Times Union from Brooklyn, New York • 19

SATURDAY THE BROOKLYN TIMES JUNE 19. 1915 Efficiency the Keynote in South Brooklyn's Great Transit Development CIVIC BODIES ACHIEVE MUCH South Brooklyn Well Cared For in This Respect. BATTLED FOR TRANSIT Wide Scope of Activities Undertaken. One of the most potent factors in the development of South Brooklyn is the persistency with which its civic be bodies have fought for projects tending toward betterment. There are many leading organizations in the section, among them the South Brooklyn Board of Trade, the West End Board of Trade, the Prospect Heights Citizens' Association and the Sunset Park Civic Association.

During the past year they have waged a relentless battle for the best interests of the people, and in almost every case they have brought. about the fruition of the objects for which they have striven. Their achievements are almost numberless. In their endeavor South Brooklyn a "City Beautiful," some of them have engineered a campaign for tree planting, with the result that many of the streets of South Brooklyn have been wonderfully enhanced. facilities The question of better transit has tackled by each one of the associations.

They succoded in having Health Department extend its "full car" order to will have to obey this mandate. It was really due to the members of these militant organizations that the Fourth Avenue Subway became a fact for, having been put off from time to time with promises, they simply pinned the authorities down to facts, and thus gained their object. Special interest has been taken in the welfare of the children. Playin grounds have been secured for them various localities, and Park. Commissioner Ingersoll, responding to the demand, is adding to the portions of Prospect Park set aside for their recreation.

South Brooklyn Board. Pre-eminent among these organizations is the South Brooklyn Trade, of which J. William Haviland, is President. It has a membership of nearly 1,000, most whom Are prominent in many phases of civic endeavor, and some of whom Are politicians of note, or office holdere. wide-awake It, is a keen, up up-to-the-minute, force.

initiated which many has had praiseworthy movement the interests South Brooklyn at heart, and has sponsored other activities for the general development of the borough. Probably thing which has endeared this body most to the residents of South Brooklyn is the effort it recently put forth in arranging a monster parade and entertainment to raise funds for erecting a suitable house for the animals brought to Prospect Park last year from England, This project originated with County Clerk Charles S. Devoy. The or organSzation stood behind him to man, and in addition, the Democratic and Republican clubs of the Seventh and Assembly Districts co-operated in making the affair a memorable one in the annals of South Brooklyn, one which the "kiddies" will never forget. It was for the purpose of accommodating the children that the South Brooklyn Board of Trade really tackled this problem, in spite of the tact that many people thought that the city should furnish the money for the menagerie.

But as the city's finances were in no condition to grant the necessary funds, members of the Board of Trade deemed it incumbent upon themselves to devise means whereby the money could be raised. 18 hoped that before long the first section of the zoo will be completed and then the animals and the children will be really and truly happy. Nor is that the only thing for which the children are grateful to the South Brooklyn Board of Trade. With accidents happening almost every day in which little tots are run over by autos and other vehicles, children were so frightened that they hardly dared to go out of doors. Their faithful friend, the Board of Trade, came to their assistance, however.

were obtained from property holders of the section to close off. certain streets to traffic for two hours after school each day. This privilege held for a while, but then the property owners thought they were impeding business by closing off the streets, and withdrew their consents. This has temporarily upset the plans of the board, but its members are now working to rent Battle Ground Park, Third to Fourth streets, between Fourth and Fifth avenues, so that the youngsters may indulge in their recreations unmolested. As a tribute to the memory of Gen.

Lafayette, the board has succeeded, the after city to indefatigable erect monument in inducing I efforts, in honor the great patriot at the Ninth street entrance of Prospect Park. Another on commendable feature of these civic boosters has been the yearly banquet at which the needs of South Brooklyn have been amply discussed. Steps have also been taken to have the second fare point on Coney Island bound cars of the Smith street line moved to Second avenue from Prospect Park West. West End Board of Trade. Equal in importance, both in standing and results obtained.

1s the West End Board of Trade, of which Jeremiah J. O'Leary president. It has its headquarters in the South Branch Library, Fifty-first, street and Fourth avenue. Three achievements stand out resplendent to its credit: The Improvement of the South Brooklyn waterfront; the establishment of the Eighth Ward Public Market, and the attainment of better transit facilities. AB to the improvement of the waterfront, it was largely through the efforts of this body that the city recently apportioned funds to build three huge piers in the vicinity of the Bush Docks.

The Board of Trade is situated in a section where many business men are engaged in the shipping business, and it is conceded that it is no more than fair that modern up-to-date piers should be constructed there SO A8 to render shipping activities more feasible. In conjunction with this, the West Enders have taken a decided stand in favor of the Marginal Railroad. They claim that the road is essential in the upbuilding of the waterfront, especially 1f Brooklyn wants to become a great commercial centre. To this organization is also due a generous share of the credit for the building of the Fourth avenue subway. It WAS first to a launch the aritations for the new transit line, and notwithstanding the many rebuffs of critics who maintained that the section was not sufficiently populated to warrant the expenditure of the large amount of money necessary, it kept on fighting in battle line with the civic workers of South Brooklyn until its aims were finally realized.

"Fighters to the limit" is the epithet riven to the Prospect Park West Civic Association, 196 Prospect Park RUSHING WORK IN RIVER TUBES Many Difficulties Overcome amt OF "NOISELESS" ELEVATED RAILROAD STRUCTURE TO BE USED ON THE WEST END "L' LINE. SHOWING NEW TYPE A SCENE IN THE BUSY HIVE OF INDUSTRY ALONG THE SOUTH BROOKLYN WATER FRONT, 14th Reg't Needs Armory. Cracks in Wall Have Not Hindered Successful Recruiting Campaign for Co. I. Despite the cracks which recently appeared in the Fifteenth street wall of the Fourteenth Regiment Armory, threatening to demolish entire structure, Col.

John J. Foote started a recruiting campaign to fill the quota of Company I before leaving for the summer encampment. A efforts of the Sunset Parkites. Now that the school is nearing completion, the association is considering ments a for a suitable entertainment to celebrate the event. A large number of trees and shrubs has been planted in Sunset Park through agitation started by the association.

During the past year considerable time and effort was spent in trying to make the Public Service Commission realize that a station in the dual subway system be constructed at Eighth avenue instead of at Ninth avenue. While Chairman McCall declared that the logical place for the station was at Eighth avenue, the Commission finally located it at Ninth avenue, because it said that was the best that could be done from "an engineering standpoint." Then the association set about the task of procuring a passage- way or approach from Eighth avenue to the Ninth avenue station, and it is believed that the Commission will grant this concession. The matter 'of the construction of an Eighth avenue trolley line has also received the consideration of the association. While no material progress has been made to date, Borough President Mathewson, of the Bronx, who has this matter in conference with the B. R.

T. said that the delay has been due to the fact that, should he accede to the demands of the railroad company, the city would be practically giving the franchise gratis. It is the intention of the association to vigorously push this matter during the coming year, especially since the Sunset Park section has been virtually isolated from transit facilities, due to the location of the subway station at Ninth avenue instead of at Eighth avenue. These are the most notable things accomplished by the boards of trade. A suggestion has been made by members of some of the organizations to affiliate whenever the question of A matter affecting the section arises, believing that in union there is strength.

A movement is now on hand to bring this union about. Many connected with the civic organizations have expressed a willingness to affiliate, and before long, it is said, there may be A central organization formed, composed of delegates from the various bodies. West, of which John J. McKeon is president. Although in existence for only one year, it numbers 130 members and it has accomplished a surprisingly large number of good things for South Brooklyn.

It has been conducting a fight for a universal transfer system, whereby transfers will be exchanged transit lines at intersecting points, including subways, trolleys and elevated trains. Assemblyman William T. Simpson recently introduced a bill in the Legislature for this purpose. It will come up again for consideration at the 1916 session of the Legislature. Many improvements are being made at Prospect Park West Circle, Fifteenth street, through the' actiylties of this association.

The car tracks will be shifted SO as to encompass the circle, and in the plaza thus made handsome shrubbery will be planted. With the South Brooklyn Board of Trade, the Parkites are entitled to some of the credit for the erection of tributed generously monumenthe zoo fund, Lafayette They conand took a decided interest in the recent parade and entertainment at Prospect Hall. They succeeded in having the name of the Vanderbilt-Ninth avenue trolleys changed to Vanderbilt-Prospect Park West, in order to more clearly convey the information that the cars pass along Prospect Park West. Considerable influence is being brought to bear upon the municipal authorities by this association to change the name of Coney Island avenue to Brighton Beach Boulevard, and to extend this thoroughfare to the beach Every effort is also being exerted to have the station platform of the Fifth avenue elevated line at Ninth street enlarged. The Parkites contend that there is an unwarranted rush hours; the central amount of congestion, there during station of South Brooklyn, and more space must be provided for passengers so as to avert accidents when trains pull into the station.

civic bodies that opposed the Marginal This as association is one of the few Railroad. It maintained that it would be a waste of money on part of the city, which could be used to better advantage in other' directions. Prospect Heights Association. Undoubtedly the most commendable achievement in the history of the Prospect Heights Citizens' Association, of which William D. Niper is president, and which meets at the Berkley Institute, is the successful campaign it has waged for tree planting throughout the entire borough.

It first started this campaign by inducing the immediate neighbors to plant shade trees in front of their own homes. The success with which they met proved to the Park Department that they could accomplish a lot in this matter in the whole. borough, and 80 the department has given' them entire charge of the tree planting campaign. The State Conservation Committee allotted 20,000 trees of all descriptions, gratis to the League, which are to be distributed to the residents of the borough by Boy Scouts. About two months ago the association went on record as opposed to compulsory vaccination in the Public Schools after listening to an address on the subject by Charles M.

Higgins. Because he blamed the Health Department for the death of Earnest C. Still- waggon, the 6-year-old Richmond Hill, boy, who died shortly after having been vaccinated, the Prospect Heights Association passed a resolution calling upon the Grand Jury of Queens County to conduct an investigation to fix the blame for the boy's death. This organization has also co-operated with other civic bodies of South Brooklyn in obtaining better transit facilities. It has done a lot in having the city take proper measures to elimInate the many foul odors that are engendered in.

Gowanus Canal The result has been that a flushing system has been installed, and the stenches are gradually disappearing. Agitation has also been started for the erection of an industrial school where the young people may learn useful trades at night while going about their duties during the daytime. Sunset Park Civic Association. The Sunset Park Civic Association, located at 4117 Eighth avenue, of which J. W.

Lehrman is president, has done much in instilling a spirit of greater neighborliness among the residents of the immediate section. This has resulted in an increase of membership and the co-operation of non-members in the betterment of civic conditions. The site for Public School No. 169. Seventh avenue, near Forty-third street, was acquired about eight years ago, but it was not until last fall that construction was begun, through the store was hired at the corner of Flat- bush avenue and Ashland place, with Quartermaster Sergeant Sulley in charge.

The twenty men needed were selected after submitting to physical examination, and the company will begin its summer maneuvers on. July 27. A spectacular review was held in the armory building several weeks ago, showing that very little concern is felt over the condition of the wall. The cracks appeared one day while workmen were excavating to strengthen the wall. It is said that the authorities had been watching that wall for five years, because it is a matter of public knowledge that it was built over a quagmire, and when that began to give way, the foundations began to sink.

Contractors have shored up the wall with heavy beams, and are replacing it with an entirely new set of masonry. There are fifty-two officers and men enlisted. Col. Foote is in command, with Lieut. -Col.

William L. Garcia and Capt. William R. Jackson assisting him. NEW ZOO READY SOON.

Funds for Building Raised by South Brooklyn Citizens. Through the efforts of the generous citizens of South Brooklyn there is now housed in Prospect Park a goodsized modern zoo, part of the former Bostock exhibit, which was sold in Europe last year. The collection comprised seven lions, one lioness, ten bears, eight wolves, one leopard, two hyenas, one Wallaby kangaroo, one jackal, one white mule, forty monkeys and other small animals. When these animals were purchased it was somehow overlooked that there were not adequate accommodations for them. The city authorities said there were no funds available for new building, and things looked dark.

The citizens got together and devised a project for raising funds to start the new building. A mammoth parade and entertainment was engineered by the political and civic organizations of the Seventh and Twelfth Assembly Districts, and sufficient money was raised to erect the first section of the structure. The city has pledged appropriations for constructing the other two necessary sections and it is hoped that not too many months will elapse before the work is begun. EVENING H. S.

PRACTICAL. South Brooklyn Classes So Popular That Annex Is Opened. The South Brooklyn Evening High School was 80 well attended during CHANNEL SCALE 600 FT. 2 INOR SO TOO ACOURED MOROSED RAILROAD AN US 0 MAP OF THE CITT'S I PROPOSED BROOKLYN MARGINAL RAILWAY THE ROAD OVER WHICH BROOKLYN'S FREIGHT BULK WILL BE MOVED, on Big Contract. TO BE COMPLETED IN 1918 To Increase Efficiency of Fourth Ave.

Subway. BOOM TO FOLLOW MARGINAL ROAD (Continued from Page 1.) ested in stocks, bonds or other dences of indebtedness of such freight terminal company. And such consent can be given only after notice and a public hearing. Therefore, the Board of Estimate and Apportionment will be "responsible for the proper, efficient and satisfactory equipment and operation of these terminal facilities." The new law permits not only the construction of the South Brooklyn railroad, but of similar projects elsewhere in the city. It is believed that the Degnon Terminal Railroad in Long Island City, will ultimately be acquired for the industrial development of Queens.

In South Brooklyn title has been vested to parts of the property to be taken from the development, and condemnation proceedings are in progress. The work of construction will quire more than two years, but a substantial beginning will be. made this year. The bill now made law by Gov. Whitman's signature is the third measure introduced in the Legislature at the behest of the city authorities.

Similar measures were vetoed by Govs. Sulzer and Glynn, and when the one that has now gone on the statute books was passed by the Legislature, the statement was made that its passage permitted merely to give Gov. man a chance to veto it. Senator Cullen, through whose district the most important part of the route is laid out, introduced all three bills. Mayor Mitchel was its most ardent supporter, although Controller Pendergast, Aldermanic President McAneny, Borough President Pounds and other members of the Board of Estimate supported it unqualifiedly.

Some newspapers and Assemblymen Burr were its bitter opponents. In Brooklyn it was favored by the majority of bustness men and civic organizations. As soon as Dock Commissioner R. A. C.

Smith learned that Gov. Whitman had signed the Marginal Railroad bill, he wrote to him in part as follows: "May I express to you my thanks and appreciation for the very great assistance, which your action upon this measure has been to the commerce of the Port of New York and through it to the entire State? The passage of this enabling act frees the hands of the city and permits it to negotiate with the trunk line railroads for a contract which will give the city what, in its opinion, is the best possible operator for the proposed terminal. "I am confident that when the misunderstanding which has surrounded this measure is removed and the people generally understand that the new act does not commit the city to the expenditure of A single dollar, but simply permits it to contract for the most efficient operation of new terminal, it will receive universal approval." The Commissioner has been one of the most ardent supporters of measures having to do with the development of the Brooklyn waterfront. was largely instrumental in getting the Sinking Fund Commission of the city to authorize the construction of three new huge piers at Twenty-ninth, Thirtieth and Thirty-fifth streets, all of which have already been leased upon a most favorable financial basis to the city. This, together with the Marginal Railroad, is the biggest step, in his judgment, which the city has taken in a generation to provide for the freight handling needs of the port.

That the railroad is the greatest boom that could fall to' the lot of Brooklyn is clearly evidenced by the eagernesss with which firms of all sorts of description have secured space in the Bush Terminal buildings and leased other favorable sites along the waterfront. There are, besides, many factories now in the course of construction along the route of the railroad. In addition, laborers have grasped the opportunity thus given them for employment, and there are large settlements along the neighboring avenues. Within a short time the waterfront will to be a for workmen. prove Business men are heartily approving the railroad.

Many projects that hitherto lay dormant, because it was not known what action Gov. Whitman would take on the measure, are once again in full blast. And despite the general calamity howl which has arisen since the war began, South Brooklyn business men are well content with their share of prosperity, and are enlarging their facilities so that they may get their portion of the increment in business that is already being felt as a result of the enactment of the bill. Unemployment along the waterfront is scarcer than it ever was since the In the dual system of rapid transit there will be three new tunnels under the East River. Two of them will connect downtown Manhattan with Brooklyn and the other will, join the Fourteenth street section of Manhattan with her sister borough.

The latter is still in the stage of plan making, but the other two have been placed under contract and work has begun. One of the downtown tunnels runs from Whitehall street, Manhattan, to Montague street, Brooklyn, and will be operated by the New York Municipal Railway Corporation to connect the Broadway subway in Manhattan with the Fourth avenue subway and its connections in Brooklyn. The other will extend Old Slip, Manhattan, to Clark street, Brooklyn, will be operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company as a connection between the new Seventh avenue subway in Manhattan and the existing subway in Brooklyn and its extensions. The two works taken together constitute one of the largest ever let in New York City. The total cost will be more than $12,000,000, the contract figures based on unit prices being $6,469,916.25 for the Old.

Slip-Clark street tunnel and $5,974,809.50 for the Whitehall-Mon- Athletes in Police Station. Fifth 'Cops Make Good Ball Players- One Played in the National League. Four of the best members of the baseball club of the Sixteenth Inspection District of the Police Department come from the Fifth Avenue Station. They are: Albert T. Froehlich, who played in the National League before joining, the Police Department three 'years ago; James, Bennett, Samuel Matthews and James.

Dwyer. They took part in the opening game at the Federal League grounds. Besides their. proficiency in baseball, Capt. Barnes' men are noted for their expertness 1 in handball.

A large court adjoining the station house has been constructed especially for the purpose, and when the policemen are off duty and the weather permits, you can always find a half dozen playing. One the star baseball players of the precinct, John C. Muller, has been detailed to motorcycle duty in the 278th. Precinct. With this change, the Fifth Avenue Station loses a good ball player and policeman, but the Queens precinct gains an expert motorcycle man.

the past term that an annex had to be opened in Public School No. 2, Fortyseventh street and Third avenue. The main branch is situated in Public School No. 94, Sixth avenue and Fiftieth street. Joseph Wingebach is principal.

Instruction in a large variety of practical subjects is given in the classes. Girls are taught dressmaking. cooking, sewing, millinery and designing. Boys are taught carpentry, architecture, cabinet making, blacksmithing and mechanical and free-hand drawing. For both girls and boys there are facilities for instruction in stenography, typewriting, and bookkeeping, besides the routine subjects taught in the day schools.

For foreigners special classes have been organized to enable them to learn English, The results of the students' work during the past year were recently placed, on exhibition. Specimens of every branch done were shown, and praise for the good work was genlerously bestowed by the visitors. tague street tunnel. Tubes and Stations. Each tunnel will consist of two shield-driven, single track, lined tubes constructed under compressed, tubes, air.

In this addition work to includes the single the construction of permanent ventilating shafts on each side of the and a station on Clark street, Brooklyn. The stations on the tunnel proaches in Manhattan will be located, one on Whitehall street between State and Bridge streets, and other on William street between Wall and Cedar streets; and in Brooklyn, on Montague street near Court street, and on Clark street, near Henry street. The more northerly of these tunnels, the Old Slip-Clark street tunnel; Route 48, Section 3, will be 5,900 feet long. The distance between the shafts is 3,799 feet, and between the established pierhead lines 1,950 feet. The maximum depth from mean high water to the base of rail is 86.5 feet.

The Whitehall-Montague street tunnel, Route 33, Section 2, will have a total length, including the broad street spur, of 6,800 feet. The distance between the shafts is 4,089 feet, and between the established pierhead lines 2,560 feet. The maximum depth from mean high water to the base of rail is 87 feet. The contract for the construction of these tunnels was awarded May 26, 1914, to Flinn. and the O'Rourke Engineering Construction Company, who later assigned it to the Flinn-O'Rourke Company, Inc.

The time for the completion of this work is three and one-half years. Method of Construction. All the tunneling under this contract is to be done by the shield method and carried out along accepted lines in accordance with the best practise. This method of was adopted, as it has been used successfully for all the tunnels under the East and North Rivers, as well as for nearly all the subaqueous tunnels of the world. The operation of the shield in all kinds of materials is well understood, and the success of the method is certain where the materials to be encountered are as well known as those under the East River.

Up to the present time six shield-driven tubes have been constructed under the North River and nine under the East River. Owing to the conditions existing in the East River the method used in constructing the tunnels under the Harlem River was not considered feasible. In that work the tunnels were built in sections either in a dredged and sheeted trench covered by or on the surface and sunk into place. The amount of traffic and the strength of the East River currents are such as to render any obstruction a very serious matter, and the minimum depth allowed for navigation would require all dredging to be done to a considerable depth. No pile foundations are provided under the tunnels in fine sand clay as was done in the existing subway tunnel because it has been found that in the other tunnels under the East River where no piles have been used, no movement has occurred.

Actually, the dead weight of the tunnel with a train moving through it is about the same as that of the displaced water, to say nothing of the weight of the displaced material, 40 that it more nearly a question of holding "tan tubes down in the fine sand and clay than of supporting them, The Shield Method. The shield method of constructing tunnels was patented by Brunel in 1818, but its development was very slow. The modern shield as used today was patented by P. W. Barlow, in 1864, and in 1868-1869, J.

H. Greathead constructed the tower subway, footway tunnel, under the Thames River, London, England, with this type of shield. It was the first tunnel to be lined with cast iron and has served as 8 model for the cast-iron lined tunnels since that time. This tunnel was constructed in subaqueous material, but no compressed air was used for holding back the water. The first tunnel work to be done with compressed air was started under the North River, New York City, in 1874.

This tunnel at first was not shielddriven, and the lining consisted of light metal shell lined with brick masonry. After many mishaps, it was finally completed thirty years later, in 1904, by the shield method, after the lining had been changed to the usual type of cast-iron construction. The shield designed by Greathead WAS moved forward by screws, but in 1869. A. E.

Beach designed the first shield equipped with hydraulic rams and this shield was used in constructing a short piece of tunnel under lower Broadway in about 1870. The shield and a part of the completed tunnel which was lined in part with castiron plates and in part with brick masonry, have recently been uncovered in the excavation for the new subway system. ing of European hostilities. Firms now feel safe in forging ahead with their interests, and employment is had for the mere asking. The wave of prosperity is increasing day by day, no one complains about any lack of opportunity, every one seems to be happy and contented..