The New York herald., 1879-12-13
BROADWAY RAILROAD


ALL FERRIEs-wHY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
DID NOT GIVE AWAY THE FRANCHISE AT THE
LAST MEETING.
The fact that at the last meeting of the Board of
Aldermen it was intended to pass resolutions dis
posing of franchise to construct and operate a
railroad on Broadway. south Of Seventeenth street,
has revived public interest in that subject That
the project would have up At the last Alder
manic session had all the members been present
there is said to be no doubt The circumstances at
tending the latest proposition in this connection
were in the main mysterious as to impel q
HERALD reporter to investigate the matter Park
Commissioner Smith Z. Lane. according to all &C
counts. gave the resolutions the subject
to Alderman Cavanagh to introduce in the
Board. 1t is said that previous to this step
being taken twelve members of the Board were
pledged to support the scheme. All these Aldermen
We're not at the last meeting and it is limited
that the reason why the matter not brought
forward was because of this fact. The consent of
majority in value of the property owners was. it s
said. obtained in a novel way. The proposed road
would il authorized. pass near the City Hall. the
Battery and Union square. and il, was argued that
by the city consentiug to grant the franchise that
consent carried with 1t the approval by the Cor
poration land owner. 1t is said that in this
way the required consent was obtained.
Mr. Elliott i. Shepard, who IL counsel for some Of
the largest Of property the lower section
of Broadway said that ali his clients were in favor
of having railroad on Broadway. The Sloanes
Mitchell Vance X Co. and other large hrms were
strongly in favor of having the road built aud he
was authorized to support the measure on their be-
half Mr.. Vanderbilt was not interested in the new
scheme and did not want to be; he had been abused
city Authorities and he did not to be connected
with the new project. II rather think" concluded
Mr. Shepard 'that the Broadway road. II built will
injure Mr.. Vanderbilt's Fourth avenue road"
WHAT ALDERMAN cAvANAGH KNOWS. g..
Alderman Cavanagh when approached ON the sub
ject consented to tell all he knew OF the matter He
acknowledged that 1t was intended to have the mat
ter put through the last meeting of the Aldermen
but said that his knowledge of the subject did not
extend very far II was approached by Mr. Lane
continued the Alderman ION the last meeting day
and he gave me resolution which he said he wanted
TO have offered in the Board that day. He asked me
to present it, and as had always been friendly with
him. and he had extended many courtesies to me In
ment which he gave me aud showed it to some Of
my colleagues aud asked them to support its passage
did You read the resolutions through very care
fulyY'
II did not 1 unfolded the document. however,
and that it proposed to give the franchise for
railroad on the lower part OF broadway to body of
men," aAiH ~
eyes the paper read in such manner as to make
Commissioner Smith 4. Lane and his associates the
recipients Of the franchise. The right construct
operate and maintain q railroad on Broadway was
given to Mr. Lane and his associates"
'.Were 'his associates named i'll the resolutions?"
"Iuey were NOT, anu tu1t was the very reason
why the resolutions were not presented at
the meeting. When I saw that Mr.. Lane was
the oply gentleman mentioned In the paper
l went to him and asked him to give me
the names OF those who were in with him in the
scheme. He refused to do this. saying that there
was no necessity for taking any such course. He
was acting counsel for those interested, and
or the parties desirous OF having their
ton with the matter made public property. again
requested him to give me the names Of the other
parties but he again refused Seeing that he wouldn't
do It I could see no reason why should offer the
he would let me know the parties who were inter-
ested in the after the resolutions had been
adopted, and the franchise had been awarded. He
also informed me that the men whom he represented
were wealthy aud were abundantly able to do all
that they agreed to perform. He said they meant
business in the matter and were acting in good
faith; considerable delay caused by our discus
sion. and the resolutions were not introduced when
the Board adjourned am in favor OF Broadway
railroad. but 1 want to know who is to have the
right to operate 1t before support any measure on
the subject" t
.How was i. proposed to have the road builtY'
"1he examination which made of Mr.. Lanes
resolutions showed that the Broadway Railroad
Company was to run down that thoroughfare and
branches extending to all the ferries along the
river front. The road was to run from Whitehall
Chambers Fulton Cortlandt and Wall streets to the
at the foot of those streets Then the various
roads in the upper part Of the city were TO be al
lowed to make connections with the new line under
certain restrictive conditions. continuous line
could thus be formed to any part OF the city. and
you could go from the Battery to any ferry
Harlem without change Of That is in the main
what was provided for In the resolutions OF which
have spoken. think that such road would be
great benefit to the people OF the city. who have
long suffered from the omnibus nuisance
NOTHING TO Say"
leaving the office of his department in Fourth ave-
nue. Before any questions were asked him lie ex-
10 s TIE oSr mo mo
formed the Commissioner OF the object of his visit
and inquired what Mr.. Lane knew Of the intended
new scheme for constructing railroad on Broad
Il have nothing to say the subject" replied the
.But it is said you concerned in the matter? p?
81 can tell you absolutely nothing in reference to
what DESIRE to x again n1 fs5onea % the Com
terday and last night. but'-with a merry twinkle
in his eyes---"they couldn't ind me. kept out OF
their way because didn't want to be interviewed in
relation to this matter
"Who are the gentlemen that are interested In the
projectY' asked the reporter.
ii will net answer any questions" Mr. Lane re-
piled, as he hurried down the steps. when the
matter up in the Board it will be time enough
TO talk on the subject. Until then say nothing'S
porter as he followed the fast retresting form Of
1--WE have tho capital and VIC intend to carry IL
through" was the answer vouchsafed by the Com
missioner as he quickened his pace down Fourth
avenue.
The reporter next called upon Alderman j..
Graham Hyatt, who, it was asserted, had the
resolution which 1t was intended to have introduced
in the Board. Mr.. Hyatt. who WAS found at his
West TWenty-tnlro streets consented 10 tell
ali he knew in relation to the matter.
eat the last meeting Of the Board" said he. "my
attention called to the resolution by my col
leag ue Alderman Cavanagh. who was in possession Of
the document. He told me that 1t was intended to
have the subject come up in tho meeting aud handed
me the resolutions. l glanced at the Endorsement
and handed 1t back to him."
Didn't you open the paper?" the reporter in
quired.
II did not" replied the Alderman. ."I merely
glanced at the Endorsement ON the outside aud re-
turned IL to Mr.. Cavanagh."
'You don't know who was to be benefited by tho
passage of the measure, do your?
III do not. 1t is my impression. however. that tho
of the persons interested not put in the
resolution. There was blank space of i've six
lines, in which, understood, to be written In
the names of persons to whom 1t was proposed to
give the franchise
"Were any conditions attached to the resolutions
by way OF requiring compensation TO be paid to the
cityY'
IL couldn't exactly say anything regards that.
I did not examine the document critically but
think provision was inserted requiring that tho
consent OF the property owners along the proposed
route be brat obtained before the grant would be-
come valid. Then it goes on to provide that