De Kalb-
+Ia, ni,.fo ..ol,i &c to
ST But what a wretched plan that would be!
It would put the end Of that great new thor
oughfare In little better than cul-de-sac. Full
ton-st. at that point is narrow and overcrowded-
tt would be incomparably better to have the
new street emerge upon it just block further
up, at FlaIbush-ave.. where it could lead dl-
rectly into the latter spacious and important
thoroughfare, and would tap Fultonst at
much less crowded point. There is no argu-
ment in favor of the De Kalb-ave. junction that
does not apply with equal force to the Flatbush-
ave. junction, and there are overwhelmlngly
strong arguments in favor of the latter which
the former does not possess.
We are not sure that il greatly matters
whether this new street connects Flatbush-aVe
with the Brooklyn Bridge or with the Manhat-
tan Bridge. The Brooklyn ends of those bridges
will not be far apart and WILL or should, be
connected by a broad plaza. which would prac-
ticaIly be a spur OF this new street What is
essential is that from one or both OF these
bridges there shall be an ample highway lead
ing out to Prospect Park and through the heart
of Brooklyn. To-day any one driving from
Manhattan to Brooklyn by way of the bridge
finds himself landed at the Brooklyn end in a
tangle Of narrow streets apparently leading no
whittier in particular. What an Incompatible
Improvement it would be if could drive