The New York herald., 1879-03-09
THE BROADWAY RAILROAD.
An Offer to Pay a Million Dollars
for the Franchise.
PUT 1T UP AT AUCTION!
Legislative Action Requisite to Make
the Grant Valid.


The HERALD has received the following important
communication from well known gentleman OF un-
doubted and ample responsibility
New YORK. March 8. 1879.
To EDITOR HARALD:-
Permit me. as taxpayer OF this city. 10 protest
through your columns against the propositions now
before the Board OF Aldermen TO bestow the most
valuable franchise o: the Broadway Railroad for
mere trifiing pecuniary return the city treasury
In my opinion. and that Of many other taxpayers.
this franchise should be publicly sold at auc-
ron 10 the highest bidder. the city 1T the same
time to prescribe such suitable conditions will
render the road first class in every respect l.
for one willing. in behalf of myself and my
caes agree ell the conditions proposed by either
set OF applicants. and, at the time, start the
bidding at such public auction at sl.ooo.ooo cash
Sl,25O,0O0 for the franchise to the Central Park
Other bidders may possibly offer more. only ask
you TO withhold my name from publication for the
present. and to retain this letter meanwhile
guarantee OF my perfect sincerity and earnestness in
this matter. have the honor to remain. your obe-
dent servant F**T*.
reporter of the HERALD sent to the writer Of
the above communication in order to obtain further
particulars as to his precise plans. That gentleman
was found IN his Office. immersed in heap of pa
pers. which, it appeared full of horse railroad
statistics. The conversation which then ensued was
Is follows:-
WHAT FAIRNESS AND EQUITY DEMAND.
''wil you be kind en- ugh to state to me more
fully your views and plans in reference to this
matters"
my letter. Of course was brief and only contained
the gist Of my proposition. l think it would be a
great shame to grant such franchise without
ing to the city adequate return. and matter
of open handed fairness and equity 1 believe it
should be publicly sold at auction by the Comptrol-
Ter. believe that is the opinion held by the tax
payers of the city generally.
'But have not the present applicants agreed to pay
into the city treasury Ave per cent Of the gross
ceipts. to furni h equal to those in the
Metropolitan L.. to relay the pavement Of Broad
way" &C.
'These are all very good promises. but they are
entirely inadequate TO the value Of this franchise As
have already stated in my letter to the HERALD.
am willing to agree to all the conditions proposed
by either set Of applicants to pay ave per cent
OF the gross receipts. to furnish cars equal to
the finest the Metropolitan L. and to
build and equip and it first class railroad in
every particular and, in addition, to pay
city treasury $1.0o0.UOO cash for the franchise to
Seventeenth street and cash to the Central
Park"
ONLY ONE FARE TO CENTRAL PARK.
''Would you charge double fare 10 the Park
above seventeenth street II the franchise were
ferred upon you p
II think the franchise il bestowed at ALL should be
given to the Central Park. for otherwise you would
compel people to another fare above Seventeenth
street. which is clearly against public policy The
any distance along Broadway the Central Park
1t should be OF the conditions OF the grant that
the fare charged from the Battery the Central Park
should not exceed five cents.
..But would the new railroad have tho right to run
the tracks Of the old Broadway horse car line
THAT contingency is provided for under the gem
era law. which allows any new railroad authorized
upon any street already partially occupied to pass
over the tracks Of the already exist
ing horse car line upon the payment
to the latter or an equitable amount
q
compel the people to pay five cents for riding the
maximum length of two mites aud half from the
exorbitant when the Second avenue horse line is
now carrying people for five cents to tho Harlem
River. distance OF eight miles,.
now TO MAKE THE ROAD A SUCCESS.
Il see you have been studying the statistics OF
horse travel?'
III have done for years past and claim be thor
oughy conversant with the subject The franchise of
the broadway railroad believe by an odds the most
valuable grant OF any horse car line that has been
conferred by the city State The franchises of the
present lines all of which have proved exceedingly
prohtable-wers granted by the city without
worth mentioning Now broadway is still
| the main artery of tho city travel. 1t
passes through the very heart Of this populous
tropolis. am convinced that the travel would be
very great. particularly If service of the new
! line would be efficient and attractive than
| any OF the present horse railroads have rs yet
proved to be- II you AJAX me what. in my
| popular success should say that would have. to
begin with. the most handsome and ornamental cars
the sumptuous palace ordered for
the Second avenue L. description OF
which. with their French plate glass mir
rors. &C.. the HERALD published the other
day. You know such would render travelling
through this lively and favorite thoroughfare along
Its busy offices and gay and brilliant shops. double
pleasure. Then should have splendid. noble horses,
that should be q credit to the line and to the
street of world wide fame through which
it will pass horses that shall mako the
! trip ut rafting pace. should have such ample
number of cars that there should be seating accom-
|
and compulsory standing of passengers which have
done much to render the horse lines
| popular should be absolutely avoided. Regularity
tendants are other important elements which are. in
my opinion, also required to make the
broadway railroad perfect success. and to let
the people derive from its use the advan-
horse misunderstanding such superior facilities and
attractions to the travelling public
hitherto enjoyed by thcm-would assurcdly prove
worth at least Sl,250 it had the right way
the Central Park ut least 81 OUU0OO II 1t had to
terminate at Seventeenth street"
| BUILD MoDEL rESEMENTs WITH MILLION.
"And what would be done with this large sum OF
moneyY
THAT would remain for the proper city authori-
ties to determine. 1t would hardly become
offer than ramon suggestion that
| point, that with this amount n number of modcl
tenements could be built for the relief OF the
fering poor"
THE Ar.DERMES's POWER QUESTIONED.
You have as yet made no formal application to
| the Board OF AldermenY'
4 II have not done so, because 1 am informed by
eminent counsel that the legal right of the Board OK
Aldermen to grant this franchise is involved in
doubt have selected counsel expert in municipal
law. who carefully studying the subject and
IL they advise of the validity of such Aueranc
grant intend to make formal application without
delay"
..i,at don't you think that the Aldermen Will now
| as.I N ruuE Ina yl.xr