New Britain herald., 1916-11-02
BAR BROADWAY TO OBJECTION CROWD
Weakness Of Subway Structures
 Might Cause Serious Accident

New York, Nov. 2.-Election night in this city without a crowd in Broad way is a brand new idea, but it may come to pass this year if an order stands which was served upon Police Commissioner Woods yesterday by the Public Service Commission Because the new subway is being built under Broadway and Seventh avenue, the commission fears that great crowd there on election night might weaken the structure and bring about an acci- dent. Extraordinary efforts will be made by the police to keep the crowd moving along prescribed streets. Per sons will not be allowed to congre- gate in front of bulletin boards in the streets where excavating is going on.
 Those who want to go into theaters or restaurants will be permitted to do so, but the police will see that those walking in Broadway and Seventh avenue, from Thirty-third street to Fiftieth street, do not congregate in one spot. Engineers of the Public Service Commission held a conference yesterday with representatives of the police department and certain re- strictions were suggested. In letter to Police Commissioner Woods, Secre- tary Walker said: At.e
 "The restrictions following are pro- posed with a view to affording as reasonable access as practical ble to the restaurants, theaters, and newspaper bulletin in the territories affected and at the same time safeguarding the public against accidents which might result because of panic conditions. The restrictions are to be effected gen. erally at the following locations:
 Broadway-From the north side of Fiftieth street to the north side of Thirty-sixth street.
 Broadway-From 100 feet north of Thirty-e eighth street to the south side of Forty second street
 Broadway-From the north side of Forty-thlrd street to the south side of Fiftieth street.
 seventh avenue-From the north slde or Forty-irst street to the south side of Forty-second street
 Within these areas street car and vehicular traffic to be permitted as usual
 Within these areas pedestrian traf- fic to be regulated by the police in such manner that pedestrians de-
 
 and Seventh avenue between the transfers streets will be permitted to do so but the circulating crowds who have no particular business along Broadway and Seventh avenue will be excluded, except that pedestrians may be permitted to cross Broadway and Seventh avenue along the usual street crossing lines at all street crossings, or+x ,5, nue and are to be kept moving and pedestrians may be permitted free &C., cess along the west sidewalk of Broad way between Thirty fifth and Thirty sixth Streets, west sidewalk of Broad way, between Forty third and Forty seventh streets, and east sidewalk of Seventh avenue between Forty-frst and Forty-second streets
 While the engineers are confident that the subway decking and side walks in this part of Broadway and seventh avenue will support a dead load Of all the people who could be massed upon 1t they are apprehensive that the Vibrations which would be caused by such immense crowds mov- ing over such deckings and sidewalks might result In an accident and there fore, nave recommended that the tranc De restricted as suggested am author1zed by the commission to request you to put such restrictions Into erect. The objections of our en- glneers to the use of Broadway and l seventh avenue on election night ap ply equally to their use in the area i mentioned for political or other pa- rades.