New-York tribune., 1908-01-11
BACK TO THE BRIDGE.
TUNNEL NOVELTH or ER.
p. S. c. Issues Order to b. h. L.
About Lessening Tram Service.

tan 10 Brooklyn and TO relieve the crush at the
Brooklyn Bridge-seemed 10 have been alreaoy
s,,l4sllad Owing to the activity of the Public
service Commission in getting after the Brook
lyn Rapid Transit Company for its action IN
lessening the number of trains across the bridge
during the rush hours. which caused the conf
Danv to put back the regular number of trains
last night. il is practically certain that the
feiier of the congestion at the bridge is more
than a one day wonder. During the busiest
hours last evening. however, there was a dis
tinct increase in the crowd over that of Thurs
DAY evening
The action Of the commission was taken at
its meeting yesterday morning after the COM
mi sioners had read the newspaper accounts
Of the removal Of two of the regular trains gen.
erallv operated OF the bridge during the morn
ing and evening rush hours. Under the direction
of the commission the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company has been operating eighteen trains
across the bridge during the so-called rush
hours Thursday night this number was re-
duoed 10 sixteen and. though Nice-Presldent
Calderwood said yesterday morning only seven
teen trains were in operation. il was said at the
Offices Of the commission that two trains must
have been missing, because it was impossible
To run seventeen or any other odd number Of
trains in the bridge service on account of the
double tracks.
P. s c. ORDER To 3. r. T.
AS soon as the commission met yesterday
morning Commissioner Bassett introduced the
following resolution. which unanimously
approved and a copy of it at once dispatched
10 the Offices of the company:
Resolved. That the Brooklyn Union Elevated
Railroad Company be required to make answers
by Saturday. January II. 1908, at Il o'clock
noon 10 the following questions:
l-Whether the number Of trains operated on
the Brooklyn Bridge during rush hours on Jan
uary 9, 1905, was greater or less than usual, and
IL the maximum was not operated the reasons
therefor
2-What are the plans Of the company as to
the number Of local trains TO be operated the
Brooklyn Bridge during rush hours until such
time as the company will begin the operation OF
through tralnsE
In introducing the resolution Commissioner
Bassett let it be known that the commission
would stand for no attempts on the part of the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit TO keep up the old
bridge congestion 1t is entirely wrong said
he for the Rapid Transit Company to start
any method of lessening traffic on the Brooklyn
Bridge. either elevated or on the roadway. The
extreme congestion over that bridge has been
such that the people of this city simply will
not stand for anything approaching what has
existed. and the position of this board will be
that great deal better service must be given
over the Brooklyn Bridge
Chairman Wilcox and Commissioner Nc
Carroll both expressed their astonishment at
the reported efforts Of the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit 10 reduce the service, and the former
said that such tactics would not be tolerated
for a minute by the board.
The statements Of the bridge ernploves that
only sixteen trains were in service during the
rush hours on Thursday were fully verified by
the official daily report made to the commission
by E. F. Reeves. superintendent of transporta-
ton for the bridge division Of the Brooklyn
Rapid Transit
The order Of the Public Service Commission
had its effect last night when eighteen trains
were put into service during the busiest hours
President Calderwood had pleaded earlier
in the day that the default in the number of
trains had been due TO the lack of trainmen.
but however that may he there were enoug h
employees yesterday to man the usual number
of trains.
JAN on CARS STILL THERE
There was no noticeable diminution in the
number of persons who had to stand in the cars
which left the Manhattan terminus during the
rush hours although eighteen trains were run
ming The trains were loaded with straphan ngers
hut in several particulars there was change
from the old conditions Where before Thursday
the platforms Of the cars going To Brooklyn had
been packed 10 capacity and more, it was posi-
bic TO squeeze inside last night and find room
for one foot al least. There was a remarkable
Improvement in getting into the cars, and the
platforms We're not jammed from edge to elge,
as has been the prevailing mode.
But by far the greatest and most beneficial
change was noticed at the various loops. par
tjcularly at loops l. = and 3 over which many
Of the cars lines running TO Borough Hall
make the turn. The fighting crowds. a-bristle
with ''the devil take the hindmost'' spirit that
was formerly only incident in the Brooklyn
ties ho1neward progress, had degenerated into
fringe Of passengers not more than two deep
Al the worst moments. However there was no
room 20 spare
The thinning out of humanity the bridge
was not noticeable last night as on Thurs
cay during The evening rush hour Several of
the policemen who have been duty for years
81 the bridge entrance said it looked as if many
Of the Brooklynites had returned TO the old
crush after having once experienced the sensa-
1ion Of riding under the tube in the river.
No better idea OF the popularity of the new
route TO Brooklyn under the river and its real
serviceability in diverting the flow of traffic
from the bridge could be obtained than by an
observation Of the Lenox avenue express trains
as they arrived al the Bowling Green station
Of the subway last night. With the exception
Of the last car a few trains the seating
capacity gone when the Brooklyn Bridge
station Was reached. At Bowling Green the trains
50 well filled with persons standing that
the gates could not be thrown open to receive
more passengers At 5:2l yesterday afternoon
the three minute schedule was put into opera
tion. but from observations Of a timer for the
Public Service Commission only eighteen trains
run in sixty-six minutes instead Of in