The sun., 1906-12-28
SUBWAY TO HELP BROOKLYN.
JOHN n. MD0NALD SUBMITS A
NEW LOOP SCHEME.
would Use the diminished Manhattan Bridge
Rather Tnan me Old One-rwo Track
subway Flight Miles Long His Idea
Figures the Cost at $40. 600. 900.

present subway, submitted Q brand new
subway loop proposition for the relief
Of Brooklyn at yesterdays meeting Of the
Rapid Transit Board. Mr.. Mcdonald said
that It was his personal plan and that in
submitting it he did not represent any one
but himself
Mr.. Mcdonald is now private contractor!
having ceased his connection with both the
Ryan and Belmont interests some dms
ago. He denied that he was acting for ths
present traction interests,
One Of the features Of the plan and one
that Mr.. Mcdonald laid great stress upon
was that 1t does not make any use Of the
Brooklyn Bridge. which has formed one OF
the links In all other subway loop schemes
Mr.. Mcdonald contends that the Brooklyn
Bridge Ia already overworlxed and would
have to be rebuilt before it could form a
part Of any such scheme. The Mcdonald
plan uses the Manhattan Bridge instead.
The Mcdonald route would start at Broad
and Water streets and would go up Broad
to Nassau to Park row TO Centre to De-
lancey and through the latter street TO the
Williamsburg Bridge. After crossing tho
bridge and the plaza at the Williamsburg
end the road would 60 underground
through Bedford avenue to Lafayette
avenue 10 Fulton street and Fort Greene
place and down Fulton to FlatbSlsh avenue,
where the Manhattan Bridge Is to terminate.
After crossing the Manhattan Bridge the
route is through Canal street to Centre
street again
This route would be about eight miles
long and would have seventeen stations.
The Mcdonald proposition is for a two
track subway over this route. Getting on
a train at Water street, Mr. Mcdonald said.
a passenger could easily reach Flushing
avenue in twelve minutes.
The most important feature OF the MoDon-
aid plan and one which seemed to appeal
especially to the board In the fact that IL is
made up entire OF sections of subway routes
already approved by the board. These
routes have also been approved by the
Board Of Estimate. They are the Third
avenue line and route 0, which provided
for Brooklyn loop longer than the Melon
aid one but necessitating a tunnel under
the East hiVer NJ W aJer streeJ.
1t is permissible to bid upon sections Of
any Of the routes TO be advertised. no matter
how small. 40 that by bidding on the neoes--
sary sections a person could get the right
to build such loop as Mr. Mcdonald pro-
poses with a few slight alterations. The
whole thing would have to be- approved,
however, by the board before the contract
could be signed.
Mr. Mcdonald said that the cost of a two
track subway over this route would be
10000 600 without equipment. He said that
il could be constructed in three years at
the most. which is about the time the Bridge
Department figures that the Manhattan
Bridge will be completed.
Comptroller Metz submitted Mr. McDon-
aids proposition and expressed himself as
being heartily in favor of it except in one
particular. The Mcdonald plan, as Mr.
Metz pointed out, takes in the proposed
extension OF Bedford avenue from Flushing
avenue 10 the Williamsburg Bridge plaza.
which the Board OF Estimate has voted
down as being too expensive. Mr. McDon-
aid said that il the street was not open the
road should be constructed under private
property for distance OF thirteen blocks.
IL was pointed out bv Mr.. Metz that this
would mean an expense Of between So 900 900
and 81 900 900. which would have 10 be
added to the $40 900 900 estimate OF Mr..
Mcdonald, whereas the route could be
changed 80 as to run down under Lee avenue
and Rosbling street 20 the bridge. This
would mean two rather bad curves and
Mr.. Mcdonald objected vigorously 20 any
such change.
In explaining his proposition 20 the board
Mr. Mcdonald said that he had given the
matter long study and was thoroughly con-
Iaced thar II would prove a sure remedy
for the congestion az the terminal ot the
BooSlyn Bridge
At the same time II would he said.
secure a proper distrilA tion ot the travel
ling publC all over the Manhattan down
town business section instead OF turning
II out az a given point as now. IL will
also afford accommodations far superior
90 any now In use 20 q population in the
territory Ia Brooklyn numbering about
$50 ,OOO, or one-q quarter Of the total popula-
tiOn of that borough
commissioner Charles stewart Smith
asked MT Mcdonald II he had studied his
plan from the stasdpoint Of 10 attra otiys-
Dass to capital. Mr.. hoDonald said that
he hadn't
4 think that u will appeal 20 capital
more than any TOuts yet laid out said
Comptroller Asts
NJ MoDonald said that as a railroad
nian he oould slats that u ~as - splendid
operating proposition
Tho statement Nas made W one II the
Comnllssl l1nsTs, Who didnt want 90 10
quoted, that theirs would ha no difiauhy
ln getting pIyats capital ~ L,d Tor suoh
. To,itS
The hIunhlyh subSay hoop lad oui ~
the commission ~uuld oosi t.s S0 an Mf
hoilohald refused ~ say shstllsF hs ~ouli
10 prepared ~ hld II he lolls Nas adopted
there ssfu nlany sho hallsksd that a
~as ps,ssihly = move ~ tho lishnoni n.
lSIests ~ halh lhs slsyslsd hop plan, Witch
sould mssn llis snifshos ~ tho Bfaakl,a
kspid tiaAsli lh,o THE boF@ish NJ No
iluhald hoe had 40 aSnnsotlaa sith Mr
trliiioni s,noa iis subway sas aosllstsd
u ~as ils general hsilaf that n sirh Tgals
ssfs aassulsad q Nd w@ilA eoms ffam