New-York tribune., 1908-03-09
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
LAMENT FROM BROOKLYN.
Com pIaint That Ne1o Jersey Fares
Better IN Transit.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: VIII you kindly consent to explain in your
journal why IT is not practicable to connect the
trolley tracks on the Brooklyn Bridge with the
tracks Of the trolley roads on Park Row. and
thus afford the opportunity for through cars 10
run from Brooklyn to New York without change!
AS the tracks mentioned are only one or two
hundred feet apart, and are virtually on the same
level. the physical difficulties in the way of such
plan amount TO nothing al all
OF course. at the very outset IL will be said
that legal obstacles. growing out of the charters
Of the surface roads, constitute an insuperabie
objection to the proposed scheme, but is there
method whereby public sentiment can over
this obstacle2 The congestion at the New
York terminal of the Brooklyn Bridge is a blot
civilization. yet by common consent the main
contributory cause of that congestion arises
from the crowds of people at that point hurrytng
to and fro in a wild scramble to change cars
II some Of the trolley cars from Brooklyn were
permitted to uptown in New York over the
Park Row and Broadway surface tracks and IN
turn of the New York trolley were per-
mitted to over the bridge TO the central sec
ton of Brooklyn the congestion at the bridge
would at be very largely terminated. There
is no more essential reason why Brooklynites in
the surface bound for upper New York should
always be forced to change at the bridge than
that New Workers the Broadway surface cars
en- route for Wall street should always be forced
TO change cars at Union Square.
New York and Brooklyn have been legally
merged. but physically they far apart
ever. measured by the and facility of inter
communication. The city is preparing to construct
q colossal terminal at the New York end Of the
bridge. but such terminals should properly be de-
scribed receiving vaults for Brooklyntes.'
their CHIEF function apparently is TO supply
place where the citizens OF Brooklyn shall be
allowed TO sprint up and down stairways and dive
into the bowels of the earth.
What the people OF Brooklyn demand Is the right
be carried through the central parts of greater
New York by continuous, unbroken journey and
for single fare. At present time after Brook
lyntes the bridges and ferries, they in
effect dumped virtually the edges of the city,
and the resulting labor, for the majority at least,
of forever and aye effecting change CT cars, has
become wellnigh unbearable-
Is there no adequate remedy. and is there
lief IN sight? The Borough of Brooklyn now con-
tains a million and quarter OF Inhabitants.
Very many of us wish to patronize the shops and
theatres and restaurants OF the Borough of Man
haitian, but to be plunged. consequence, into
the congestion at the terminus OF the Brooklyn
Bridge when returning to our homes is almost
equivalent TO rtsking our lives.
It inconceivabie that a resident OF New
ark, n. j, rely quicker access
10 Herald Square than a resident OF Brooklyn, who
may be twice as near in point Of actual distance
BY enabling legislation Of very effective char
acter the law-rnaking power Of New York has
made the McAdoo t1nneI TO New Jersey a spen-
did reality. Why will not the same power, in some
speedy and reasonable manner, extend helping
hand TO Brooklyn?
Is It possible that New York lawmakers and
capitalists will do for the inhabitants Of New
Jersey than they willing to do for the con-
venence. comfort and safety OF the Inhabitants Of
the Borough Of Brooklyn?
HENRY wHITTEMORE
Brooklyn, Feb 2s 1908.