New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-14
WHAT TIE BROADWAY ROAD SAYS FOR
ITSELF

SHARP TALK FROM FRIEND OF THE LINE con-
CEENIN0 THE HOSTILITY TO IT-PUNGENT PER-
sONAL REFERENCES.
A gentleman who is interested in the welfare
OF the Broadway Surface Railroad expressed himself
warmly yesterday I'm the matter Of the road and the
opposition in various euises which it had encountered
What lie stated about Of the hostility TO the road
and the motives for 1t IS amusing He said:
For reason there has been perpetual fire kept
up on the Broadway Surface Railroad and assaults have
been made tho who has been. 1t is said, largely
instrumental in putting that project through. There
have been charges OF various kinds and yet through all
this evidence Of the charges preferred
Now. first OF ALL remember that this particular road has
not been the only road built in this city Other railroad
franchises have been given away. and none OF them
bringing the the city which this road does.
and many of them bringing revenue. There was the
Forty street, Manbattanvile and ST. Nicholas
Railroad, which got franchise enabling II TO
up the Boulevard aid lay rails in an attractive
driving Why there not hue and cry abOnt
thatI And yet politicians at tho head Of the
scheme. The Second Avenue Railroad got its magnh-
cent extension without q murmur from the public
prints. William II. Vanderbilt extended his line up one
Of the main OF the city, and there out
cryi And comes along this Chambers-st. line.
backed by Philadelphia men, who failed IN their grid
iron scheme and thoy take this route sop TO their
bafled ambition! And thoy got their franchise under
most peculiar circumstances over the Mayors Veto
But not a word said about T.
"Now, can you tell me the reason why the Broadway
Surface road has been smiton hip and thgh laSit not
proved good thing for Broadway Has not property
gone up along It's Has it not done away with the
numbering sagcsl AnG-thc point on which there
appears great deal OF sOreues3-dOes IT not pay
good to the city The ErcnGnJ Post made a
most outrageous and false charge against the road
when 1t declared that efforts being made 70 cheat
the city Of ls percentage on the gross receipts simple
inquiry at the Controllers Office would have shown the
fdIschOOd OF It's assertions.
And now for "A few financial facts: The Broadway
Surface Railroad pays $4,000 year rental and per
receipts to be made per cent after
three years; tbs ut per cent makes $4,000 more
iug tho tracks clear OF snow lee and dirt produces
$4,000 moro for the city TO which must be added
$4,000 moro FOR paving the street width OF twenty
Two feet This gives total OF ~ LOO the first year
The city mas Just U7poaru OF I"I o l'7 nonH, a. Pt
would have to issus - 1866 Of Its bonds which
would have to be raised TO ei-OGGG6 when per cent
the receipt, shall he paid. IN order to produce
sum equal to the annual receipts from this road.
Avenue road, which formerly produced no revenue Ioi
the city finds hat - per cent OF its whole business
has been turned into Broadway, and the road thus be-
comes reycnuc-producing one for the city ,.
There Is one point rich IN interest IN TINS whole mat
ter There Is Kan who has been hobhIAE around
m any o'' ' and ~i,,.iil'in" 7accustoi,.
against 1t while posing IA model retorner lie has
been close proximity 10 the crank who Is alleged
been whispering around The World Office. Funny thin
happen tis world. Don't JOu think " IL exceedingly
funny tAat this appeared counsel In the interest
OF IL Democrat now hgh office at Washington who IA
,ortd the cable did HIS best to -ct 10 IN Broad
WAY but failed while the broadway ~uriAc" road ia" Sti
ia there despite h, opposition! TINS aw}crdnd retohtr
used u ur bobhIug around "uploIc ~ the COZ
poi4tiuu COunscls office and last year lie WAS IN ne
guDut consultation with this high official, ot whom
nave -uoAcu and whose actions moro lGht may ne
thrown Do time. Even then he Was IN his itNOtc sphere
as r,foruer. Al the same time hc was 100 coL-Ait lol
with tile Philadelphia crowd now tearing mp chatham
st. without word OF plot. II from tie public lie sl
not = word about compensation for the city from The
cable road percentage OF the gross receipts,
until the cable iuru were beaten. Then an injunction
agaus; obtained ON the ground thtt an ADDITIONAL
of,r would he made 10: tuo franchise. Iuc man VINO
/ made tie offer y treys. Oi the Cable COInpA-y.
Then the $1,000 add uua put on u and no Oppo-
sitiou was made The local auhJrltc And now VINO
turns up A. counsel tho gibbs Committee ana wishes
10 investigate but the whose clients favored lHc
cable ROAD. .. Charles +. Miller Is a model reIorHtI
He probably investigate to md out now he au
III, friends. lut left. When this official high In once an
the Phiadcl phil people withdrew from thcE SrH.I9
/ scnomc Tor some reason best known TO hliHs,i NiI
vi Ter suddenly dropped from public gaze SOW ne no''
up .rreucly again, and simultaneously G. l. ItoN''he
/ ham "a member OF the Ih!adc.pAlt stock EXchance az
wei ttt this city, begins an iudircCt attack o" t'
I.ronuyyuy surface road. lie engages Eihu Root a,
ouuu-, auL now there is talk OF the enlargement o
NJ Foot hy the gibbs Committee to investigate IKE
! Broadway surface road. Funny isn'ttT