New-York tribune., 1909-09-14
CITY TO OPERATE CARS
TROLLEY SERVICE OYER
GREENSBORO BRIDGE.
Mayor Announces Municipal Oper-
alton Plan Until Court Passes
on Il. S. e. Ruling.

Mayor Mcclellan before starting yesterday on
his state and county fair trip, announced plans
for the municipal operation of a trolley car ser
vice over the greensboro Bridge, beginning on
Saturday. The fare will be three cents one way.
or five cents for IA round trip. II now costs FIVE
cents in the electric bus.
The sanction of the Board of Estimate and
AppOrtonment to the transfer of various bal
ances to be devoted to the city's operation II
the new service is all that is required TO put
the plan into immediate operation.
The South Shore Traction Company is ready
to furnish ten trolley cars. and the New York
Edison Company is ready To furnish the power
without charging for installation.
The plan" said the Mayor, 'fs. of course, not
designed a permanent one, but it will start
the operation of trolley cars across the Queens
boro Bridge, and greatly facilitate the handling
of traffic between Manhattan and Queens. The
Public Service Commission months ago halted
the plans of the Board of Estimate and AppOr-
tionment to send across the bridge. The
best way out of ii is for the city to the cars
itself until the Court of Appeals clears up the
controverted points raised by the Public Service
Commission
THE Board of Estimate and Apportionment
has jurisdiction the bridge, and l hardly
think. in view of the public necessity. that any
one will try to enjoin us. The operation of the
bridge cars Will he self-sustanng The figures
brought out concerning the profits derived from
the operation of cars across the Williamsburg
Bridge show that at 2l2 cents a passenger there
is good profit over and above OPERATION
The city is operating the Staten Island ferry
at a loss Of nearly $1OO0OoO year. and fear
of running it at loss led to the abandonment
three years ago of municipal lighting plant.
Apparently assured profits in running a shuttle
service on the bridge prompted the Mayor and
the municial operation of the cty's first railway.
BIG SAVING IN TINE.
Bridge Commissioner Stevenson sent the fol-
lowing message To the Board OF Estimate and
Apportionment yesterday:
The Mayor directs 10 ask your board to make
the following transfers of appropriations and modi-
ncatiou OF the schedule OF salaries and wages of
the Department of Bridges for the purpose OF in
rs5se ~ r,,sa,,sT7- r,r5,to s-1TSS ,%a ,rSsr
ground station az Second avenue, on the Mania !
tan side. to Jackson avenue on the queens borough
FG a.s ssfs M ~ a;5s5 tS
To peRsfi%sa, q water supply. Gas ana Elss;
lamps and iightns No 23i. heat and power oo
To Depart@en; ' Of Bridges oueeusboro bridge
40 l22, apparatus and machinery. vehicles. 90
From ptpartmen, OF Bridges. oueensboro Bridge
IshorsFs line. non--.----.-.---. 5000
This does not increase the budget appropriations
for this department for the year 1873
II ~ the intention that the city conduct this
service only until franchise arrangements have
been made with railroad company compa-
uies. which will then assume the operation OF the
road.
II is estimated that at least ten thousand pas
sengerE will this line daily the outset. and
that the number viii Increase from day 10 day.
but as the income must be paid into the general
fund. which in turn Is used 10 reduce taxation, 1t
is necessary TO meet the expenses ont Of the ap-
preparation account. The receipts will undoubtedly
paw for the maintenance and operation Of the
line
In order To form some idea TO the saving I'm
time which this will mean to those who would
naturally the Greensboro Bridge. II Is esti-
mated that 10 passengers going uptown by the
Second Avenue Elevated Railroad the saving in
time between the Long Island City end OF the
bridge and the Manhattan end OF the bridge. from
that which IS necessarily consumed IN going by
way OF the Bath street ferry will be thirty-two
minutes for each trip. while To passengers bound
downtown the saving Is estimated at fourteen min
utes for each passenger