New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-02
IN FAVOR OF CABLE ROADS.
THE COMMISSIONERS UNANIMOUS

ADVANTAGES OF THE PLAN-REGULATIONS AND
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES AND RENT.
Guy R. Pelton, Leroy B. Crane and William
O. Traphagen the Commissioners appo nted by the su-
preme Court upon the petition of the NewYork Cable
Railway Company, to determine whether fts
proposed system Of railroads in this city
should be constructed and operated. have re-
ported unanimously In favor OF the system They
filed their report yesterday. The conclusions OF the
Commissioners that there Is pressing need OF
additional railroad facilities in this city, and that this
need has become Imperative not only for lengthwise,
but crosswise roads. because "the vast increase
during the past fifteen years Of business traffic and
population Only the island but in the cities and
villages within short distance from this city.
The routes emplatedtwentyni nine miles in and
forming seventy miles OF road-constitute complete
and wel-organized system adopted the require
ments Of this city and to ADJUST itself for to
come" 1t embraces the axial lines. partly
surface partly elevated. so as to give
continuous transit for passengers on each
side OF the city from the Harlem River the Battery
The line on West-st will be especially adapted to the
transportation OF freight The other lines connect with
the ferries. This system. the Commissioners say. Is
well calculated. q whole, to promote public con
venence Some OF the routes will be valuable only
connections The axial routes. they hold. with the
crosstown lines. will increase the value OF property.
while tho use OF transfer tickets, giving
a continuous ride between points
of cents, will form great advantage This plan
will effect saving least 800 900 year to those
patroniZing the roads.
In view of this and also the fact that the property
OF the company will be subject to taxation at the same
property the counsel for the corporation
had claimed that additional compensation should
be paid for the franchise Yet the Commissioners de-
eide that In addition to all other taxes 22 per cent of
the net earnings should be paid annually This added
municipal taxation ut its ordinary OF not less
than two and onehaf cent ana to the saving to our
citizens effected by the system Of transfer tickets which
is In substance tax upon the petitioner, will be the
equivalent OF increase tax upon the Of at
least ten per cent"
greater rate OF taxation would be " an unjust dis
elimination against great public enterprise and
might deter capitalists from engaging in its construction
any 1t would be unequal ana therefore
opposed the real interest OF the city, which is best
promoted by the extension OF all possible facilities to It's
trade and communication between its various parts"
The OF the lines according to the law and
the articles of association VIII not seriously interfere
WI h the gas mains, water mains or sewers along me
says. to being put 10 some additional expense II the
fact that they pay nothing for their franchise OF tnea
use OF the streets, As wen RI, might ,,na
over a Vacant lot seek the from build
Ing because this would require change III the ioca4n
Commissioners assert will not prejudice the heat or
roads will benefit the health of citizens because
traction by cable much more clea y than traction by
| horses possibly he"
The objection that proposed lines Will interfere
with existing horse railroads may be true but, the
| commissioners add, by means satisfied that
there traffic enough both Tho same objection
made to tho elevated roads, yet experience has
shOwd that serious injury was done TO the morse
railroads by that improved method OF transit III THIS
objection should prove 10 be well-founded we are OF
port adversely on the routes In question 1t is akin to
has been introduced The Old omnibus lines gave place
TO the horse railroads. Those are not entitled to
souaLy ex pect it, The choapness with which they
he constructed is such that they SPEEDILY pay for
locomoton are destined long to give way To more
rapid. clcany and healthy kinds OF travel TO the relief
both and beast the and To the geat ad
OF the traffic OF the city steam has superseded
vanrareous on short ones The OF forces
the OF posrr. transmitted by cable wherever IL
power and OF the approved type to be used. in
stead OF the SMALL highpressure, puihng and noisy
locomotives On elevated structure cable cars run
| without noise and surface road no more noise
need he made than necessary to warn passers o an
| In, Commissioners made IA personal examination of
the cable system In Chicago and were satisfied with its
workings. They call attention to he thorough YES, Oh
the system as made In various parts OF me g
world and stat that II has proved entirely
The cars can lie started gruay anu their sperI reg
ulated quickly and easily The Conlnsslhcrs cbncuue
from the evidence we'll 81 a. m lSs OF he ocor that
ho method OF cable traction Is inc cisanest saes. a
passengers and brought within tnc nun W,
its OF cities and that IT. IL adapted 10
promote the comfort, ucaltn
The commissioners approve the proposed routes and
their plan OF cons rucOn save that they recommended
that an eerated structure over tnlouSn anu @
streets private property as may be required by
constructed rs follows: From Great Jones-st.
to point near the terminus D, wo OF tIe
Tcnth.avc. and Thirty from the orginnng OF
Diyisiont Southst, at South Ferry from the begin
ming OF Christppherst. to scventysecondst. The sur
face roads conform To the street grade aud ths
rails BE- of pattern to prevent the least obstruction
Ih. .sI IA
be used. fully equal to that Of san Francisco or chi
cago. Any conduit needed Tor the Transmission $50,
and beneath the surface Of the railway and connections
between the motive power and the cars should be
through longitudinal opening or slot IN the
channel conduit. the side OF which Ia not
except in so as may necessary for the safe
OF horses. nor be further apart than Oh an
which shall he suitably closed and have corrugated
surfaces guard against slipping The equipment OF
cars shall be provided with wheel and side guards around
the front and sides for protection from accident Inc
tasteful appearance The materials shall be Of the best
quality and the work in the best yle or lhefart
When II surface road Is constructed across
private property used park the exterior lines OF the
land taken should be arranged III manner sutaoe 70
the appearance OF the PARK hcosure, ana II Tue
OF Grnercy Park consent to the construction ~ road
through the park the road should be constituted aee9r
maximum rate for the conveysnc, ,. OF ,,r, one
shall be six cents The hour. within which special ears
shall he at reduced rates shall be from ~
cents emitting the passenger 10 continuous trip Iac
rate above the Harlem shall be the same ana
ecial hours and rates the The tracks shall be
laid coniormably 20 the directions OF the Com
missioner Public Works, and the space
between the rails and extending two feet each side shall
be kept IN repair. Snow when removed shall not De
thrown tie sidewalks nor become an obstruction No
elevated track shall cross that OF steam
railway in actual use nj the
grade thereof There shall DO interference
with water MAINS etc. with the concurrence OF the
proper authority The proposed water through William
St. the Comm ssioDcrs say offers advantages 50 great
as TO outweigh any damage likely 10 result
FAyORING Mr.. VANDERBILTS PLAN.
The assent of the bondhoiders the proposed plan