New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-02
THE ATLANTIC AVENUE PROBLEM


DEPRESSED TRACKS OR Az ELEVATED ROAD
QUESTION OF EXPENSE.
An interesting conference took place yesterday in
the MAYOR, Office in the City Hail between the Cti-
zcns' Committee inicrc ted In securing the removal II
the steam railroad from the surface Of Atlantic ave.
the Rapid Transit Commissioner, appointed q las ont
an elevated railroad route that street. officers of the
Long Island and the Atlantic Avenue Railroad Com
panics aud city officials. William +. Lane of tho
Rapid Transit Commission, presided. Mayor Ciapn
was an Interested listener Eugene g. Bachfod was
the spoke. Of the Citizens Committee. and after
setting forth the desire for depressed road IN place of
the surface one now In the street he asked j. Roger,
Maxwell vice president Of the Long Island Railroad
Company. If the city should its way clear to build
depressed road and issue bonds at IL or per
cent. wonld the company accept lease Of the road
AT rental Of per cent upon the cost, the difference
between the interest paid by the city and the rental
10 constitute "A sinking fund 10 cNtinguish the bonded
debt. Mr. Maxwell said the company would be willing
all 1t could afford 10, but five per cent upon tho
estimated cost Of l2O0O 600 would be too great for
il. The company could not stand more than charge
Of $500 900 annually IL would cost III 10000 to 70
move the sewers water pipes. etc. for sInkcn road,
and the street would be blocked for a year. Mr..
Maxwell explained that the $l2OOOOOO estimate in.
cludcd this, and also provided for an open cut of
twenty five feet and covered tracks either side.
reply To suggestion Of Nr. Parsons. he said that
an open cut 81 fifty feet in width would cost only
about half as much. Iut item would be lcp.OOO
yards OF rock wall at $40 yard II the cost did not
exceed Sjo0o,OO0. the company could pay five per
cent upon it,
President William Richardson, Of the Atlantic Ave
nue. Railroad Company. which leases liz tracks in
Atlantic. ave. to the Long Island Railroad Company
for ~ 900 yea. said that his company was willing
to cooperate with the Long Island Company in any
thing that would best promote the interests and
..tfr .nIf Ha flft ~ llItr
company had Just and equitable right to the strip
of Atlaniicavc. IL owned but was willing TO unto
with the Long Island Company to relieve the present
state Of things.
The elevated plan was then taken up and an offer
was made the part oi the Long Island Company 10
take steam on the surface If four track elevated
structure could be built, with curve, to get freight
cars the freight yard, at MOnauk and Carlton
ayes Mr.. Blacmord. who said he owned property
worth $4,000 In aud Atlantic ave, said that
this would suit him, but Charles Cooper. the repre-,
sentative of property interests valued at 500 900
81 100000 objected seriously, and said th, the pres
cnt state Of things was 10 be preferred g. elevated
structure With four tracks and hundreds OF heavy
passenger and freight trains laundering past every
DAY lie thought that ultimately the tracks would
be put below ground.
The bill introduced by a. cmbyman Byrncs I'm the
LEGISLATURE requiring the railroad companies dcpres
the tracks, approved by several property owners
present but General Ningatc said that no law conlt
compel the Atlantic Avenuc Company 10 change lie
tracks. Major +. ii. Hobbs said that depressed road
would increase property values by $4,000 900 aud
he thought the city should lend It's credit rs issuing
bonds ust had been done for the East River Bridge
and the watcrworks. At any rate the city could make
the needed change in the sewers and water mains and
let the Long Island Railroad Company dcprcss tho
TRACKS. Corporation Counsel jerks refused cxrrcs,
an opinion until called upon for 1t by the Mayor.