New-York tribune., 1906-11-22
BRIDGE CONDITIONS.
B. Il. 4. FEARS DISASTER.
State Commission Hampered by
Local Rapid Transit Commission.

Recommendations made by the State Railroad
Commission Tuesday, designed to relieve
somewhat the Brooklyn Bridge crush found
striking echo yesterday when Vice-President
Calderwood. of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
pany. declared that the bridge was being worked
to ito limit ard that his company lived in ex-
pectat,or OF a great calamity there. Almost
similar sentiments Were expressed by Frank
Hedey, general manager of the 1Eterborougn.
regarding the East Side traffic In Manhattan.
The Second and Third avenue elevated roals,
he said, were being operated TO their utmost
capacity, and unless they were enlarged as the
Railroad Commission recommended, the COM
pany was absolutely powerless to better condi-
tons.
The Rapid Transit Commission of the city
holds the key to the situation in both cases.
Only recently it refused to sanction bridge
Loop scheme along the lines Of that recommended
by the State Railroad Commission which Brook
ly1ites said would have relieved the bridge con-
geston in great measure. Applications made
by the Interborough for extra tracks on the
Second and Third avenue elevated roads have
not been granted. These applications are still
alive and the road stands ready to enlarge
those lines If the commission grants permission.
Mr.. Hedley said:
The Interborough has applications now before
the Rapid Transit Commission for third tracks
on the Second and Third avenue elevated lines.
Commission is no new one We would gladly
foAow it if could obtain permission. Ihese
roads being operated TO their utmost ca
pacity. and we can't do anything more than
we are doing to relieve the congestion OF Bronx
traffic. If the Rapid Transit Commission would
grant applications we would nave TINS new
track in operation in a year. Our formal papers
on file before the commission promise that
Objection to the extension of elevated roads
in this city apparently is the chief reason for the
refusal of the commission to grant these appli-
! cations, as IT was the reason for the turning
down Of the elevated bridge loop plan which
the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company advocated
Railroad men say. however. that some relief
must come for the conditions which exist now,
even If that relief be considered only tempo
rary affair. The Bronx crush and the disgrace
full conditions at Brooklyn Bridge, they say, will
! continue to grow worse in geometric progression
the longer relief is postponed. They do not seem
inclined 70 blame the passengers for protesting
against their hardships. but say that they them
selves are practically powerless to better condi-
tions. vice-President Calderwood. OF the Brook
| lyn Rapid Transit Company. said:
We have reached the limit of capacity in the
Rrooklyn Bridge operation, and I venture the
assertion that there is transportation prob
lem in the world that presents so many difficult
ties the present operation on the Brooklyn
Bridge. Conditions are continually growing
worse instead OF better.
We are now operating fve-car bridge trains
during the rush hours OF the night and morning
on a 60-second interval. Sometimes 1t will
run as low fffty-fve seconds. which means
sixty-fve hve-car trains, or 323 elevated cars,
an hour Unit! within the last few weeks the
best operation ever attempted was four-car
trains
surface cars, which pass around the loop the
Manhattan end OF the bridge every hour. We
are also operating during the rush hours about
/ ninety six,car elevated trains in and around the
Brooklyn terminal of the Brooklyn Bridge, or
about $40 cars hOuC This is also the limit
Of this terminal operation under present condi-
tions This Of course. governs the number of
trains that can be operated on our elevated lines
reaching the Brooklyn Bridge
We can have no Improvement in this condi-
ton until We can operate through elevated
trains across the Brooklyn Bridge This would
ralte.Je +he rresant tension at this end Of the
bridge ard ena bic us to put more trains on our
elevated lines leading to the Brooklyn Bridge.
So far the Brooklyn Rapid Transit is con-
cerned. every one connected with the operating
department is strainins every point curing lne
t.yenty-four hours TO do the best he can In con-
nection with this operation. fully reallzlnB not
only its importance but its danger. Whlle the
operatng department IS in no manner respon-
sibie for present conditions. you can rest as
s1Ircd that keeping the records Of TINS
operation IN such shape that in the event Of
calamity not only the men who are in direct
connection with this operation will share its re-
sponsibility but all others who are in any way
responsible for the present conditions
President Winter Of the Brooklyn Rapid Tran
/ sit Company. said regarding other recommcnda-
tfons Of the Railroad Commission referring TO
the operation of car lines in Brooklyn that they
! were feasible and would he carried ont if perms-
/ sion could be obtained. Some made in ac-
. cordence with suggestions from the road He
said he only wished the road could get permis-
sion TO have the elevated loop connecting the
4 Trooklyn and Williamsburg bridges IT wants.
olso the terminal facilities for surface at
the Manhattan end of the williamsburg Bridge
/ recommended by the state commission He said
/ the road stood ready to elevate its tracks over
Sands street from the terminus Of the Brooklyn
/ Bridge and had advocated that important inn
1 prove nent for three years. Application for per-
/ mission for a connection Of the Washington and
/ Fulton street tracks at near Hillary street
/ was made a year ago, but the conditions re-
1 ouired were considered out OF the question by
/ the road Mr.. Winter said the company was
/ ready tn run cars in Livingston street whenever
| il could get the right Of way necessary.
THANKS GIVING DINNER.