New-York tribune., 1875-08-31
THE RAPID TRANSIT PROBLEM.

ARGUMENTS OF THE PRESIDENT or THE THIRD AVE-
NUE RAILROAD AGAINST THE USE OF THAT AVE-
NUR-CoMMUNICATION OF S. B. RUGGLEs ON THE
PROBABLE BENEFITS OF RAPID TRANSIT.
The Rapid Transit Commissioners yesterday
received plans from John L. Norstrand f. j. NJ Derrick
and Alexander Brandon, and communications from John
Schuyler, l.. Kirkup, A. Maynard, j. NJ Hannahs, ID.
Flsnmer, p Clark william j. Fryer, James ]. Woolsey
md X H. Arkenburgh Hearings were granted to Ar
thur r. wcndt, ". L. Scott OF the Greenwich Street
Road Mr. Foster Of the Gilbert Elevated Road and Sam
uel Philips President of the Third Avenue Railroad
Company
MI Philips made long argument protesting against
The selection OF Thdave for the route OF rapid transit
road He appeared before the Commissioners represent
ing the Third Avenue Railroad Company 10 enter in its
name remonsrance against such location Of the route.
Fhirsye he said the main artery OF the city, and
Che erection OF piers and columns in 1t would so encroach
Oh its already limits TO irjure seriously
the value OF property upon it, The operation OF an ee
waited road would destroy the of the stores and dwell
ghouses upon the avenue, aid seriously iI1ure the
Third Avenue Railroad Company, in which si,Oooooo
belonging to citizens OF New-York, was invested 1t
was the business of the Commission TO protect vested
rights as well advance public interests. The Third
Avenue Railroad woud be injured because Its profits
were now only four per cent upon the amount earned by
each car year IL earned less than six per cent
pront The through travel amounted TO only $3.50 per
day For an elevated railroad to come into direct com
petition with the street when the profits Of the
natter were 90 small would be disastrous to vested in
terests.
The w!sest route yet suggested 10 the Commissioners.
said Mr. Phillips, for the accommodation OF the East
Side residents that OF the Messrs Cornell person
coming here II asked 10 locate route which would be
most profitable TO capitalists investing in II would prob
ably select Tnird-ave in consequence Of It's immense
traffic and business capabilities But IL an elevated road
the Tbirdave street railroad the pubic
would become dissatisfied with the Of SO large
portion OF the street for railroad purposes. and the
owners the surface road would petition the Legsa-
ture to be permitted 10 other motive power
than horses. That would create competition betv cen
the elevated and the surface roads, which would share
them only the amount Of travel that ought 10 be
moDopolized by one Iu this the surface road would
have the advantage The Cornell plan. Of locating the
route ON Lexington ave. would avoid the opposition OF Q
ryal railroad and would draw trave TO the elevated
road from both Madison and Thrdaves. The people
who would chiefly use an elevated road would
be business men, whose time Is valuable, and
who live in the center OF the city. The
Third Avenue Company had connection with
the Mossrs Cornell. and their poute was only recon-
pended because the speaker considred actually the
hest To locate the route on Thlrd,ave Woud de
prOy property valued at millions OF dollars built up
iuring the last 50 years principally BY the residents OF
Tbrdave. who than other GLASS VI citizens 90
served 10 be protected In their property
No reply made by the Commissioners 70 this pro
t@st, AID Indication given Of tho action they would
take upon It, From expressions used BY them however
II would appear that they would not be deferred by
from selecting Thrdsve for route In they con
sdcred otherwise best TO do On Saturday the Com
oners IN body visited all the principal routes which
hey had under consideration. No decision has yet
kcfn reached.
Among the communications received by thep yester