New-York tribune., 1908-03-07
BRIDGE TRAFFIC QUIZ.
ENGINEERS Tell of Benefits of Nezo
Train Service.

What is being done toward carrying the
elevated railroad passengers over the BROOKLYN
Bridge. what done under the old shutue sSS-
tenn operated during the rush hours, ana "ha'
might have been done If the shuttle tram scrVlce
had been increased and enlarged terminaI iaclil-
ties provided for the elevated trains at the Brook
lyn end of the bridge, were questions dlscuSSeN
Yesterday at the opening OF the nearing oh pifiso
service before the Public Service commission
After two hours OF testimony by officials of ihe
BROOKLYN Rapid Transit Company. IN response ie
questions bv Chairman Wilcox and other mem
bers of the full board sitting al the hearing II "d
adjourned until Tuesday.
H Seaman chief engineer o. the COMMISSION
has criticised present plan, put in operation on
January - whereby the elevated trains u'i
through 70 Park Row in the rush hours AZ WEI HS
others. Other criticisms have been received pH
tte commission II is stated. and the OBJECT 81 'e
present inquiry IS to learn whether TINS new sSs-
tenn the best thing that could have been 1one aN
the present time for the relief Of the bTloGe Gun
sestion.
President Winter. Vicc-P President CalderWoou'
Chief Engineer Menden and Arthur n Dutton'
superintendent OF transportation, were among 'e
officers of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Cohpdh3
present Mr.. Dutton testified that prior 10 ''e
operation of the new system the company was run
ming TOs elevated cars in the rush hours- 10 -
now running $50 part o. them being useo III
a djustmeut Of lines that do not run acfoss 'he
bridge The maximum number OF six-car trains
an hour. II is hoped that. this number can be IN
creased 10 seventy when Improvements now under
way are completed.
The average number of persons that can he put
tz a car Of the old bridge type. Mr. Dutton SAID
las $50 while rs the average for an elevated
~dar. 4 count made February IL showed that
20 994 passengers carried over the bridge be
tween 4 and Z ?. m. under the new system, as
against g. 2o7 under the old system, shown by a
count October z.
Ing ms
70 Park Row placed at the disposal of the com
pany the old terminals at the Brooklyn end Of the
bridge from which they could out practically
empty trains accommodate Brooklyn passenger
If side doors should be placed in the cars MI
Dutton said. they might he loaded trffe faster,
but he DID not think the passengers would eX-
T,erience any more comfort in getting into them
Commissioner Bsssett brought out the facts that
the old shuttle : ancient that they
could have been used much longer with safety
that owing 10 their construction it would not have
been operate theTr trains Of six and
that the storage facilities al the Brooklyn end Of
the bridge were not large enough for the laying
UP Of in the bouTJ when the shuttle
trains would not be in use
Commissioner McCarroll tried get the witness
to admit that the poor condition of the old bridge
due TO the neglect Of the railroad com
pany, but Mr. Dutton replied that it not a
question of their being out OF repair but of de-
terioration, through long to the point where
they would have to be reconstructed or abandoned
On behalf Of Brooklyn citizens Philip 5. Tilden
asked that the commission give them opportu-
nifty Of expressing their opinion of the new system.
Such hearing viii probably be arranged.