The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-19
TALKED The LOOP TO HUGHES
AS THE ONLY WAY IN SIGHT TO
RELIEVE BRIDGE CRUSH.

After He Had Tested the Jam lie Met some
Brooklyn Men and Asked Many Ques-
Ion They want More Brooklyn Repre-
sentatIon IN IN Rapid Transit Board.
Governor-elect Hughes was not willing to
talk yesterday Of his experiences in the
Brooklyn Bridge crush on Monday night,
nor would he answer any inquiries con-
corning steps he might possibly take to
better the conditions. He was much i'm
pressed by the discomfort and danger OF
travel over the bridge in the busy hours,
and he will give his immediate thought
to the subject Of relief.
1t was Col. Willis L.. Ogden who was
responsible for the trip.
Il had often talked with Mr.. Hughes
about transit conditions, said Mr.. Ogden
yesterday, "and about two weeks ago in
his Office he expressed a wish to go over the
river at rush time some day and &c. for
himself what the conditions were. We set
no date and he had no idea h was coming
when on Monday | borrowed an automobile
and called at his Office. He was ready to
go, though. At the bridge entrance we
were joined by some of the bridge police
squad. l had limited early in the day that
Mr.. Hughes might be along about that
time. l wasn't afraid that any harm would
come to him and I know he would ave
beer willing to take his chances like any
other citizen. But l didn't know but he
might be recognized, and a demonstration
at such a time might have had the Lord
knows what ending"
Asked what MIR. Hughes had said during
the passage, Col. Ogden replied that, come
to think of il, he hadn't said anything.
Neither he nor the ~Governor-elect had said
a word, but Mr.. Hughes certainly kept his
eyes open.
Once across and OF the structure Mr..
Hughes was taken by Col. Ogden to the
Hamilton Club in Brooklyn. There were
gathered to meet him half a dozen Brooklyn
men. all of whom are Interested in making
life easier for the Brooklynite. One was
j. Edward Swanstrom, former Borough
President. Another was Richard Young.
ex-Park Commissioner. Henry Battermsn
was also there.
Mr.. Hughes explained to the company
that he was intensely Interested in the relief
of traffic conditions and that he was going
al the problem with an emf rely open mind
He asked a number OF pointed questions
Il was reminded of the days Of the insur-
ance quiz" one of the men who was there
said. One of the queries was; The present
way is bad what alternative have your"
The Brooklyn men replied that they had
no special scheme to propose, except that
every man OF them was in favor of con-
Meeting the Manhattan ends of the Brooklyn
and Williamsburg bridges by a link of
elevated road. The Brooklyn ends are al
ready joined. they told Mr.. Hughes, and
the whole would make one big loop with no
terminals. There would be five places
where the people could board the trains on
the Manhattan side and that, the kings
county represent atives thought. would help
conditions immensely.
They told Mr.. Hughes that they were
agreed that elevated railroads are not
aesthetic, but they were afraid that II some
thing wasn't done they would have little
estheticism left to train by the time there
are subways enough.
Mr.. Hughes also heard about the Rapid
Transit Commission or it's eight MEM
bers, he was reminded, only one is a Brook
Ignite, and under the rule requiring six
votes to pass anything the three Man
haitian men who are supposed to be opposed
to the erection of elevated structures on
any terms can hold up the loop proposition.
Col. Ogden and the others thought that
whether tie two-thirds rule was kept or
abolished the outlying bOroughs should
have fuller representation on the com
mission and that an eX otficlo member
should be the Bridge Commissioner.
MIR. Hughes gave no hint of his intentions.
He simply said that bridge conditions at
the time he had crossed were obviously a
disgrace.