New-York tribune., 1907-10-30
TRIPLE BRIDGE LINK.
RIG TRANSIT PROBLEM
Public .Scyuice Commissioners No5o
.Studuing Relief Scheme

ono nj the most important transportation
,robJerns which the Public Service CominlssIo"
,xpects TO take I'D soon is that OF deVisihs due-
ouate connections between the NlllialhSpu4 p
tartdre the Blackwelrs Island Bridge winch
viii be opened in few months, and the BROOK
1vn Bridge 10 relieve chat overtaXed STRUCTURE
II WAS learned yesterday that this task Is rc-
ceiving much consideration by various members
of the commission. including Chairman WILCOX
AT present the williamsburg Bridge Is not
doing nearly the work il should 10 relieve the
,orTos,ion On the Brooklyn Bridge. The COM
nletion Of the subway loop to connect that
bridea with the Brooklyn Bridge viii aid greatly
Ga the distribution Of Brooklyn traffic, but lhe
commission does not expect this loop to be com
pIeted for a year perhaps for cohs'oeIdolS
longer time Meantime the great bridge is 10
al, ,ntants ouf Of the world for the greater part
Of the Brooklyn Manhattan travells1s because
II is inaccessible from the downtown business
section Of Manhattan and from the uptown
shopping centres.
According 10 present expectation, the Black
wells Island Bridge will be ready for business
some time next summer This bridge must be
included in the general traffic scheme for the
relief Of the Brooklyn Bridge. either by con-
Dection on a general loop line between the
t,ree bridges or by a Encouragement of exist
ing traffic lines to serve the new bridge ana the
territory adjacent 10 il in both boroughs.
No r,lans have been considered in detail by
snv member Of the commission yet The prob
lem has been discussed in general by most OF
the members. but # IS probable that when the
commission gets down 20 consider 1t practica'ly
tt will be as a part of the general transit deVel-
opp1ent scheme in the greater city The COM
mission inherited from the Rapid Transit Com
mission A general transit scheme" in accord
ance with which the Fourth avenue subway 70
Gomez, Island is to be constructed. and Of which
the Battery tunnels to Brooklyn are part
This scheme has not been adopted as gospel by
.he commission, though, and ii is known that
soon the commissioners will take up for study
This scheme and the advisability of continuing
# or striking out new lines.
In This connection the commission must con-
slider the utilization Of Eleventh avenue where
the New York Central tracks now are being
condemned in accordance with the SaXe-Stanley
law. Many suggestions have been made TO the
ccnmission-the building of subway there
which should serve for freight and passenger
traffic also: the building of elevated line with
SPURS to each pier along the river front, and
others of interest. The commission is inclined
20 treat this problem as one of Importance. aside
from the question of actual railroad service
passenger or freight-to that section of the
CITY since IL affects the commercial Wellbeing
of the city at large.
The work of the accountants on the books Of
the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company has ad-
vanced to point where the affairs of that com
pany may be taken up when public hearings
are resumed. The commission has not yet de-
cided whether the Brooklyn transit concern shall
undergo the public probe, or whether the in
vestigatiotn of the New York system shall be
taken up again next week In any case, it is
not mkely that The hearings WIN be resumed
until after Election Day. Chairman Wilcox
and William NJ. WINS are digging out material
each day which is TO be used in connection with
this investigation. They win call on Messrs.
Joline and Robinson, the receivers for the New
York City Railway Company and the Metro
politan Street Railway Company tomorrow to
discuss certain phases Of the investigation and
the companies affairs with them and 10 IN
spect certain records. Hearings on service mat
ters and on orders issued for improvements will
be held, but the general financial investigation
VIII not be taken up until affairs in Wall
Street have queted 10 a point where future rev.
citations Of peculiar financial transactions wouId
not work hardship on the general public nv
tending To unsette stil further the financial
world
One OF the important hearings scheduled soon
Is that tor suggestions for amendments to the
RAPID transit law, set for November IL Since
the passage OF the Elsberg bin there have been
many complaints that the rapid transit law was
PATCHWORK contradictory in sections and more
or less Ineffective in others MANY reo,,as.,
have been made to the commission for . -
ing on the advisability Of the amendment -
the law to remedy these alleged defects. and
mere Is rather general belief that some Of rho
commissioners. unoficially. would favor amend
ments along certain lines.