New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-30
STREET-CAR CHANGES.
ELECTRIC MOTORS AND NEW TRACKS.
MAYOR HEwITT's LETTER AND MR.. WANDER
Bits REPLY IN REGARD TO THE FOURTH
AVENUE LINE--wHEN THE WORK


WILL BEGIN
Mayor Hewitt's approval Of the ordinance OF the
Board Of Aldermen which gives the Harlem Railroad
Company the right to electric motors lnstead Oh
horse power on the Fourthave. street cars as was
announced In The Tribune yesterday, was preceded by
negotiations between the Mayor and the company on
the subject Of changing the rails at present IN use
and putting down In their stead Improved style OF
rail- which will add greatly to public comfort and con
venlence The following letter from Mr. Hewitt 10
Mr. Depew and the reply of Mr.. Vanderbilt show
that the company is pledged to make trial OF the
form Of rails and It proves successful the change
shall be made general on all It's city lines.
MIR. Hewitt, IN a letter to Mr.. Depew, OF December
&c, quotes the resolution of the Common CouhcH
granting the permission 10 electricity, and says
You will perceive that this grant without other con-
duon than right revoke IL whenever 1t shall seem
good 10 the Common Council to do. regard the meas
ure as step in the right direction but it is valuable
privilege which might very properly have been made the
subject OF revenue to city 1nasmuch how
ever the first attempt in this city to relieve the
streets Of the nuisance caused by horses "ou'" W
willing 70 forego any compensation 70 the city In view OF
the public advantage which in other respects the suOsuu
ton Will involve. But easily reconcile my
self to omission OF all conditions as to the kna o. acA
which your company is TO maintain IN the streets VI 1e
city In previous conversations with you nave c1'cu
YOUR attention to that the present form OK rails
constitutes very great objection TO travel and prevents
the pavements being kept in good ofoef anu inc
from being properly cleaned You nave intimate"
your willingness substitute some better ana more sp
proved track but nothing has yet been oohe ID s
desirable direction, although during my whole term OF
office have endeavored get Of the leading railway
companies to put such track a. the requirements
of the public demand
In the meantime one Of the suburban roads starthE
from the Third Avenue Bridge laid proper super
srctra and In the proposed railroad be laid by the
Park Commissioners Central Park similar plan
Of structure adopted think that the prom,
nence OF your city line requires that II shall be constructed
in the best possible way and am not willing 10 allow TINS
occasion TO pass without attempting to secure to the CITY
the rnnrovement to which entitled am very I'M
willing however, to delIy action In this matter "nch
would be the result of veto just as the term OF e Oo
mon Council is about expire, and hence have concuaea
that Will approve resolution provided the Ne"io'A
and Harlem Railroad will give assurance in writing that
they will proceed lay down under the direcuoh VI 'o
Commissioner Of Public Works an improved supersuctre
such as he may consider adapted to the neceseS u '
N.o.,
think that this improvement should be made between
n. CITY Hall Park and Thirty hrds at the earliest pos
sibe moment and that It should DO continued a. your '
convenience until the whole line is properly
Inasmueh the time is short VIII ank you " ohu il
YOUR reply at the possible moment ana count upon
vour cooperation in making this improvement "hlch mas
been 700 long delayed vel for the interests VI 1'u
company as for the public convenience.
Mr. vanderbilts letter Is as follows:
Eev.York and Harlem Railroad
Grand Central Depot
New.York December %, 1883.
Hon A. s. Hewitt. Mayor ,, 49,,
near sir: Your letter Mr.. Depew OF 2So inst mas
A h-oreb. 70 nv attention. Referring TO same
rId saw that the New-York and Harlem Railroad Com
onv IN consideration Of receiving permission from he
city 10 use electricity instead Of horses VII" as soon ID
the weather permits relay one nile OF us hue Hon
Row northward on the plan Of construction ana
with the natern Of rail which understand have been
annroved by the Park Board and Sinking Fund Com
s-,oners for use in building proposed railroad across
Central Park.
II this first mile proves after fair trial to
be success all the freight the city line shall be
removed improved rail and method Of construction
substituted therefor c. VANDERBILT
Pres dent
Superintendent skitt Of the Fourth ave- road
said yesterday that his company would begin WORK on
the improvements soon as the weather
permitted "As an experiment" he said
ave viii lay one mile of the girder-ral
beginning at the City Hall terminus of tho road and
If it proves to be satisfactory will substitute the
new rail oil along the line. IL will cost $4,000 to
lay the first mile and about 500, 900 mile for the
rest of the road rather expensive experiment"
Mr. Skitt also said that cars run by electflc
would be I'm before the end OF January anu thal
Experiments would be made with i've dlHerenu
motors TO determine their relative values that the
one proving itself be the most economic ana al me
same time tho most powerful would be ultimately
adopted The motors would be stored with cleo
trcity By the Julien Electric Traction Company, ana
strep grade The eX pertinent had been made OF run
ming motor with eight wheels but II had Deeh
found imprac tcable account OF the many curves
and switches and four wheeled cars would DO used