New-York tribune., 1907-11-10
WHAT ?. S. G. HAS DONE.
THE BELNONT TUNNEL.
BIack1celPs Island Bridge to Plan
Important Part.

August Belmonrs scheme for holding up rapid
Eransit between Queens and Manhattan until the
cty comes his terms for the Relr,on+ +,,,,,, I'll,
probably be knocked sky high by the Public servica
Commission That body plans to utilize the T9Iack
wells Islaho Bridge when completed. the present
surface lines in Manhattan and those in oueans in
q general transit scheme which will make Mr. Bel
mont realize speedily that his tunnel is not indfs-
pensable.
Monday all the members of the commission
made trip to both ends of the bridge for a per-
sonal inspection of conditions there They realize
fully the Importance OF this link between the two
boroughs its intrinsic value as well as its strategic
value in bringing Mr.. Belmont TO a realization that
he has not the city at his mercy The result of
that trip Of inspection is a decision TO make the
bridge 90 the work for which it was designed
The commission has power to insure the use of
the bridge for the transportation Of persons be-
tween Queens Borough and Manhattan II is not
treating the Belmont tunnel the only means for
quick transportation between these two boroughs
With surface lines in Queens which can ba com
PEELED to make connections over the bridge surface
lines in Manhattan which can be compelled TO make
similar connections. and the possibility of granting
separate franchise for operation over the bridge
the commission is in position to make use of this
structure on which the city has spent millions of
dollars without thus far showing any commen-
surate benefit.
CHARGES AGAINST BELMONT
Charges have been made frequently by civic or
ganizations IN Queens that August Belmont was
Bridge until the Steinway tunnel was ready for
operation. 1t is known that IL does not appeal 10
the commission as good business TO let Mr. Belmont
rush through that tunnel and divert all the car
lines III Queens to the tunnel while the huge
bridge over which those lines intended by the
city authorities to empty into Manhattan stands
idle
The commission also has been making a study
of the Williamsburg Bridge situation, the COM
missioners going over the ground personally and
rOr ms wifi zfex
devising some arrangement for the fuller use OF
that structure The situation regarding this bridge
which no elevated trains have yet been
operated is in many respects the same with regard
TO Brooklyn the Blackwell's Island Bridge prob
lens are with regard to Queens.
The commission is engaged in the prepara-
ton of annual report, which must be presented
70 the Legislature by the second Monday in Jan
uary When the report is presented It VIII be more
complete than any summary OF the commissions
up date could be. since that body is yet
only four months old II IS certain that the report
TO the Legislature viii contain chapter on the
Metropolitan Brooklyn Rapid Transit
investigation. which IS still far from completion
Three important orders for increases in train
service have been made by the commission. All of
these being compiled with by the companies
They are:
! Peterborough Rapid Transit Compauy-order
subway and elevated lines.
curing Tn 5 % per oePf increase T on
Fourth and Madison lines.
g. New York City Railway Company, Forty-sec-
ond Street, Manhattanyille st; Nicholas Avenue
p per cent increase OF service Broadway line.
Besides these an order has been issued to the
Coney Island q Brooklyn Railroad Company re-
curing additional equipment. and order
qurng Al additional stairway at the I37th
and Broadway station the subway.
MORE ORDERS OF COMMISSION
Then also three final orders have been issued.
aft hear in rhe
methods Of operating which expected 10 work
improvements in the service These orders Were
! Richmond Light & Railroad ComPany-zorder
recurring safe operation Of cars around Fort Wads-
2 Union Railway Company and westchester Elec-
Of WIlliarnsbridge cars on White Plains road to
2d street. instead Of terminating line ZSd street
3 Union Railway Company and Westchester
Electric Railroad Cornpany-Order requiring trans
Park and New Rochelle express cars Of latter
company.
The Interborough Rapid Transit Company order
applies 10 all subway and elevated lines IN Man
haitian and The Bronx and prescribes increases
varying from about per cent about sc % per
cent in the service during periods extending for
about hour before and about an hour after the
rush hour. The New York City Railway Company
orders prescribe approximately 20 per cent in
crease on the Broadway line and similar increase
or the Fourth and Madison avenues line for the
same part the day that covered in the Inter
borough RAPID Transit Company order.
The Coney Island & Brooklyn Railroad Company
has announced. through its counsel, William n
Dyckman that il will pass two dividends 10 pro-
vide the additional equipment required In the or
ders OF the commission and other equipment which
Representatives of the company have promised.
The installation of the additional equipment or
dered is expected 10 result in a quicker movement
Of surface cars over Brooklyn Bridge, since the
defective Coney Island & Brooklyn Railroad Com
pany cars have frequently caused serious blocks
RELIEF IN BRooKLYN
Another final order Of the commission, approving
the application of the Nassau Electric Railway
Company for permission 10 extend its tracks TO
Livingston and other streets, settled within FIVE
days Of the fling Of the application a question
involving material relief for the most congested
point Of surface transportation in Brooklyn The
extension tracks in Livingston street TO relieve
congestion in Fulton street in Brooklyn had been
mOoted for several years and was one of the i'm
provements recommended by the railroad commits
sion IN its last annual report means for the
relief OF the transit situation in New York City.
The application of the company was made in its
final and proper form August TO the new COM
mission. The hearing required by law was held on
August r. the only delay being that required by
law for advertising 1t lawfully and on August 13.
just twenty-four hours after the hearing Commits
Eoner McCarroIi, whom the had been
referred made his report and the commission
adopted final order approving the extension. The
cars are now running in Livingston street in Brook
iyn, but the work of the commission on this mat
Ter Is not finished The vicinity OF Livingston
Street and Flatbush avenue is visited daily by one
or more inspectors Of the commission hustle the
work Of cleaning away debris and boarding
holes made in the construction OF the Brooklyn and
manhattan subway along the route of the Living
ston street line of cars.
MANY DISTRACTIONS REMOVED
"A final order of another class was the one or