The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-18
B. R. T. MAKES REPLY
TO KRACKE CRITICISM
Presents Its Side in Controversy
Over Williamsburg Bridge
Tolls.

The Rrooklyr Rapid Transit Company
ISSUED a statement last night in reply to
the statement OF Bridge Commissioner
Kracke in regard to the controversy over
the Williamsburg Bridge tolls and thu
delay in the completion Of the track con
nection between the Brooklyn Bridge and
the Centre street loop.
at is a little difficult to see the transit
company's statement says, how the
Bridge Commissioner can associate his ac-
ton withholding a permit needed IN con-
ncction with the installation OF high ten
sion cable required I'm completing the ar
rangcments for enlarged operation In the
Centre street loop with the controversy
over tolls on the Williamsburg Bridge.
The only result is further delay in getting
the Centre street loop equipped for full
operation.
"Opcratlon over the Williamsburg
Bridge in connection with the Centre
street loop was one Of the facilities pro-
vided by the city TO the New York Munich
pal Railway under the dual contracts
signed March 10. 1918. our operating
agreement with the city contained pro-
vision, strcnuously fought for by the citys
representatives and which We were for
a long time hcsitant to accept, To the ef-
feet that whenever any substantial part
90 the city built lines assigned to us for
nperation might be completed the pooling
OF earnings under the contracts might at
I tho initiative of the city taken through the
Public Service Commission be declared IN
effect
4 "In August, 1918 the operation OF the
/ Centre street loop was begun, ard the
city exercising its option under the con-
! tracts declared the pooling In force. I'M
mediately the earnings OF our elevated
lines. which were in no substantial way
! increased because our trains ran to Cham
hers street instead OF to Delaney street
we're loaded with a heavy burden of in
terest on the Centre street loop construc-
ton costs.
when we were thus carrying the bur-
den Of the cty's Improbable transit in
vestment Mr.. Kracke's demand that we
continue to pay the tolls for operating for
the city on the Williamsburg Bridge, which
we formerly paid when operating on oui
own account and for our own profit, APP
peared so foreign to any sensible inter
probation of our rapid transit contract
with the city that We could not, on the
city's account as well as our own, do any
thing but reject H.
AS to the delay In the equipment OF TN
track connection between the Brooklyn
Bridge and the Centre street loop to in
wife us to equip the connection under on
contract and then inform ne that tn
| connection is not a part OF the lines whicl
) the city provides for our operation ant
Z that we must pay extra compensation !
we are going TO operate there is a theor!
to which no operator could subscribe
"In regard to Mr., Kracke's assertion
that we have reduced service on III
Brooklyn Bridge, the reduction TO whic
, he refers in December. 1914, as compare
with December, 1919, was due to III
operation OF through service from uppe
K Myrtle avenue via the Williamsburg Bridg
into the Centre street loop which dlverte
= much traffic from the Brooklyn Bridge