New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-26
FAVORABLE TO THE CABLE.
THE RAILROAD COMMISSIONS WORK.

INVESTIGATING THE THIRD AVENUE ROADS
sYsrEM-THE MEMBERS SEEM NOT op-
POSED TO THE SCHEME
The State Railroad Commissioners yesterday closed
their hearing on the application OF the Third Avenue
yairoad Company for leave 20 substitute cable for
horse mower on their line from City Han Il Harlem
To-day the Commissioners will ride on the Julian
storare battery cars on the Fourth Avenue Line, and
perhaps on the electric that runs to Fort Hamilton
Then they win retire to consider tho application. The
commissioners paid special attention yesterday TO all
explanations Of ways of getting the cable conduit
mast water sewer and gas pipes, and to methods
Of protecting the surface of the street and laying
the cable track without interfering with traffic. 1t
was evident throughout the hearing that the company
had made favorable impression on the Com
missioners.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Dean read the
affidavit of G. W. Birdsan Chief Engineer of the
Croton Aqueduct, taken a year ago. as 10 the
impractcability Of laying cable road in Thrd-avc.
and repeated his three legal points These are the uncon
stitutonality of the law under which the Commission
Is acting the absolute tho Board of Aldermen
over the city Streets and the claim of the city TO
percentage of the receipts OF the road the change
In power should be accomplished. Chairman Rogers
said that these points for the courts to decide
md asked, in the petition were granted II ueIe
was not some way for an agreement between the
He suggested that a profile plan of all crossings OF
underground pipes by the cable conduit be SUD-
mtted to the Department OF Public Works ms sug-
restion brought out the fact that there was no
thorough map of underground New-1orh' MI.
auterbach attorney for the railroads. SAID the rodu
would be glad of suggestions from or cooperauon WIN
The Department of Public Works, but that the de'
partment stood the road OH al arHIs iote'" ~ 49,
unfriendly way.
Mr. Bi,,isall whose old affidavit against the project
had been read was called and said that II was ho'
impossible TO lay the proposed caDie Foaa' Du' ~
would he difficult and expensive Az one place III
Park Row the Croton water pipe was Directly uhueF
the spot whore the cable conduit would run, ana "S
be,nmed in on each side by vaults. OF course IL me
railroad was prepared TO buy the right to move ne
wafer pipe into these vaults the line could 80 tbroush
Through Third-ave there is water pipe on Only ONO
side of the street aud there would be constant uouDo
with the service pipes crossing the cable conduit all"
they must DO sunk
george A. Wheeler said that the subway in PARK
Row. between City Hall and Chambers-st. was laid IN
six weeks ard explained the practice of bridging the
street for traffic while the excavations were III
progress. Mr.. Birisan said that in Park Row the
subway took the only vacant space except that under
the railroad tracks and the railroad wanted 10
dig out that. BE had been at work since 1873 ana
had got the lower part of this island pretty well
paycd with pipes of one sort and another MI.
Lauterbach suggested that a good deal of the work
of excavation could be done at night and Mr. Brdsal
replied that II would have TO be done at night and on
SUNDAYS in order not 10 interrupt traffic.
The Commissioner said that there seemed TO be
public impression that If any better motive power
than the cable existed It the duty OF the Board
10 force the railroad 10 adopt 1t. He questioned
this view of the Commissions power but asked II the
railroad company had investigated other means OF pro-
pusion with apv such seriousness the great outlay
involved would Justify. Mr.. Lauterbach argued that
II was only system which had STOOD the TEST ol long
use and nat II was the oompanys business to put I'm
the hcsi power now known, without regard to what
mfgsf loo, The best motvepower five Or ten years
brncs lie utterly denied the right of the Commits
Sion 10 force upon the road motor which u ala nor
v.ut merely because the Commission fancled IT,
ai,r some further discussion the hearing adjourned