New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-12
BROOKLYN BORE A SWITCH
LITTLE BRIDGE RELIEF.
Municipal Art Society Says Tunnel
Viii Be q disappointment.


Art Society of which Calvin Tomkins Is chair
man. has completed an extensive report on
rapid transit in this city. The committee is
composed of John De Witt Warner. Frederick
s. Lamb Milo Roy Maltbe, ]. G.. Phelps Stokes.
Charles r. Lamb, Henry w. Sackett and Mr..
Tomkins.
The committee makes the startling declaration
that the Brooklyn tunnel is going to be some
what of Q failure, far as relieving the crush
on the Brooklyn Bridge is concerned. On that
subject the report says:
In providing through lower Broadway and
under the East River for the Brooklyn extension
Of the Manhattan subway such route was
adopted that the larger portion of the present
Brooklyn bridge traffic with any increase from
the Manhattan subway would naturally take
it-that is TO say, during the rush hours one
hundred thousand an hour would wish to be
carried in direction. But planned. this
tunnel extension between the Battery and
Brooklyn Is a mere switch" (of one track in
each direction) from an originally planned
Broadway subway Of but one track each way
below Ann-st. With trains of six ears seating
fifty passengers each running on one and a
half minutes Roadway, the full capacity would
car trains and but minute Roadway Oonger
trains and shorter Roadway than can safely be
counted on) this would be $4,000 an hour. 1t
can only be guessed how far these figures may
be reduced by the switch, etc, conditions.
Moreover, it is startling to find that the COM
missions engineer has estimated the Brooklyn
and one-half-say, one-third, at first-of this
single track capacity.
plan can imagine BrookIyn's disappoirt-
mont when it tries to it,. If Il is not
built the Rapid Transit Commission will have
to explain why, after offering such scheme
for competition the successful bidder al
lowed radically to change it,
The society early recognized that settlement
of the structural plan of the city should pre-
cede suggestions for its establishment. The
belief of the society has been that increase OF
population without consequent increase of con-
gestion constituted the crucial city problem.
The report of the committee follows. in part:
interests of New-York constitute a Single combine
Of three mutually jealous groups the controlling
aesce. l. e.. Interborough. controlling the Nam
haitian and Bronx elevated and subway systems.
railway ines; the Nsw-9ork City railway Com
Face lines, and the Brooklyn Rapid Transit. con-
trolling the elevated and surface lines of Brooklyn.
In extending its own system of underground roads
the city may well be served by utilizing through
management of these corpora lions. But no such
steps SHOULD be taken as shall place the essentia!
the power of the city 90 control them.
Transit needs have been so neglected till the de-
gent that the public are Frequently forced to
venience and franchises and licenses which would
not otherwise be granted are under such condl-
tons given for utterly inadequate consideration.
This policy fits in we'll with tnat Of the street
railways (Which find their greatest profit in highly
congested traficl that it has characterized the
lations OF public officials to street railway COM
pcnies in New-York City.
The committee finds that the subway loop
is so situated at the entrance to the Brooklyn
Bridge, and that the Belmont system is so
built that for seventy-1v years to come it can
obstruct any plan either for municipal opera
ton for other competing service of which
the bridge, owned by the city, is a factor. The
report continues:
Our socity is advised that by slightly changing
(and greatly bettering). the grade Of the Belmont
the Postoffce there could be secured plenty of room
for b Loop suewaX ande City Hall Park
IaeTe mas s1 meyer 6een s time when any such NUM-
or primarily to start therefrom as to have made
any crush there. This inconvenience has been due
so well United as to head off any solution by mu
nicipaI operation but mutually jealous that they
their passengers ''all OUT Park Row 1t must be
assumed that the Rapid Transit Commission has
known these facts as well as have the rest of us
Within two years. at great expense Fourth-ave
With " deSs S6 pand and basH
trees, 1t is currently stated that this work must
great expense and Inconvenience street less egi-
the principle of an early adoption of comprehon,
slve plan been followed the city would not have
The report discusses at length how combina-
ton of concessions is desirable, provided the
resulting monopoly is made one of service under
city control
Other conclusions reached by the committee
are the following:
For some time to street tunnels located
just below the surface will produce the best re-
suits. In the not distant future il will probabIv
be found that series Of deep tunnels to suburban
points. with radates that extend from CON
gested districts necessarily following street
lines will best serve the purposes OF express SER
vice -
The city should promptly plan and begin to build
a comprehensive transit system.
THE COLUMBIA NOT INJURED.