New-York tribune., 1905-03-03
TO BUILD BRIDGES LOOP.
ROUTE IN BAXTER-ST.
Rapid Transit Board adopts Scheme
TO DISK B. r. T. for Offer.

The Rapid Transit Commission after an ex-
haustive discussion of the pressing need of reiev
ing traffic congestion at the Manhattan end of the
Brooklyn Bridge, decided yesterday to build an
elevated loop by cutting a new short street
through from the present terminal site to BaX-
ter-st., which is just east of Centre-st and con-
tnuing it in Baxter-st to Delancey-st., thence
to a connection with the Williamsburg Bridge.
This is substantially the plan advocated by
The Tribune. Despite the criticisms of the plan
on the part of one two eminent city officials
the Rapid Transit Commission finds as The
Tribune predicted, that elevated loop is the
only feasible solution of the problem.
1t is understood that President Winter and the
directors of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Conf
pany are willing to rent an elevated loop through
BaXter-st for a comparatively brief period. Con-
troller Grout says that the undertaking will cost
$5O00000.
The loop proposition occupied the greater part
of the time of the Rapid Transit Commission
yesterday President Orr as chairman of the
committee on contracts submitted the tentative
plans for the extension of the subway system
made public few days ago. He said:
At this time would only call attention to the prop
burg bridges. one plan is for an elevated conaec-
ton. and the other for subway. might say now,
cars Of thai company through q SUBJ ~ on accosit
of their infamnlabie character. No rneIn5eg ~
this board would allow the cars to run through a
| subway. Therefore the subway would not give 3
continuity of service and from Brooklyn, which
congestion. Moreover, the present subway cars
could not be run upon the elevated structure of
present subway cars weigh forty-five tons, while
the Brooklyn elevated cars weigh only twenty tons
The subway connection would prevent the continuity
of service till the whole elevated structure had been
reconstructed
Might we not have system of transfers at
the bridge terminal?" asked Charles Stewart
4y,a
! Controller if they think that the Board of Al
dermen would approve elevated structure In
the lower section of Manhattan. If I under
stand, public opinion here in Manhattan is un-
aterably opposed to it"
Il would not want to say what coordinate
branch of the city government would do in a
given case,' said Mayor Mcclellan.
AN IMPOSSIBLE ACCUSATION
Il would like to ask Mr.. Smith," said Con-
troIler Grout, IF the Board of Aldermen was
ever accused of representing public opinion"
Commissioner John Clafin urged the construc-
ton Of some kind of an elevated structure to
connect the bridges. He said that the bridges
were built primarily for Brooklyn people and
used almost entirely by them; it was their in
terests that should be considered. Something
should be done to relieve the congestion. The
subway impracticable, and the elevated
would be the only method of giving the relief
that should be given Brooklynites as soon as
possible.
After a long discussion the Controller offered
a resolution, which was adopted asking the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company if it would
lease for five years an elevated structure should
one be constructed to connect the bridges.
President Orr, in urging the elevated connec-
tion plan, said
The question which we should consider is the
absolute necessity OF giving relief TO the people of
BROOKLYN | think that it is a crazy shame with
that single mile of elevated structure connecting
is an outrage that the people of New-York do not
recognize their obligations to the people OF Brook
would virtually throw out the whole system of
rapid transit in Brooklyn.
p esident Orr said that unquestionably the
Brooklyn Bridge would have to be rebuilt within
few years.
CIRCUIT FAvORS TEMPORARY LOOP.
Controller Grout suggested that, while he was
generally opposed TO the loop system, If 1t could
be arranged TO give the operating company
lease for the connecting structure for only five
years to be terminated on six months notice
he would agree to the elevated loop
The resignation of William Barclay Parsons
as consulting engineer to the commission was
read He has become consulting engineer of the
New-York, Westchester and Boston Railroad
of the companies with which William c. Nc
Adoo president of the New-York and Jersey
Tunnel Company. is connected. In his letter Mr.
Parsons says that, although the companies have
not at present any matter before the Rapid
Transit Commission, they may have at some
future time, and for that reason he resigns his
place as consulting engineer with the commits
sion. The resignation takes place from Feb
ruary %.
The board received an offer from the Eastern
Parkway Association informing IL that a sub
sCripton OF $2O00OO had been raised by ten per-
sons IN the neighborhood of that highway for a
company with capital stock of 81 100000 TO
build and equip subway along Eastern Park
way from Flatbush-ave. to Pennsylvania-aVe, If
the route is laid out there.
The offer of the New-York and Port Chester
road TO build and equip a railroad in 3d-ave.. II
a route should be laid out there, was referred to
the committee on routes.
President Winter said at his home last night:
II would not be able to state whether the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company would care
to lease the loop for a term Of five years with
out careful consideration, which will be given
fYau