New-York tribune., 1905-01-01
BROOKLYN TRANSIT.

Borough President Litteton hits the nail on
the head when he says tnat the point of the
Brooklyn transit trouble lis not Fort HamiI-
ton, Dor the Battery, nor Auantic-ave., nor
Joralem0n-st., but 1t is exactly at the New
York end OF our bridges" That is just what
Ihe Tribune has for years been saying and
what Brooklyn has for years been ignoring
When the Brooklyn tunnel bids were under con-
sideration the lOudest if not most influential
voices Ia Brooklyn were raised demanding tnaI
the tunnel be handed over to those who would
reproduce at the City Hall a second bridge
crush. AT that time the ideal was through lines
from everywhere in Brooklyn TO some one place
IN Manhattan where everybody would have 10
change cars. Some even seemed fearful that
the extension of the Interborough subway
would connect upper Manhattan too closely
with Brooklyn and hurt its retail trade
Happily for Brooklyn, a broader view of its
needs than seemed to be cherished within its
own borders prevailed, and the first step was
taken toward the abolition of the East River
barrier, the doing away with the jumping orr
place which is responsible for most or the
evils OF Brooklyn travel. More steps are i'm
perauYely needed. The bridge terminals should
De abolished and continuous lines of traffic
developed, IL possible, by agreement between
Manhattan and Brooklyn corporations, so that
trains over the bridge nay continue on at both
ends, or, II that is not possible, by the building
OF loop connecting the bridges
The Parsons suggestions are denounced in
Brooklyn as the last straw" because no atten-
uon Is given 70 the bridge problem, but only to
questions OF extensive tunnel building in that
borough, Which mean no immediate relief
Perhaps disappointment is well grounded, but
the tunnels discussed are not exclusive OF
bridge relief, and perhaps as additional facili-
ties they might be highly useful. Mr. Parsons
was planning a general transit system. not
solving the bridge problem. though perhaps be
ought TO have given attention to that pressing
matter.
Mr.. LitdetOn is not Just to the Rapid Transit
Commission when he taunts it with providing
tunnels TO New-Jersey and doing little for
Brooklyn. That is Brooklyns own fault Peo-
pie came over from New-Jersey and PennsyI-
Vania asking permission to build tunnels at
their own expense. Why did not Brooklyn have
as much enterprise? Why have not the Brook
lyn railroads, which once secured franchise
on the pretence Of building a bridge, and then
got the city to buy them out and build the
bridge for them, asked tunnel franchise so
as TO carry Brooklyn cars like the Jersey cars
across Manhattan? The trouble is that the
Brooklyn corporations have wanted the city to
do everything for them and then almost pay
them for using the facilities it provided. The
holdup with reference to using the Williams
burg Bridge sufficiently illustrates that fact If
Mr.. Littleton can develop some public spirit in
Brooklyn that will be constructive and not
merely critical. large minded and not merely
provincial, he will do much to secure the transit
which Brooklyn needs imperatively as any
part or the city. Brooklyn has suffered from
being unready to help itself In any farsighted
way.