New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-12
THE EXTENSION or FLATBUSH-AVE
MAYOR LOWS PROMISED LETTER.
REASONS WHY BROOKLYN SHOULD PROVIDE A.
ADEQUATE APPROACH TO THE BRIDGE.


REASONS WHY BROOKLYN SHOULD PROVIDE AN
ADEQUATE APPROACH TO THE BRIDGE.
MAYOR Low made public yesterday his
nromied letter about the proposed extension OF Flat
bushavc Brooklyn, from Fultonst 10 tue ssnIsst ter
adequate approach TO tue bridge than Sands and wash
ineton sts afford and urges the adyisabty of new
ap a Which ha. been sent to the Legislature pro
vdng for the opening OF the avenue lao feet wde with
aud sidewalk, all of ample WIDTH the
interest on the cost to be provided for
racks The cost is estimated at 80 10000 and tho
OF royalties at $4,000 The main parts oil the
The bridge has for vehicles the capacity OF Broadway
NewYork, besides ample 1cconmodatiT Wso tCF ioUt
anime the Brooklyn approach we hnd the bridge 10 ef
stees Sands and Washington each thirty teet wiue IN
the roadway, and each having douOletracK morse ran
road running through It. Unless the bridge Is 10 dlsap
point pletey all our hopes provision must DC MADE
sooner or later for an adequate approach Inc natua
ave to the bridge. II would at once give the facilities
dema nded by the bridge and as central thorouguae
be Improvement OF great vaIse 70 the city, on an
But there s another point or view III winch such an
avenue would be OF value to the city ny common con
essOn Brooklyn needs q, TINS ps se g psp tbe car
pacity Of the bridge itself cannot DE DEVELOPER 10
the utmost and large expenditure there VIII remain
nartiolly unfrutfu There are conditions touch
Ing question OF sapld transit Inherent III me Costi
nIird with No elevated railroad can run upon our
streets without first, the consent OF the local aulhorl-
fies
ers or in lieu thereof the Supreme Court third the
payment Of damages In advance TO aDutting owners
The last point has been disputed ot may, eh'nk . pc
necessity OF paying damages an railroad enteTprses
mile mile .therelrom by the extent OF tne lnluty
which they would have TO make gOod In
piercing the river belt Though narrow strip, II y:
composed If valuable property aud wihal would Itself
derive no direct benefit from rapid transit Ia my opin"
ion question OF damages can be met practically ater
this strp has been crossed but within this river line II Is
fatal Accordingly have 1t proposed by different roads
to condemn, under the General Railroad law, roasway
through the ofbocks either from Myrtle To the
bridge or from Atnncaye and Flatbush 10 the bridge
This OF course Involves great expense, aud cannot
be all without tho consent OF the local atnorl-
ties But unless other solution OF the difficulties
alluded to can be found this is the only practical one
which have been able 10 discover. such solution OF
the problem should esteem most unfortunate. Property
abutng the OF such railroad would be Injured
without compensation, the city would have almost no
control OF the roadway and not unlikely result would
be ~ Long Island beyond Brooklyn built up AT the
exnsn,e of Brooklyn.
IN connection with any system of rapid transit ex.
peced really to subserve Brookyns interests there are
two points upon which, my judgment the city should
at ali times insist. These Frst-The approach TO
the bridge shall be open on equal terms to all roads ac
With tho franchises to approach the bridge proyi-
shall he made to secure for the city certain rev
enue herefrom I'm order to solve this wOfOd problem
of providing an adequate approach to the bridge and OF
possible rapid transit upon terms III the city
iuteres have prepared an act which goes to Albany
today the scheme of which is briefly as follows: the
act gives the city authority 10 open Fatbusave 10 the
feet and 10 feet sidewalks IL then provides that the
shall be NO railroad upon any part OF the avenue exoep
railroad that portion or the unless the
persons constructing operating the same enter into
Covenant under good and sufficient bonds pay the
city OF Brooklyn royalty OF of pei
passenger the elevated roads and 0nothlrd or cent
per passenger on the surface roads.
The proceedings to open the avenue are 70 be begun
by the Corporation Council al the request OF the Mayor
and the act In effect authorizes the Mayor to negotiate
10 behalf OF the city with any persons willing to comply
with its fundamental terms for the construc
ton on the avenue when opened Of elevated aud surface