New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-13
ASKS FOR SUBWAY LOOP
B. R. T. Would Bring 81" Trains
Close to Brooklyn Bridge.
p. S. C. CONSIDERING OFFER
Company Says Bridge Crush
Would Be Relieved and
Transit Improved.

The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company.
through one of its constituent companies,
the Brooklyn Union Elevated Railroad Com
pany. has applied TO the Public Service
Commission for permission to use the Cen
tire street subway from the Williamsburg
Bridge TO the new Municipal Building. The
company points out that this will relieve
the congestion on the Brooklyn Bridge at
the rush hours and afford an opportunity
for better service on the Brighton Beach
and other lines in the southern district
best served by the Brooklyn Bridge. Such
connection between the elevated tracks Of
its Broadway and Myrtle avenue lines. the
company says. will allow passengers from
Myrtle avenue, Ridgewood and Metropoli-
tan avenue to reach the City Hall in Man
haitian without change Of cars.
No mention is made in the offer of the
terms under which the company purposes
to operate. nor does the company give any
details of it's train makeup or car opera
ton. It does point out. however. that the
proposed service involves a million addi-
tional car miles a year. besides large ex-
penditures for making the physical connec-
ton between the Broadway and Myrtle
avenue lines providing the additional power
necessary and the increased cost OF opera
tion through better service over the grade
at the Manhattan end of the Williamsburg
Bridge.
The company also points out that this
means a longer hau! for each passenger and
consequent decrease in net earnings. but at
the same time dwells on the relief that it
will bring through the diversion of traffic
from the Brooklyn Bridge and the added
advantage Of giving Brooklyn passengers
three additional stations.
The subway loop is practically ready for
equipment and operation from the Delaney
street terminal of the Williamsburg Bridge
down Centre street TO the site of the new
Municipal Building. Owing to the holding
up Of the work there. however, until the
foundations of the Municipal Building are
finished. II will be impossible to use the pro-
posed terminal for a year. and it VIII prob
ably be necessary to turn trains back at
Canal street. where temporary terminal
facilities could easily be established.
While the Public Service commissioners
would not make an official statement on the
offer Of the company yesterday, It was
manifest that they considered it the best
vet made. The question that arose how
ever. was whether the company would &C
cept temporary contract, as n is the in
tention OF the commission TO make the loop
a part Of the comprehensive subway sys-
tenn for the five horoUehs. There already
exists a spur from the subway loop line, at
canal street leading TO the Manhattan
Bridge II is expected to use this por-
ton Of tho Fourth avenue subway system.
now under construction in Brooklyn. This
spur is not referred 10 in the Brooklyn
RAND Transit offe-.
The Canal street station of the loop is en-
tirely finished and the Bowery station is
nearing completion, and the whole line,
with the exception Of the terminal, is ready
to receive the rails The plans of the COM
mission contemplate an ultimate extension
Of the loop line from the present terminal
down 10 Beekman street and Maiden Lane.
with tubes under the East River to Pine
apple and Montague streets, IN Brooklyn
The loop as al present constructed was
laid out by the old Rapid Transit Commits
sion and its construction was begun in 1907.
II has cost approximately 100000 and Is
the property Of the city