The New York herald., 1878-11-22
ANOTHER SURFACE RAILROAD.

THE FoRTY-sEcoND STREET, MANHATTANyILLE
AND ST. NICHOLAS AVENUE RAILROAD COMPANY
ASK FOR A VALUABLE FRANCHISE
The Board Of Aldermen some time since received an
application from the Forty street Manhattan
vile and St. Nicholas Avenue Railroad Company for
leave lay tracks in Fory-second street from Tenth
avenue to the East River This privilege. although
opposed by various property owners along the pro-
posed route. granted tho company, but the reso-
luton of the Common Council was promptly returned
by Mayor Ely, together with message in which he
gave very forcible reasons for withholding his ap-
proyal Of the measure But the Aldermen. de-
spite the Mayors objections, passed the reso-
luton over his veto by bare two-thirds
vote. The company. not content with securing
this valuable franchise sent III at another meeting OF
the Board long petition ending with request TO be
allowed ITO alter change so as to commence at
the authorized tracks Of said company on Manhattan
street. at the Doulevard thence through and along the
Boulevard with double tracks. to Broadway thence
through and along Broadway. with double tracks.
to Seventh avenue; thence through and along Sew
enth avenue, with double tracks, to connect with
the tracks OF said company. proposed to be iaia IN
Eorty-sec0nd street. Provided tnat one OF inc
tracks on the Boulevard be laid to the east and the
other to the side OF the Boulevard parks in the
centre Of said Boulevard and as near 70 said Bole-
ward parks as practicable The company. In return
for this franchise offered to 10 the city three per
cent of tho gross receipts. The City Fathers, how
ever. seem not to have cared for giving away two
valuable franchises for nothing and through the
persstency of of the members of the Board the
matter was Withdrawn from the files OF the Common
Council.
Mr. Cyrus Clarke, the spokesman of the delegation,
the first speaker. After referring IN general
uptown west side district TO have various improve
ments commenced on the Boulevard and adjacent
avenues he said that about threcfourths OF the tax
payers the former thoroughfare had united in
signing petition requesting that the application OF
the railroad company be granted. Only short time
ago they had asked the directors OF the broaway and
Seventh Avenue Railroad Company to extend their
line further uptown. but, through the agency OF
George Law, their efforts defeated. They next
made an application to the State Legislature. but
We're informed that the privilege could not DC
granted When asked for their reasons ,, they
were told that their project had been op-
posed by various other surface roads.
The fact that the Forty street. Manhattan
Vile and st. Nicholas Avenue Railroad Company had
already secured charter was aiterward brought TO
the notice Of the speaker and his associates, and
that the best course to pursue would to harmonze
if possible all the varied interests involved with o
view OF obtaining better facilities for reaching their
property. As 1t was necessary for them 10 obtain
the signatures Of the property owners before the
privilege could be granted to the company this was
done, and the petition which he held in his hand
contained many names influential and wealthy
citizens. 1t might be said that the COM
pany in offering only three per cent of
its gross receipts to the city i'll return for
the franchise had not given an adequate return.
But he was Of opinion that the acceptance OF this
would De more advantageous 10 thc Guy
than would any arrangement which would provide
for payment of amount out OF the net receipts
The offer Of the st. Nicholas Avenue Railroad Com
pany vastly in OF the revenue derived IRON
any OF the other horse roads. The exact amount.
he thought. would reach two hundred thousand
dollars.
Alderman Reilly asked to have the petition Jeff with
the committee, but Mr.. Clarke said he would have u
copy made for them. Remarks then made by
Messrs. Simeon T. Church. Henry Kelly. and ex-Park
Commissioner William X. Martin.
The committee then adjourned until Saturday next
at r. M when they will hear all parties opposed
to the mcaslfre.