The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-13
Tow TO USE The new BRIDGES
PROBLEHS WHICH PUBLIC SER
IHE BOARD SHOULD TACKLE NOW
4 commissioner stevenson says Elevated
Trains Can he Kun Over Williamsburg
Structure by the N or the Year-Ac-
lion Fab en- ON Eleventh Avenue Tracks.


\ letter from Bridge Commissioner
Stevenson dealing with the traffic prob
.ems of the East River bridges was pre-
-nuted yesterday ut the open session of the
l'3plic Servi ce Commission.
Mr.. Stevenson says that certain work
that ia now in progress on the Williams
rurc Bridge, which he expects will be COM
rIeted in the latter part of this year. will
result in the operation over the bridge of
elevated railroad trains from Brooklyn
mt the sub-surface station on Delaney
street to Clinton street to Essex street.
pom the completion of this terminal and
the other improvements now under way
IA connection with it. Mr.. Stevenson says
thirty eight car elevated trains can be
IAN every hour over the bridge, delivering
1000 persons every hour at the Manhattan
terminal.
Phis traffic. he declares, will be entirely
in addition to the present traffic over the
trolley lines crossing the bridge. The
transportation facilities from the Man
haitian termina of the bridge for the present
traffic are hardly adequate. and with the
addition of the elevated railroad will be al
together inadequate In his opinion some
additional facilities should he provided for
taking passengers to and from the station
until the completion of the sub way which
will connect the Williamsburg and the
other bridges.
speaking of the Manhattan Bridge. which
II is expected will be completed by Decem-
her 81, 1909. Mr.. Stevenson says that pro-
vision il made for eight railroad tracks in
all. OF these tracks the four on the lower
level can be used INTERCHANGEABLE for sub
way. elevated or surface car traffic. The
foxr on the upper level may be used inter-
changeably for elevated and surface cars.
1T will he necessary" says Stevenson.
10 know in ample time before the bridge
is completed just how the tracks over the
bridge are TO be allotted TO the. different
transportation companies. IL is Of no small
importance to provide adequate facilities
on this bridge and its terminals for road
way traffic, and the disposition of the sub
way tracks al the Brooklyn and Manhattan
terminals should he developed so as not to
seriously interfere with this traffic
Mr.. Stevenson goes on to say that the
contract already let for the subway route
contemplates constructing the entrance
10 the Manhattan Bridge on the Manhattan
plaza as far as Christie street and that this
entrance is so located as TO all ect seriously
the road approach to tn q bridge. Ii is his
conviction. he says, that this subway en-
trance in Manhattan should be SO located
as not Ia interfere in the least with any OF
the Uses to which the bridge will he put for
other than railroad traffic.
The Black wells Island Bridge, the com-
munication says. will when completed have
Elk tracks for the operation of cars. two
tracks for elevated trains, two tracks for
surface cars and two tracks that may be
used either for surface cars or for trains
operated from the subway to and over the
bridge. In addition to these tracks and to
meet future demands there 10 sufficient
space ~ the structure for two additional
lTagkl for tho nIaAraflnnn of alnNT a tod m lrnaA
trains. In conclusion the letter says:
In determining upon The track plans for
this bridge I have endeavorcd to ascertain rhe
intentions of the transportation companies
with regard to their operation to and over the
bridge. So far ms I am advised by them it il
not contemplated that use may he made of
any Of those tracks except one pair for the
operation of surface trolley cars from the
Borough of Queens over the bridge and to
Manhattan iuro a subsurface terminal which
the Department of Bridges IL constructing.
The rapid development Of the Borough Of
Queens will certainly require in the immediate
future more adequate facilities over this
bridge than the transportation companies
contemplate furnishing, and ! would suggest
that this matter receive the earnest considera-
ton of your honorable commission.
The communication was referred to the
committee of the whole without discussion.
A communication from the Rev. John
y. Chidwick chairman OF the
of fifty. requesting the early attention OF
the commission to the completion of the
plans for the inflammation of the Eleventh
avenue tracks of the New York Central
Railroad under the SAKE law was also read.
This letter was dated July 1, and says that
Corporation Counsel Ellison. since deposed,
advised the committee that there would
not be moments delay when the plans
had reached his hands. In view OF the
great public Importance OF the matter the
pnDnmiffaa urges that the rpnarafiOn of
the plans be expedited. The matter is now
in the hands of Chief Engineer Rice. where
il was placed by tine Rapid Transit Com
mission. The matter was referred yester-
day TO a committee composed OF Commits
sioners Bassett and NIaltbie, who will hold
a public hearing on the subject on July Is.
Chief Engineer Rice made a report on the
complaint of John II. O'Brien. head OF the
Water Supply Department. that the West
chester Lighting Company, which is con-
trolled by the Consolidated Gas Company,
had been allowed to slip in" a twelve inch
main in The Bronx where the Water De-
partment itself had planned to lay a main.
Mr.. O'Brien requested that all public ser
vice companies be compelled to file plans
r. his Office for all mains they were to lay
lefore the work was started. MIR. kice
reported yesterday that the Commissioner
was in error TO think that the rapid transit
luard had control over the grade OF the
street underneath the elevated structure
of the subway extension. he said maj
lIfTt WAS "a NIL ~ Llc "VbtNiivstch YIN
pany there before the change in the Street
was made and that there was plenty Of room
for the main which Mr.. O'Brien's depart
ment wished TO construct. i
At that point Commissioner Bassett urged
a policy of peace and harmony between
tig departments concerned and the COM
mission and the matter was referred to the
committee of the whole for settlement.
letter was read from William Wise a
Son. who nave a store at Flatbush avenue
ard Nevins street. Brooklyn, requesting
an examination 10 he made OF the conditions
OF the streets t~hereabout. especially Nevins
street, which the letter says is almost
hlockaded by the materials used in subway
work.
-Ne can stand IL in July and August, per-
haps. for we have managed to exist in a
condition which no other city would allow,
ipI in the fall when our trade begins we
ash that the street in front OF our store and
"n the side street (Nevins street, be Kept
ir-e 30 that carria ges can approach"
would like 10 hear from the chief en-