New-York tribune., 1906-12-18
HUGHES IN BRIDGE JAM
JOSTLED IN NIGHT RUSH.
Goes. to Brooklyn in Crosod to In
spect Traffic Conditions.

Charles T. Hughes and a police escort visited
the Brooklyn Bridge during the rush" hour last
night TO become personally acquainted with the
crush conditions After inspecting the condi-
tions at the New York end, the party crossed
on one of the crowded trains. and. alighting
in the Brooklyn terminal station. saw how things
We're over there.
Later in the evening when interroEated at
his home with regard TO his trip TO the bridge
the Governor-elect said. 81 was down there"
Will you say anything about the impressions
you obtained from that trip?
L do not care to say anything about 1t at this
time"
The rush had been perhaps half or three
quarters of an hour when big automobile
stopped at the bridge entrance on the Manhat-
tan side and Mr.. Hughes and Willis L. Ogden.
of No 73 Pierrepont street, Brooklyn. got out.
BY Encouragement, Captain John ]. Murtha,
OF the Bridge Police Squad, with Roundsman
Farrell and Detectives Jepson and English, met
the party. The automobiles proceeded TO the
Brooklyn end of the bridge. and the party
started the route OF inspection the Man
haitian side.
After noting the various streams of humanity
which go. TO swell the mighty tide seeking an
outlet the narrow island platforms in the
station Mr.. Hughes noted the traffic on the
surface car loops. Then the eye of the Governor
eject scanned the OulpOuTiilB OF injurious alIu
thousands from the subway and the added
thousands approaching the bridge by Park
Row from the north, through Centre street, and
City Hall Park. with its many avenues and
through Nassau street and up Park Row on the
south,
The party went 70 the first platform, where
tickets are sold. Mr.. Hughes the waiting
lines moving slowly toward the little boOth, and
noted the staircases used and those not used.
The southern terminal Of the Third avenue
'I" road was inspected and then the party
bought tickets and went up 10 the upper plat
form TO the bridge. Mr. Hughess party
got a train. after much jostling.
The trip across the bridge occupies perhaps
1--WE minutes providing of course, the trains
don't stop in the centre OF the structure for
awhile. The party got TO the other side, and Mr..
Hughes stayed for several minutes on the island
platform that leads up to the loop platform and
down TO the surface cars on the street leyel. The
police formed in g. little circle about the Gov
ernor-elect, and while he conversed with Mr..
Ogden the police to 1T that he was not
shunted across any third rails or down any steps
the platform.
More than an hour spent on the trip Of
inspection, after which the party made its way
10 the automobile. Mr.. Hughes and Mr.. ogden
got in and were driven away. The Governor
There is nothing TO say about the trip" said
Mr Ogden Mr. Hughes wanted to the
conditions at the bridge for himself. and we
went from the New York side to the Brooklyn
side / have no comment to make on the incl
dent"
Although Mr. Hughes would not talk about
his trip TO the bridge it is known he will use
his information to bring about some reform in
the method OF conveying passengers to and
from Brooklyn during th3 rush" hours at night
and IN the morning.
In his campaign Mr. Hughes. in one of his
upstate speeches. said he would do all in his
power, within the limits of the law. to compel
the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company TO make
its service moro efficient.
Following the tour OF inspection he spent an
hour and half at the home of Mr.. Ogden, in
Brooklyn. where the matter Of transit facilities
gone over
Two of Mr.. Hughes's callers yesterday were
Senator Raines, president pro tenn and Repub-
ican leader of the Senate. and George W. Al
bridge, State Railroad Commissioner. and leader
of the Republican organization in Rochester
II had very pleasant conversation with the
Governor elect to- day" said Senator Raines last
night II firmly convinced that the people
who voted for Mr.. Hughes believing that he
would carry out his platform promises will NOT
be disappointed"
Senator Raines said that as the Republicans
controlled the Senate they would organize ii
without particular reference 10 the Lieutenant
Governor. Mr.. Chanler. who is an organization
Democrat
II is understood that the Governor elect will
announce the names of his staff tonight or to-
morrow His secretary. Robert H. Fttler
announced last week. The other places which
he will have to fill will be military secretary
appointment clerk. pardon and requisiton clerk
executive stenographer. four notaria1 clerks and
stenogTaphers. and two messengers These
constitute his Office staff. Among his other ap-
pointments Will be an adtutant general and de-
partment and board members, whose terms will
expire at the close Of the present year.