The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-12
PONDER The BRIDGE SCANDAL
PTBLN SERVICE MEN SEE THE
en- SH FROM SAFE PLACES.
SrnrIr Tongue Decline 20 Utter the
Thoughts That Arise In Them as tho
BoorIsl, spectacle Proceeds-Com-
paint Of the Express Merger Received.

Thoughts ina Arise I'm Them as the
RoorIsh Spectacle PrOceeds-COm-
plaint of The Express Merger Received.
Enveloped 10y a battalion OF reporters
and camera men and escorted by Chief
Engineer InRefsoll Of the Bridge Depart
ment. Public Service Commissioners Bassett
and McCarroll of Brooklyn and Eustis OF The
Bronx went forth last evening to consider
The bridge crush. just inside the en-
trance on the Park row side the party came
10 a halt and Engineer Ingersoll began to
roint out to the commissioners how the new
terminal would ~ built. A huge police
man CANT up with fire in his eyes.
Hi, there, you fellow. move on!" he cried.
This is no place to collect a crowd"
Some one whispered into the tall blue
coats ear and he suddenly found plenty to
do in other spots.
The party then went to the northern plat
form upstairs, where the trains come in from
Brooklyn. IL was comparatively quiet
here, as the rush was all the other way.
After watching the loading Of trains from
this point OF view Engineer Ingersoll pro-
posed that the Commissioner mount TO the
train despatcheris cage. about twenty feet
above the platform. The only WI to get
to it was by a narrow upright ladder Of iron.
The Commissioner hesitated for a moment.
but led by Mr.. Bassett md Engineer Inger-
soil they began to make the trip one by one.
This was meat for the photographers and
they Immediately limbered up for action.
The result was various views OF the legs OF
the climbers.
From the train despatcher's Office the
Commissioners .were able to get an unin-
terrupted view Of the loading and unloading
Of all the bridge trains, which were then
running under a Roadway Of less than a
minute. The system was working in per-
feet order and there was no hitch Of any
kind in the operation Of the cars.
1t Is a matter Of education with the
people Of Brooklyn said Mr.. Ingersoll.
II this was a green crowd unused to the
daily congestion there would probably be a
panic every day. These people have simply
grown used to the system by long experience
and in the main they are like a train sd
army"
When the Commissioners descended from
their lofty perch via the narrow ladder
they were photographed in q group. Then
they visited the trolley loops, where a jam
Of people. many Of them women. waited
patiently to get even q foothold on a ca.
As each car turned from the northern road
way there was the old familiar football rush
on the part Of men for seats before the oar
stopped. Men swarmed aboard from both
SIDES. under the rail and over the rail and
through the windows. 20 that by the time
the car came to a stop there vas no
room aboard for sven the eyelashes Of a
waiting passenger. As for the women, they
were entirely ignored and stood patiently as
car after car passed without taking them on.
That said Commissioner Bassett, is
the disgrace OF IL all; that these lusty fellows
should be allowed to board the cars hap
hazard before they stop, thus shutting out
the women who are waiting. These are
conditions that should have been foreseen
and provided for yedrs ago.
When the inspection was over the Com
missoners declined to give any views on
what they had seen or what changes they
would recommend to the full commission
They have no jurisdiction over the bridge.
but they hav jurisdiction over the B. r. T.
A communication which was read at the
public session yesterday may lead the COM
mission to look into the matter OF express
charges in this city. The letter was from
W H. Powers d Co.. hay and produce deal
prs Their complaint was directed toward
the charges now made for express service
by the Metropolitan company. They de-
clare that prior 10 the consolidation OF the
American Express company and the Metro
politan company parcels weighing from
100 10 100 pounds were carried about the
city for rs cents each. Since the CONSOLE
dstion. the letter says. tho price has been
raised to 10 cents a hundred pounds. or
nearly three times as much. Apparently
this firm has been in the habit Of distrbu-
ting baled hay In 100 pound lots. Under
the old rates the letter says q carload OF
merchandise could 30 distributed for $50,
whereas under the new rate the same service
costs SIPS The complaint was referred
10 the committee Of the whole.
A letter was read from Benjamin Fischer,
the chairman Of the Citizens Civic Club. ask.
ing for additional stairways on the Third
avenue elevated at Houston, Ninth and
Eighteenth streets. This also was re-
ferred to the committee OF the whole.
George Price, chairman OF a subcommittee
representing forty civic organizations in
The Bronx Iasked for a hearing or the gen-
eral traffic needs Of The Bronx. This
matter followed the course OF the others.
John II. O'Brten, Commissioner Of Water,
Gas and Electricity, sent in a formal com
plant against the Westchester Lighting
company. Mr.. O'Brien had had plans
made 10 put in a large water main In the
street over which the elevated extension
~ the subway system runs but the light
ing company got in ahead Of him and laid
q twelve inch main for It's own use. This
shut out the Water Department. Mr..
UBrien asks that this main be taken out.
ne also asks the commission to adopt a
rule requiring all corporations who put
mains in the streets to Hls plans with his
department before the work 10 actually
undertaken.
The Independence League sent last night
70 the commission a long list OF things it
would like. One Is q public gas plant.
others are a ireproof subway and safety
brakes on surface care. reduced fares for