New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-24
BRIDGE CRUSH RELIEF.
Public ScrUice Board Holds Second
Hearing on Problem.

A moving platform system and a system by
which the Third avenue elevated tracks would be
connected with the Brooklyn Bridge tracks and
operated the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company's
tracks in Brooklyn the two plans generally
advanced for the solution of the present Brook
lyn Bridge crush at the second public hearing of
the Public Service Commission held in the CITY
Hall Council Chamber yesterday afternoon.
Commissioner Bassett chairman of the bridge
crush committee. conducted the hearing in rec
ord time, listening to twenty speakers In one hour
and twenty minutes. Mr.. Bassett insisted that
each speaker confne himself to making sugges-
tons for remedylng the crush and not take up
the time of the committee with describing the
crush telling that there
'All want" said ne. ARE practical sugges
lions for remedying the crush. We know that
there is one, and know how bad 1t is De-
spite this announcement the speakers had to be
repeatedly warned to conhne themselves to sug-'
costing remedies.
remedying the crush advanced. Every sug-
gestion that had been previously made was brought
forward again. Commissioner wilcox the
only member OF the commission who was absent
A third scheme OF relief which seemed to find
favor with some Of the speakers was to use the
ferries to a greater extent and have the city OPP
crate them free OF charge
The attendance was not large. There only
forty-six persons In the chamber when the meeting
was called TO order. Mr.. Bassett said he would
hold subsequent hearings.
Calvin Tomkns. of the Municipal Art Commits
sion. the first speaker said the main of the
crush was the limited carrying capacity of the
bridge
Williamsburg bridges Will not afford any adequate
relief" he said. Increased capacity of the
Brooklyn Bridge. resulting from the substitution
OF continuous transit by moving platform for
intermittent train transit. would probably improve
conditions at the bridge for the time being until
such system as the East River tunnels, proposed
by the Rapid Transit Commission. should be avail
able. Such n moving platform system could be
extended beyond the Manhattan end of the bridge
service owing the fact 1t admits of sleeper
grades and can cross under the present subway
~ he Rt1rnr'
j. Edward Swanstrom president of the Borough
OF Brooklyn during the Low administration said
that the real relief for the crush lay in building
more bridges and having more ferries. He advo-
Gated a moving platform and more loops tenn
porary means of relief.
4 also urge" said he. "a union OF the Manhat
tan elevated tracks with the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit tracks, so through be be-
tween the boroughs. This would. OF course. neCes-
state agreement between the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit and the marlborough but the commission
has the power to compel such an agreement This
should be feasible plan and could be put into
effect IN month"
Judson G. Vail of the Prospect Heights Cit-
zens' Association. wanted the city to buy ali tina
ferries and operate them free. He asked the COM
mission 10 force transit roads o sch six
tickets for n quarter. and advocated the moving
platform system He had number OF other sug-
sestons and complaints to make. but warned
by Mr. Bassett to confne himself purely TO the
bridge crush
l. c. Blum, representing the Citizens Central
Committee of Brooklyn, urged the union Of the
Third avenue elevated tracks with those Of tho
Brooklyn Rapid Transit. the Third ele-
waited trains could run to Coney Island and those
of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit over the Third ave-
line.
IAN passengers going downtown" he said in
outlining plan of fare collection shall pay
the City Hall station. All passengers going up
town in Manhattan shall pay going out"
Other representatives, of the same organization
advocated this plan
W J. Wilson of the Free Ferry League said
the only way TO relieve the bridge crush to
take people over the ferries and the only
WAC o
have the city own them and operate them free.
p:inenting the commission on the way It had
taken hold OF It's work. spoke in favor
between all lnes. The trouble, have dis
covered he continued, lies IN getting the pas
seIgers IN the cars, rather than getting them
seats. The question before the committee Is
afford temporary relief not permanent -clief for
we believe 1t VIII be permanently solved When the
Manhattan Bridge is built. the present Man
haitian terminal Of the Brooklyn Bridge there
Two platforms from which persons could get on
the trains which are not used at all regularly.
This should be recthed at Surface TO
the City Hall across the Williamsburg Bridge
| might afford some relief. The run can be made
from the eastern end OF the bridge to the City
Hall in twenty-five minutes
W. II. Gibson. of the New York Board of Trade
and Transportation, advocated the moving plat
form system, and suggested that the commission
give hearing On it.
Numerous other speakers were heard. Some Of
these made such prep"sterous suggestions that tho
commissioners smiled broadly.
The fact that Mr.. Bassett was once chairman OF
the citizens central committee led many TO think
It's plans likely to be recommended for adoption,
especially the through traffic and moving plat
form. the former including both the loop and tho
connection between the Manhattan and Brooklyn
! elevated systems. At the time Mr. Bassett was
! connected with the committee this through limo
had not been discussed as there was no legal
provision for enforcing IT, Now II is believed the
commission compel II.
Chairman Wilcox, although not n member ot
the committee appointed TO investigate the bridge
/ crush. was prevented from being the hearing
because OF the death of his brother-in-law r O.
Harmon, who killed in an automobile acct
/ dent Monday