The New York herald., 1879-12-14
COMMISSIONER LANES PROJECT.

WHAT IS THOUGHT OF HIS PROPOSED RAILROAD
IN BRoADwAY-vI OF ALDERMEN AND
PROPERTY owNERs-THE LAW on THE SUB
JEcT.
The attempt of Park Commissioner Smith Z. Lane
and his associates to obtain the franchise TO con-
struct and operate q railroad Broadway. below
Union square. very generally discussed yester-
day by those Immediately interested Opposition to
Mr.. Lanes project was met at almost every point.
A very large proportion of owners of real estate
along the proposed route emphatically announced
themselves being in favor OF q surface rail-
road. but it was q thing to fnd anybody who
would support the giving Of the franchise to the
Commissioner OF the Department of Public Parks
and those whom he claims to represent. While it
was known before the publication in yesterdays
HERALD the subject that Mr.. Lane in some
manner interested in the new scheme, but few sup
posed that the Commissioner intended to ask the
city for the franchise on behalf of himself "and as
sociates." The statements of Alderman cavanagh
in the matter therefore. read with great atten
ton. and it was rumored that Mayor Cooper would
in case MIR. Lane persevered in his attempt to
obtain the franchise. prefer charges against
him and have him removed by tha Governor
At the last meeting of the Board OF Aldermen the
Commissioner was present in the Aldermanic cham
bers and sought to get the resolutions the sub
ject introduced. Several persons read these resou
tions. and according to their statements they
80 worded to make Mr.. Lane and others the pos
SCISSORS of the right to run cars Broadway. below
Seventeenth street, under certain restrictions. The
evidence of these gentlemen said could be taken
in any proceeding looking to Mr.. Lanes removal.
The section Of the city charter relating this mat
becomes Of great Importance in this connection
1t provides that
No member Of the Common Council head department.
Chief OF bureau deputy thereof clerk theroi other
indirectly ntereso in in the OF any
pense. price consideration of which payable
& ~ x Amy G by net or
Lease Q. any real or Other to or
virtue of legal process Of
s tho Sa .sss
pointed knowingly acquire interest In any
e sss Ss;si
punished as for msdemeanor.
PROBABLE DELAY.
1t is probable that Mayor Cooper will not take any
formal steps in the matter until Commissioner Lane
again socks press his railroad scheme on the at
tention of the Aldermen. " is not at all probable
that he will do until the Inauguration of q new
Common Council in January next. Tho Board now
in Office assemblies on Tuesday and the Commis.
sioner intended according to Alderman Cavanagh,
who was to have charge Of the matter) to have the
franchise disposed Of ut that session. It thought
advisable however, after further consultation not
to press the matter upon the present Board. but
wait until the new Common Council came into power.
1t is broadly limited that one Of the why this
course was decided upon was because it was found
that majority OF the present Board could not be
obtained to favor Mr. Lanes project The City
Fathers. or at least majority OF them. who will
after January become private citzens. anxious
TO have the commissioner project come before the
have beon reelected thought would be Just as well
to lot the matter lay over until early in $780, The
Park Commissioner was still unwilling to talk yester
last evening" to judge from the apparent pains
he took to avoid being interviewed He said that
had purposely sought to keep away from anybody
desiring to talk to him about the broadway Railroad
project Hecould see no reason why he should talk
about the matter and therefore he woald not DO
A tour among tho Broadway property owners
demonstrates the fact that only few OF them are in
favor OF having Mr.. Lanes road operated the
thoroughfare Below Canal street an almost united
though an the storekeepers who called upon
by HERALD reporter gave it as their opinion that
trade would DO revived oy having railroad operated
In conversation with HERALD reporter yesterday
cars Broadway should bring over 81 900 900 into
the City Treasury besides relieving the corporation
time since the HERALD published the offer Of gen
tleman who said he would give round 81 100000
for the franchise aud agree to keep the clea
and to provide seat for every passenger. He
would put palace cars on the route. and,
in short. would do everything to advance the
posed road The franchise should be put up at auc-
rion after advertisements and other due notice had
everybody who wanted to bid for The privilege. In
this way only can the city fpn value OF such
IL Sssn long ago
there ia probability that the from rail-
road corporations would have bssn simply sufficient
to pay nearly all the running expenses OF the city
government. think it will be an outrage on the
people OF this city II the privilege to run railroad
in Broadway is voted away unless the corporation
obtains the adequate value of the franchise
rHE CITY ALWAYS THE LOSER.
"How about percentage on tho gross receipts Of
| the proposed roady'
THAT wouldn't do The scheme has been tried
over and over again. but the city has always been
! losor by it, Ihe corporations who have agreed to
pay percentage for their franchise with only one
exception have become largely indebted the city
and have had to be sued by the Corporation Counsel
The people through the hasty action OF the Com
mon Council or OF other bodies in voting away its
privileges, aud am continuance OF the course
will not be tolerated. Even when the franchise is
disposed ut public auction the greatest should
be taken to see that only responsible parties become
Alderman Keenan, said :-"I have no hesitation in
saying tnat will refuse to vote for Lanes scheme
until know every thing about 1t. aud then l can
make up my mind whether to support 1t or not, I
am. however. in favor Of having u railroad CON
structed and operated on Broadway. It is the only
way that l can see to revive business. The city
however should receive good compensation for dis
posing OF the trsIoh,ss &c" ,, & and: IN my Judgment
plan as any that have heard Of tor paying the city
for Q railroad grant,
Alderman Finck Is unquancdiy opposed to having
o railroad constructed and operated on Broadway
unless the city sell the franchise ut auction by no
means was he in favor OF MIR. Lanes scheme. lie
thought it would be very wrong to give the Commis-
sioner such valuable right without affordng other
parties chance to bid against him. The city had
been taught many lessons on the subject giving
away franchises and the authorities ought by this
time to have learned little wisdom in the matter.
Alderman Cavanagh said that he was strongly In
favor OF having road constructed Broadway.
He hardly thought Mr. lanes scheme would come
before the present Board of Aldermen. Application
the subject would probably be made to the Leqis-
laturc aud probably to tho next Common Council.
number OF other CITY Fathers were approached on
the subject, but their views In the main but
repetitions or those given above.
1t is said that Mr.. John b. Haskin proposes to COM
municate with the Aldermen with view OF securing
the franchise for company. They ready, 1t is
said to give Sl,Uo0.OOO. cash. for the privilege.