New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-10
AN 81" IN CANAL STREET.
Il BRANCH IN ELM-ST.
Best Suggests as alternative Trolley
Sub10ay for Bridge.

Bridge Commissioner Best in letter sent TO
Mayor Mcclellan yesterday. submitted plans
for improved transit facilities for the old and
new bridges over the East River He suggests,
among other things, elevated railway
through Canal-st. from Greenwich-st or the
Hudson River to the Manhattan Bridge ter
minal. with branch through Elm-st., Centre
St. the Bowery tc Delancey-st. and through
this street to the terminus OF the Williamsburg
Bridge The Commissioner says:
No provision has yet been made for the difru-
sion OF the masses of people who now cross the
old bridge and who will soon the
bridge away from the City Hall station and
away from Clinton and Delaney sts.. where
great crowds Will soon be landed at point far
from the destination which they desire
Mr.. Best says that the proposed connecting
railway between the two bridges already erected
would give little relief. He says that 10 avoid
having q bridge completed with no railway
facilities. as is the with the williamsburg
Bridge. lines TO and from the third bridge the
Manhattan Bridge. should be provided for now.
The traffic agreement, the Commissioner
states. for the Williamsburg Bridge provides
for the carrying OF passengers as far as Clin-
ton-st-. but further. whereas the approach
to the bridge should have been extended to the
Bowery.
The widening OF Deiancey-st destroyed the
plaza intended to be built at the terminal there
and II is impossible now TO construct a station
there without the power OF the Rapid Transit
Commission The Commissioner says he has
provided meagre terminal there for the COM
ing winter. and next month viii Invite proposals
for the construction OF a larger terminal sta
tion for the use OF the Brooklyn trolley and ell
waited railways This terminal ne declares, win
be temporary only.
The widening of Delancey-st will not relieve
he lf,,nf Tor TO-
ly cross the street rapidly and elevated or un-
derground lines the only proper relief, the
Commissioner says. and he suggests to the
Mayor the following improvements: An elevated
railway through Canal-st. from Greenwich-st
or the Hudson River 10 the Manhattan Bridge
terminal. with a branch through Elm-st
Centre-st the Bowery to Delancey-st. and
through this street 10 the terminus of the Will
iamsburg Bridge.
The Commissioner leaves the building of this
line to either the Brooklyn Rapid Transit or the
Manhattan elevated system.
The Commissioners alternative plan Is trolley
subway through Delaneey-st.. across town to
Hudson-st,, down Hudson. West Broadway and
Greenwich-st.. at least as far as the Jersey
City ferries. at Cortlandt and Liberty SITS. with
a branch through Duane-st.. under the present
subway at Elm-st.. into the basement OF the
projected station in Centre-st., there to con-
meet with the trolley lines from Brooklyn which
would use the basement OF the station as a
terminal and through station.
The building of this line the Commissioner
leaves to the Brooklyn Rapid Transit to the
Jersey City Railway Company. which will soon
have foothold IN New-YorS through tunnel.
The Commissioner suggests that this route
could be operated as a loop otherwise, at
the option of the companies.
The transfer OF the present loop tracks at the
Brooklyn Bridge to the basement of the new
terminal station the Commissioner believes to
be not imperative. but advisable The Com
missioner adds:
assume that the project to carry the South
Brooklyn subway over the Manhattan Bridge
may be urged quite persistently, and that if II
is adopted shall not be able to many
cars (trolleys) over this bridge has been an
ticipated IN this event trolley subway would
not be necessary.
The temporary terminal station at the Will
iamsburg Bridge ought not 10 remain In use
more than three years before II is replaced by
q permanent building, but it's construction Will
be fully justified in making IL possible TO use
the bridge tracks to the fullest possible extent
until the better station can be built, and II will
only make the Williamsburg fiasco more ridcu-
lous not to construct II at once and give the
very best accommodation now possible to the
people who must use the bridge during this
interval.