The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 28

THE UHOOKLYA DAILY EAGLE. NEW YOHK. THURSDAY. JANUARY 0. 1908.

NEW LAFAYETTE AVENUE LINE BROOKLYN BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS. BRIDGE MADE CONVENIENT AND R. CHANGES. BY TEMPORARY TERMINAL Increased Surface Car Facilities and New Route Devised to Relieve the Congestion on Lower Fulton Street Changes in the Schedule of the Elevated Service and More Local Trains Increase of "City Hall" Cars on All Lines. 7.

3" fKl'i 'Si. I Through Trains at All Hours and Better Local Service Assured Within a Month Delay Reduced to a Minimum, and Climbing of Stairways Eliminated Distribution of Trolley Cars Through Yards and by Inclines of Permanent Value New B. R. T. Schedule for Bridge Service.

ml mmm I Joicing were not complete for i one aay in ine realization oi the East River Tunnel, comes ONVEXIENCE undreamed ot yet by the Brooklynites who will continue to patronize, the old Bridge, will be furnished within a month, in all probability, t' MP. Park Row are being put in now; the local trolley 1009s almost are complete, and schedules for the improved service are being calculated by the B. R. T. experts.

The result of the latters' work thus far is as follows: The new elevated service in rush hour. by lines follows: 1 Lexington Avenue Cypress Hills. In the morning rush hours, six-car trains will be operated on a ten-minute interval from Cypress Hills to Park Row These trains will proceed from Cypress View of the Work of Betterment on the Manhattan Side. by the utilization ot the temporary terminal ol the Roebling structure, rapidly approaching completion in Park Row. Actual carrying capacity of the big bridge will not be increased, but home-going Brooklynites will save many minutes daily because of the avoidance of change in I he Sands street terminal, while possible delays due to outside causes will be reduced to a minimum.

Stripped of the engineers' technicalities and embodied in a phrase that every traveller across the East River can understand, the opening of the temporary terminal means: "Sorting of traffic at the start, instead of en route." Almost as important from the B. R. T. Hills to East New York via present route, and will make all stops between these points. From East New York, however, these Manhattan trains will be diverted over the Fulton street line, stopping only at Ralph avenue, Utica avenue, Sumner avenue, Tompkins avenue, Nostrand avenue and Franklin avenue.

'All stops between Franklin avenue and Park row will be omitted. In the evening ru3h hours, these through Cypress Hills trains will return via Fulton street to East New York, but THE MANHATTAN BRIDGE MAY BE READY IN TWO YEARS. row and Coney Island, making all stopi in Brooklyn. In addition to this a twelve-minute Interval will be operated on tho Culver l'n in Brooklyn between the Brooklyn end ol the bridge and Kensington Junction, making all stops. West End Line.

1 A fifteen-minute interval from Coney elevated stations will be made through the addition of ticket sellers and chopping boxes at convenient points, and where they will not Interfere with the use of the stairways. At the City Hall station of the Myrtle avenue road this arrangement will also be resorted to should it appear necessary. In the morning rush hours all Fulton street elevated trains will make the stop at the Boerum place and Myrtle avenue stations for the purpose of discharging passengers who wish to make use of the East River tunnel and subway. The use of Lafayette avenue will first be restricted to the Putnam avenue and Halsey street line, which in the evening will be taken from Fulton street below Lafayette avenue and cars operated through Lafayette avenue, Livingston street and Court street, coming from Manhattan. The cars which for Some time have been operated through Livingston street from Court street to Flatbush avenue.

Including the Flatbush, Third avenue and St. John's place HneB, will continue to use this route. The new B. R. T.

arrangements, stated briefly, are: Lafayette Avenue Opened for Surface Cars To-day, tCars of Putnam avenue-Halsey street line, from Manhattan only, operated through Court street. Livingston street and Lafayette avenue, during evening rush hours. Flatbush, Third avenue and St. John's place lines opperated through Livingston street, as formerly. Increase of "City Hall" cars on all lines.

All Fulton street elevated trains in morning rush hours, to stop at Myrtle and Boerum place stations to discharge subway passengers. All Fulton street elevated trains, from Brooklyn Bridge, to make stops at above stations in evening rush hours, upon signal, or if not already filled. Increased ticket selling and chopping facilities at all stations near Borough Hall to provide for convenient use of stairways. Increase bf local trains on Fulton street elevated lines. New short line service on Myrtle avenue surface line to Fulton street.

AH surface cars from Fulton Ferry operated past Borough Hall to accommodate subway passengers. Schedule of Greenpoint and Crosstown lines unchanged. Department Officials and Contractors Want to Finish It Before Mayor McClellan's Term Expires, and Remarkably Rapid Progress Being Made About 2,000 Tons of Steel a Month Used The Wire Is Being Made and the Approach Work Has Begun The Largest of Our Bridges. the operation to-day, also for the first time, of surface cars through Lafayette avenue, marking the completion of the plan devised for diminishing congestion upon lower Fulton street, and that was begun with the widening of Livingston street and its utilization for trolley traffic. i This is not, however, the only plan devised by the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company for co-operating wits' the tunnel and subway arrangements and for adequately caring for the increased demands upon the system, particulary at the Borough Hall.

A substantial Increase of "City Hall" cars upon all the surface lines Is the first provision made to accommodate passengers wishing to make a connection with ihe subway Bystem at the Borough Hall station. Then all of the surface cars having Fulton Ferry as their destination are operated past Borough Hall, In order to take on passengers coming from the subway. On Myrtle avenue a short surface line service has been inaugurated to-day, starting from Fulton street, and Intended expressly for the accommodation of the tunnel and subway passengers. There is qo change in the schedule In force for the operation of the Oreenpoint and Crosstown lines, as these cars, passing through Joralemon street, are considered ample to meet' the needs of the new conditions. New arrangements have also been made In the elevated service of the company.

Unless fully loaded, elevated trains coming from the Brooklyn Bridge in the evening rush hours, and not heretofore stopping at Court street and Boerum place stations, will make this stop upon signal or if there are crowds upon the platforms of these stations desiring to board the trains. The local train service upon the elevated system will also be materially increased to accommodate passengers getting on and leaving trains in the vicinity of the Borough Hall. Special arrangements to avoid congestion upon the stairways loading to tho XTREMELY rapid construction is going forward on the new Manhattan, or Pike street, bridge, in qrdr that it may be 9. Island to Park row will be operated mornings on this line, making all stops between Coney Island and Thirty-ninth street, and between Thirty-ninth street and Park row, making only the following stops: Thirty-sixlh strfet, Atlantic avenue, all stops to Manhattan between Atlantic avenue and Park row. A fifteen-minute interval will be operated from Vlmer Park to the Brooklyn end of the Brooklyn Bridge, making all stops to Thirty-ninth street and between Thirty-ninth street and the Brooklyn Bridge making the following stops: Thirty-sixth street, Atlantic avenue, all stops between Atlantic avenue and the Brooklyn end of the Brooklyn Bridge.

A twelve-minute interval will be operated evenings from Park row to Coney Island, making no stops between Park row and Thirty-ninth street, but making all stops between Thirty-ninth street and Coney Island. In addition to this, a twelve-minute interval will be operated in Brooklyn from the Brooklyn end of Ihe Brooklyn Bridge to Ulmer Park, making all stops. The last-named trains will carry car3 for the Sea Beach Line to Coney Island. Passengers of the Sea Beach Line coming from Mannhattan will bo required to transfer in Brooklyn to the Sea Beach train at Thirty-sixth street, taking in Manhattan the Culver trains. Sea Beach Line.

The Sea Beach Line operating from Coney Island will couple with West End train at Fifty-eighth street, providing in this way a fifteen-minute interval for ths Sea Beach Line to Sands street. No trains on the Sea Beach Line will operate in the morning rush hours to Park row, but passengers on the Sea Beach Line may transfer to a Manhattan train at completed before Mayor Mc-Clellan leaves office on January 1, 1010. Hope that this, the greatest of all the East River bridges, will, be ready for public use within two years will come as welcome news to the thousands of in-terborough travelers and to the vast and varied business interests of Brooklyn. Measures never before taken in any public work of similar character, have been adopted that the bridge may stand as a monument to the present occupant of tho City Hall. Contracts for the approaches already have been let, a step that In other bridge construction was delayed until the cross river section had been completed, thereby putting back the openings far beydnd what would appear to be a normal time.

Wire for the structure already is being made and stored at Trenton, where the Roeblings have their plant. Extra land for the storage of the steel has been hired at Bayonne and there the million and one pieces that go to make the structuro are assorted and numbered, placed aboard scows as needed and towed to the two towers, where, with only one handling by the monster derricks, they are placed in position. Traces of the sensational work being done already are visible to the layman ALL LONG ISLAND TO BENEFIT as he, journeys to and from Manhattan by the famous older structure. "You can just see It grow" is a common remark, and this literally is true. "We are putting in 2,000 tons a month," said Andrew M.

Parker of Ryan Parker, the steel contractors, to an Eagle reporter yesterday, "and our part of the work will be done easily within the time limit. We are getting our steel and we are getting it as we want it and in a way that we can handle it best. We'll be through on time, sure." Already the stoel work of both towers is above what will be the floor level of the kridge. By tliia time nex: year the advance In the construction promises to be so grat that the building will become one of the sights of the harbor. In all, the steel con'ract calls for the expenditure of more than $6,000,000.

Steel of all shapes and sizes, from a tiny rivet a child could toss about to monster bits of structural work weighing upward of 00 tons, go into ths new bridge, and so finely has the thing1 beon systematized that each scow load from Bayonne is used up entirely before another is towed to the work. The Manhattan approach will be 1,393 feet long snd that in Brooklyn will exceed 1,680. Steel and stone will be used. Much of the needed land already has been secured and and work prellm-irary to the actual building practically Is completed. John C.

Rodgers has the contract for this part, at a cost of $9,000,000, at he Is as enthusiastic as all the others Interested in the chance of making a bridge building record. When finished, the Manhattan Bridge will be the. largest of the entire system. There will be four elevated railway tracks and four trolley tracks; a promenade for Brooklyn bound and Manhattan bound pedestrians and a 36-foot roadway that will permit two streams of vehicles in each direction. In a word, it will be a "double bridge" alt the way through.

"It is possible we will make a record with the Manhattan Bald Bridge BY THE SUBWAY AND TUNNEL. will only stop at Boerura place to receive passengers from the subway between Park row and East New York. Between East New York and Cypress Hills, on the present route, all stops will be made. In addition to these through trains from Cypress Hills to Manhattan, a service will be operated over the present Lexington avenue line, through Broadway and Lexington avenue, to the Brooklyn end of the Brooklyn Bridge, these being part of the local services for the benefit of downtown Brooklyn. Free transfers will be given, however, from these trains to Park row trains at the Brooklyn terminal of the bridge.

Another short-line service will be operated from East New York to Park row by way of Broadway and Lexington avenue, making all stops between East New York and Vanderbilt avenue, but none between Vanderbilt avenue and Park row going and coming, save thatj Manhattan bound trains will stop at the Brooklyn terminal of the bridge. Myrtle Avenue Line. Six-car trains will be operated on a seven-and-a-half-minute headway between Metropolitan avenue and Park row, making all stops between Metropolitan avenue and Vanderbilt avenue and none between Vanderbilt avenue and Park row, save that Manhattan bound trains will stop at the Brooklyn terminal of the bridge. A seven-and-a-half-minute headway will be operated In addition between Fresh Pond road and the Brooklyn terminal of the bridge, to provide for the needs of downtown Brooklyn and the subway at Borough Hall. These trains will make all Btops and will transfer to Park row trains.

Fulton Street -City Line. Six-car trains will be operated on a five-minute interval between City Line and Park Row. Manhattan-bound in the morning. These trains will make all stops between City Line and Utlca avenue, omit stops between IJtlca avenue and Flatbush avenue, with the exception of Franklin avenue and make all Btops between Flatbush avenue and Park Row. City Line bound at night these trains will make no stops between Parle Row and Utica avenue with the exception of Franklin avenue, but will make all stops from Utica avenue to City Line.

In addition to these a morning rush service will be operated from Ralph avenue to Park Row and to Fulton Ferry, making all stops and making a ten-minute interval both to Park Row and to the Ferry. Returning in the evening, trains operating from Park Row to Ralph avenue will run on a seven-and-a-half minute interval, making no stops between Park Row and Cumberland street, but all stops between Cumberland street and Ralph avenue. Evening, rush hour trains from Fulton Ferry will continue to City Line on a seven-and-a-half minute interval Residents Will Be Brought Twenty Minutes Nearer to the Business Section of Manhattan Direct Physical Connection at Flatbush Avenue and Through Train Service in the Near Future Extension of the Third Rail System Through Queens and Nassau East New York to Gain Materially by Quicker Transportation Last Section of Subway Being Pushed. Thirty sixth street, or Sands street. SHONTS, THEODORE HE opening and operation of the Brooklyn extension of the underground rapid transit system of the City of New York to mission, in its last annual report, January 1, 1907, says: "The board, recognizing the vital importance of having a complete physical connection with the Bubway under tho river, which work Is under the control and direction of the Rapid Transit Commissioners, has so far.

as consistent en the Brooklyn Borough Hall has caused rejoicing all over Long Island. Although the extenslbn to Flatbush avenue station of the Long Island Railroad will Commissioner Stevenson yesterday.though patrons' viewpoint, will be the increase in the number of cars on each train from 5 to 6. This means practical clearing of each platform with the departure of each train. Simultaneously with 'the opening of the new train terminal, will come the transference of the local Bridge traffic the two and a half cent fare passengers between Sands street and Park Row from the cars to the surface. Work on the loops under the Brooklyn terminal that will permit this is almost complete.

In fact, this departure even may be made before the scheme of wider scope Is in operation. Will Save Climbing Up Stairways. Thousands of people who daily use the Bridge solely as a means of transit from borough to borough will appreciate the installation of these loops. It will mean for them a saving of the climb of two high stairways at the Brooklyn end and of twice that number on the Manhattan Bide, besido a more frequent service, a steady string of cars across the structure being promised by the Brooklyn Rapid Transit. This part of the plan is essential to the greater one that affects the service.

At present, when trains run across the bridge in the con-rush hours, a calls set apart for the use of the two and a half cent folks. This means they must be allowed to alight at Sands street, that the trains do not carry their capacity cf through motors, and that the inauguration of express service on the several lines is impossible. Now, under schedules being prepared by the B. R. the operating departments of the bridge in reality express traffic to the outlying sections can be created directly at Park row at all hours, and the structure kept" clear by cutting out the Sands street stop entirely, as well as others near the bridge, iu Brooklyn.

Wkh the local bridge traffic ut of the way, fourther economies of management may be had; lessening of the crush secured, and better time mad? every branch of the system that will extend to the most remote terminal. Realization of the possibilities of the mporary terminal will not come to tho tublic until if actually is in operation, arefully as the Department of Bridges anglneers, B. R. T. experts and Public Service Commission advisors have worked on the problem, it will not be until the actual test of public usage comes that ihe full fruit of their labors possibly can be appreciated.

Their figures promise much, but study of what is planned seems to assure far more than appears on paper. Later in the year, but before the great summer traffic on all B. R. T. lines begins, another noted improvement, and a one, will be installed on the old bridge.

This is the elevation of the trolley tracks across Sands street. One of the most difficult problems the B. R. T. faced was the distribution of ears after they reached Brooklyn, just before they lett the bridge.

Jumping of a switch anywhere within two blocks of the Brooklyn end of the sturcture, by a car, was sufficient to tie up the entire trolley service. The falling of a horse along the Brooklyn approach, on the ticklish down grade leading to Sands street, likewise would cause vexatious delays. Entire Space to Be Used. By the elevating scheme, this chance of delay is reduced to a minimum. Old Brooklynites will remember the storage tracks along the Brooklyn approach, disused now for many years.

These really were extra tracks on each side of the great structure from Sands street to where the bridge structure actually began. For years that space has been wasted, but under the elevation scheme it now will be utilized to best advantage. When more than half of the cars leave the bridge proper and begin their run along the approach toward Brooklyn, they will use tracks alongside the "Ii" tracks and be carried through the Sands street terminal into the old bridge yards. They then will go down an incline that will reach the surface at about Tillary street. The local bridge trolley carB and those of the Park, Graham, De Kalb, Ninth avenue nnd Smith street linos, and the Seventh avenue.

Bergen street and St. John's place lines will run along the tracks used at present and be switched about as now. Such early distribution of the cars, unimpeded by street traffic, is said by the expertR to be one of the best features of tho entire bridge improvement, and will be a most important step in bettering the transit facilitien between the boroughs. Concrete beds already are being built-, and before the month is out track laying and wire stringing for this part of the general improvement plan will have begun. Definite dates for the opening of these great Improvements of the old bridge would not be named yesterday bv Bridge Commissioner Stevenson or by Chief Engineer Mendon of Ihe B.

R. T. Work on the betterments, however, has gone forward far better than was expected because of the open winter, and it can be said, almost with authority, that the first change will omc within a month rom to-day. if not sooner. Finishing Touches Being Made.

Stairways to the enlarged platforms in ofcourse, no one can make any promises. Things are moving along in fine shape and there seems no reason why the contractors cannot do as they say they will." Suggestions from Service Commission experts, the Bridge Department not be completed and ready for the running of trains until May 1, the ten thousand commuters between the Long Island villages and the lower business district of Manhattan are now willing to wait patiently, in view of the fact that the work is so far advanced on the section between Borough Hall and the Long Island Railroad station that there is not the least uncertainty as to the date of Its completion. The Public Service Commission and the engineers and the ra'lway officials all ate inn.mi,,,,- I tt ing considered for -the terminal fa-11'-ties, and the fullest utilization of the Manhattan Bridge's capacity as soon as completed, will be had. And meanwhile the contractors and city officials are trying to make a world's record. officials of the Long Island Railroad and A TRANSFER SUGGESTION.

deavored to co-operate with that bbard to secure the early completion of the work, and' in this connection arranged the platforms, passageways and stairs, Including actual through track connections in the depressed terminal passenger station at Flatbush avenue so as to give the very best facilities for interchanging' business with the subway when completed to that point." Arrangements are also likely to be made at an early date between the Long Island Railroad and the Interborough for' through tickets, thus avoiding all neces-' slty of baying new tickets at Flatbush avenue with the consequent delay and congestion that would result. This same plan is now followed in regard to the sale of racetrack tlcketu for Belmont Park and all points on the line of the Manhattan elevated system. Will Revolutionize long Island Traffic. As soon as the tunnel is completed to Flatbush avenue and Long Island Rail-i road passengers can take the tunnel route through Brooklyn and under the East River to Manhattan it is expected that the great bulk of travel that now goes by way of Long Island City will take tho Atlantic avenue route. At present about 30 ner cent, of all the traffic goes by way of Brooklyn and 70 per cent, by way of Long Island City.

After the new terminal is opened to Flatbush avenue the railroad ofllclals predict 70 per cent, will go by way of Brooklyn and 30 per cent, will go by way of Long Island City and that Including the north shore division to Flushing and Port Washington. All of the (jmmuters between Long Island villages and the financial and wholesale district would take this route, as they would not only save irom 40 to 50 minutes per day from the time of the present trip by way of Long Island City, but they would be spared the changes to ferryboat snd climbing up elevated stairs and change from the shuttle cars to the Second or Third avenue main lines, necessitating another stair climbing. They will also find It much more convenient to reach a station within a few feet of their offices, either at Bowling Green, Wall street or Fulton Btreet, with- out ths payment of an extra fare, and generally avoiding a long walk from City Hall elevated station or Fulton street station at Pearl street. Those visiting the uptown Manhattan shopping and theater district in Mauhat- Continued on Page 7. To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle: I notice that the Interborough Company will start running regular trains through the tunnel on Thursday.

Here is a way to Btop the disgraceful bridge crush at once, namely, by giving transfers at the Borough Hall to all passengers from Manhattan, good for a continuous ride to their homes over any of tho surface or elevated lines In Brooklyn. If the Inlcrborough Company cannot afford to do this the city should help. The thing ought to be done, and continued until the next brllge, now building, is completed, and longer if necessary to relieve the terrible crush at the bridge. This plan would work, and work at once, and it is the most practical and least expensive plan yet proposed. Why not try it? J.

W. HALLOCK. 189 East Eighteenth street, January 8, 1908. of the Interborough Company are all working together toward some plan by which trains may be run through froni J. ilea to West Farms and return In the same way without compelling passengers to change at Flatbush avenue.

Tho direct physical connection between the systems will bet made and one westbound and one eastbound track that has been laid through the station and by a connection at the westerly end of the depressed station with two tracks of the subway make a through service possible In that direct! -n. The eastbound track will be laid later. Trie main obstacle now presented to the Long Island Railroad Company is its lack of rolling equipment. The managers of that road say that they have to expend at least $2,000,000 for an increase of rolling stock if they have to send their cars away up to West Farms, and were the Interborough to extend its service to Jamaica it would be quite as badly handicapped for the lack of equipment. There is also some difference in the voltage or battery power of the -ars, -as the Long Island Railroad cars are speeded up to about fifty miles per hour; but they could be made uniform.

Such a change would render possible an Interchange of cars and the trains of both lines could run over both roads from West Farms to Jamaica and he Rockaways or Belmont Park. Through trains from Belmont Park and Far Rockaway to West Farms will be an accomplished fact before the end of the year. 1 Through Track Connections and Uniform Platforms. The Atlantic Avenue Improvement Com I I Ill HI II IHgMMWMPlM -Af' and will make all stops. Brighton Beach line.

All trains in the rooming on the Brighton Beach line will make all stops south of and including Franklin avenue, making no stops to Flatbush avenue, save at Grand avenue, and making all stops between Flatbush avenue and Park Row. No Fulton Ferry Bervlce will be operated on this line In the morning. In tho evening a ten-minute headway will be operated from Park Row to Coney Island, making no stops between Park Row and Grand avenue but all stops from Grand avenue to Coney Island. A ten-minute service will also be operated from Fulton Ferry to Kings Highway, making all stops. The above schedules on the Fulton street and Brighton Beach lines from the ferry are subject to such increase as may be necessary to properly accommodate passengers delivered from the subway at its Borough Hall station.

Bay Ridge Line. Six-car trains will be operated mornings on a 7'2-minute headway to Park Row, making all stops. E-enlngs, trains from Park Row to Sixty-fifth street will operate on a 12-minute Interval, making no stops between Park Row and Atlantic avenue, but all stops south of Atlantic avenue. In addition to this, a 12-rainute Interval will be operated from the Brooklyn end of the bridge to Sixty-fifth street, making all stops. Culver Line.

A 15-minute interval will be operated on the Culver line from Coney Island to Park Row, mornings, making all stops between Coney Island and Park Row. A short -line service will be operated from Kensington Junction, on a 15-minute interval, to the Brooklyn end of the bridge, making all stops. This service is operated for local traffic in Brooklyn only, but passengers desiring to go to Manhattan nnd using these trains may transfer to Park Row trains at Sands street. The two 15-minute intervals above re Of the Interborough" Company. BROOKLYN AND MANHATTAN TOWERS ON THE MANHATTAN BRIDGE WHERE THE SUBW A.Y CONNECTS WITH FLATBUSH AVENUE STATION vi ferred to will be so arranged as to pro-I vide a 7'4-minute interval between Ken-! sington Junction and the bridge, Evenings a twelve-minute interval will be operated on this line between Park LIVINGSTON STREET ROUTE OF THE B.

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