The sun., 1908-09-17
OYER THE BRIDGE TO MUSIC
NEW ROAD TO BROOKLYN OPENS
WITH MAYOR AS MOTORMAN.

Nearby shiFttali Slide, With wind
Blowing and Everybody Happy-sals
Marshes Of Csnarsie Brought Near
Mayor George B. Mcclellan, duly au.
thorized by bell and book as hrst-ciass
motorman Of tried competency, put a
gloved hand on the controlling lever In
the motor box Of an elevated train yes
terday and with twitch Of the thumb
he turned on the juice. Forthwith the
first train acroas the Williamsburg Bridge
trundlsd out Of the Manhattan station
on Delaney street and with purring Of
motors and ,clinking Of chains sped up
the incline between the walls Of twisted
steel flaments on It's mission Of Joy to al
Brownsville and the neither parts Of
Williamsburg.
Being q motorman was the easiest
thing that the Mayor had done for many
moons. He stood there with set exs
preston about his lips, one hand on the
.air' and the other on the controller.
and with nothing Of the professional
motoTman lacking but the union card.
Once his Hon or leaned out Of the box
window to face the camera brigade, but
that was the only interruption OF his
serious task. Charley Ward. an old
B. r. T. man who stood unobtrusively
by the side of Mayor Mcclellan just to
see that he didn't run down chicken
or child said afterward that MIR. Mo-
Clellan sure could get q job with the COM
pany after he quit Mayoring.
Even though the Mayor stuck con-
soientiousy to the motor box all across
the bridge, never needing the inviting
music Of the B. r. T. band Of sixty pieces
In one Of the six cars behind. he had
10 give way to the anticipations Of wait
Ing Brownsville, At the Manhattan tower
he pulled the whistle cord thrice and the
band behind was drowned by the rauoous
shrieks. Again when the train was drop
ping down the Williamsburg incline TO
the flag draped plaza his Honor hung his
weight on the whistle cord and the walt
ing citizens banked along four sides OF
the square got their moneys worth OF
noise. Who can say that Mayor Mo
Clellan did not enjoy being a motorman9
Of six cars each, left the new marble ter
minal ON the Manhattan side at 1000
O'Clock. Besides the Mayor the first train
contained other notables OF lesser degree
but Of no less enthusiastic presence: John
F. Calderwood, vice-president and gene
raj manager Of the Brook lyn Rapid Tfan-
ait, was on hand to hand his Honor his
President z. W. Winter Of the company. ).
Assistant General Manager Dutton. W.
W. Atwood, in charge OF the eastern d.
vision Of the elevated road service, and
other officers Of the company occupied
the first train. Public Service Commits
sioner Edward N. Bassett representing
the commission; Bridge Commissioner
Stew enson, Leffert l.. Buck, the engineer
who designed the bridge; Kingsley L.
Martin engineer in charge Of the Brooklyn
and Williamsburg bridge elevated tracks,
and representatives from the various
reception committees and boards OF
trade OF Brownsville and Williamsburg
The train Mayor Mcclellan controlled
sped down of the bridge through the
waves OF bunting made the vista a
streaked one on every side. and made
its first stop at the Marcy avenue station:
hefe Mr. Mcclellan left the train and
hurried back over the bridge 70 keep a
merrily on up Broadway. Wiliiamsburgs
main street bloomed like garden with
flags and devices, the business men who
had oramped their bones for years ir the
Williamsburg surface cars crossing to
Manhattan raced out OF their stores to
cheer as the train passed.
:. At almost every station along the route
there were delegations Of citizens. just
like those who would welcome the new
railroad into Shirttail Slide. CAL, and all
the way out 70 Canarsie there were noisy
manifestations Of rejoicing on the part
Of the emancipated. At the Eastern
Parkway station David Goldberg, repre-
senting the overhowing gratitude Of the
residents thereabout. boarded the train
with-a horseshoe Of purple dahlias five feet
high. Mr.. Goldberg's tribute was es-
tablished between the feet OF the guests
and the train moved on to Canarsie.
After another celebration there by
the outlanders Of that salt and rural
suburb. the train returned to the Driggs
avenue station. where the 60o-odd guests
IN the frat section Of the gala special
ahghted and formed q line Of march to
Blaney's Amphion theatre at Bedford
and Division streets. With a platoon
Of Brooklyn's finest mounted police and
that B. R. T. band playing Justify in the
fore, the pageant Of joy made triumphal
prpgress through the streets.
At the theatre, which was packed with
the jubilant folk OF williamsburg, Browns
vile and all the territory west Of the
Atlantic Ocean which is to be brought
thirty minutes nearer to Manhattan by
the new bridge service, there was much
orstory. Nathaniel H; Levi, chairman
burg. voioed the Joy Of all folk living
across the bridge and out Of range OF the
old Brooklyn Bridge at tho innovat ton
In traffic Accommodations which had
been that day celebrated. Col. James D.
Bell, Assistant Corporation Counsel and
a former member OF the Bridge Commits
sion, followed with more Fluctuations
Speeches were also made by Col, Andrew
D. Baird, former member Of the Bridge
Commission; Bridge Commissioner James
W. Stevenson, President Winter OF the
b. r. T. and the Rev. Martin A. Meyer.
After that luncheon was set for 800
guests at the Hanover Club, at which all
OF the prominent guests on the trains
were seated. Although there was no
formal oratory set for the luncheon DR..
d. G. Hughes, father OF Gov. Hughes,
WIS called upon for impromptu remarks.
Through service on the Broadway ele-
waited trains across williamsburg Bridge
was begun at II o'clock yesterday morn
ing, even before the official trains had
completed their itinerary. Thirty min
ute trains TO Canarsie and Cypress Hills
are scheduled TO leave the Manhattan
terminal every hour, short line train to
Brownsville has been added to the schedr
ue and shuttle trains will run every five
minutes from the foot OF Broadway TO the
Marcy av>pue station.