New-York tribune., 1885-03-13
A RAILROAD m BROADWAY,
FAVORABLE REPORT OF TaE COMMISSIONS.


the Supreme Court ON the application OF the Broan~y
Surface Railroad Company, determine wnetneS ra
road should be built In Broadway between sne
and Union Square, nlsd their report yesterday m io
Of the project Tho commissioners, after 'tatns 'nss
their sessions began on January and continued 70
March 8; 1885, sayi
arc convinced that additional street enriaco
railroad facilities are required 10 accommodate tnS @
YORK and there is public necessity for the consrncf,on ion
and operation OF surface railroad on broadway 20 q,
ns ss1ey s aaa amons os that the southern
portion of the city from the Battery 60 nm atv
SspnTsd within comparatively period both tn IN
respect character and amount OF business Sn
accommodation. for vast and increasing nnTen nc q,
of their business In this locality. The Improvement
this portion Of the city l. due RI to- to e 1sant Which,
have becn afforded by the elevated roads. Between
Chambers-st. and Fourteenth-st the improvement 70
much ess peroepbe although some vauaSis Ss ctw 6s
reached according to the estimates OF some %
over and Is constantly a increase IN
the OF business transacted and In the & Ua
Necessity which now exists additional accommoda
tons travel Broadway ana particularly m ~
20 or from any point on broadway with comfort CON
venience and dispatch. nuced suf'Sc1 @ a
Vided With Conductors as we'll as drivers Is required
by the resolution Of the Common council put IN w..
aSes nav IN use because street cars are Of In
gress and egrcss. and are Ordinarily moe ~ ,es
of people, and such railroad will satisfy tho existing
public demand tor further and improved snort n"ihs
facilities. .,., .,. ,,o
rom the evidence tcore are satisfied that tne
required TO properly equip ana operae stree. @ ot
road on Broadway will be ess In NUMBER ana Will not
incomnode or interfere with the ordinary pntc trveI
on said much the omnIbuses which are nov
running II also appears from the evidence tht
a contract or an arrangement exists between the roa
sraee Railroad Company and the Se o
operation OF the proposed railroad is TO pegin tno
stages are 10 withdrawn from broadway, and sucn TO
noya of the stages running thereon and the suos
tuition of the proposed railroad wlIl We nave 10
contribute much TO the reef OF thai sren & ni" for
OF Broadway never be uti'zed IN our opinion io
any system Of rapid transit for long ds,aess e. anu n
mand for rides Notwithstanding the operation OF
the elevated railroads. carrying millions OF ptssensers
railroads. are also carrying millions of passengers, and
some even than wcrc carried by tbe same toa.S
tenn although directly covered In instances by ana
running In direct competition with snch elevated ran
roads. which demonstrates the public demand Tor snort
rides on all our streets 10 which We have alluded ana
establishes that surface roads are public beneht ana
The commerce OF this city important factor IN Its
present ana greatness; aud the elect OF
received the careful attention which IL deserves We
cannot resist the conclusion that The CROWN OF
tbese commercial interests IA largely dependent not Only
upon sufficient accommodation for the transportation OF
goods but also upon ample convenient ana @
evidence shows that this travel Il yearly increasing anu
requires additional facilities for s accommodation
of commerce carried on in broadway, and adequate
means forhe transportaon OF passengers forms part OF
this community of Interests aud ia opinion the gen
eral ubc equitably entitled 10 the adVantlses wch
a railroad ON broadway would undoubtedly abort. II
the proposed railroad shall be constructed and put In
operation doubt upon the evidence that any
conseguent iuconveniences will be adjusted and
great benefit u the general public Will result.
Thol commissioners call attention TO the resolution
adopted by the Common Council on December D. 1851
giving TO the Broadway Surface Railroad Company lis
consent construction Of tine road and the accept
ance the conditions by the corporation no other COM
pany having received the privilege Tho Surface Com
many had given its bond OF 100000 with sufficient
surctcs approx OF tho Justices OF the Court
for annual payment TO tile city of $4,000 besides
percentages OF and per cent OF lis years receipts
Regarding the resolution Of the Common Council the
commissioners say:
The rights Of the city have been sufficiently guarded by
the aud conditions Of The resolution. nli Of which
have been formally aSeep,ea - ,s sonP"yi .nd nnasT
realize aggregate Of gr-- receipts amounting 10 the
ag 80 D Der annam during tho nrst nvs years
operation Of such road and $4,000 per hnhnin sresu
SlO0Oo0O anu an OF gross receipts al east tioo
tunes many passengers VII hr Carried a. are nre on
now running Forty thousand dollars per hnnuin att
otey secured 10 the city rental by the terms OF the
resolution p the Common Council. which II equivalent 20
interest per cent on >loOlOpo IN hdlitluh tthc
bound u pay. Tbc rights OF the city arc otherwise
sufficiently protected by the terms o the consent OF me
omnOn Council. which provides FOR Keeping the pave
ment IN good order and requires the company TO submit
To and abide by reasonable regulations when may
be hereafter r oscd by the Common Council relating ~
the removal OF snow, etc FROM the testimony 81 Aired
sktt superintendent Of the Fourth Avenue Surihcr ail
road who was called ~ witness for the city by the
conse To the corporation. II appears that tho rent oi
dollars per annum Imposed by the RESOLUTION oI
the Common Council In addition Ia the percentages on
gross receipts Is liberal sum 20 be paid 10y the
half miles In length; and moreover In considering
question of such coinpenhtion II must uc feihei
bce that this company has undertaken 10 carry aae-
gers give transfer tickets 40 that passenger" may
be carried II they choose from tho Battery I" CehiFA4
Thi,d-The advantage which the public will derive
from the agreement Existing between the broadway sur
face Railroad Cmpoany aud the Broadway and scyenth
Avenue Railroad conpany "hereoy passengers can M D
carried the Battery 10 the Central Park without
important Under existing provisions OF law. this Is
au advantage which he conferred by other com
and pernission OF the broadway aud seventh Avenue
railroad Company. could be allowed 10 make use Of
the existing tracss above f0ur'eenth-st
Fourth by the terms OF the consent granted by the
Council the company for the present is limited
10 the use OF power for the operation or its pro-
posed railroad with provision. however. that the COM
pany may hereafter make seof motive power suta
than locomotive power. which hereafter be
consented to by the local authorities aud 10y majority oI
property OWNERS In accordance with the proyisons
OF Chapter 252 OF the Laws OF 1884. This We deem
very wise provision. because IL will allow the OF any
improved motor which may hereafter be discovered and
which may meet public approval; ,..,,.o
u.s. urged that the most appropriate road for rad
way would he cable road The construction OF such
feetin width and four fee: In depth. to be ercayated
along the whole route; and the evidence Of Mr. John C
Campbell experienced engineer long employed In the
Department OF Public Works, shows that there are
pipes underneath the surface OF Broadway ana
the incrscctng streets, such water mains, pipes
steam pipes sewer Iipes pneumatic tubes, telegraph
wires, etc. liable To te neriered with and Injured pI
the construction OF cable road; and think IL would
at the present time to allow the construction
OF a cable road on broadway. horse railroad In our
opinion s appropriate for such thorougiare and
will better sabserye the public convenience and accom-
inOdatiOn
The commissioners therefore report in favor OF the
OF tho road by the broadway Surface Rail
road Company.
THE IDIPTN