New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-05
OPPOSING THE TROLLEY.
PROPERTY OWNERS PROTEST AGAINST THE
SYSTEM.
THE APPLICATION OF THE HARLEM BRIDGE,
MoRRsANIA AND FoRDHAM RAILWAY
co. III sCUsSED

Tho roo,ns Of the Chamber of Commerce were the
,cene of lively discussion yesterday Of the merits
and dement's of the trolley system of electric motor
power For four hours the Application OF the iar'
lem Bridge Morrsania and FOrdham Railway Com
many o be permtted TO substitute the trolley electric
system for horses motive power was considered
by the state Board Of Railroad Commissioners The
members OF the Commission William Z. Rogers,
Isaac V. Baker and Michael Richard. Ex-Governor
John : WISE Of Virginia. Waldo Hutchins. 1r. and ex-
Judge Ernest Hall appeared for the company Inc
counsel for the property owners along the route we"
Arthur G. Butts and Charles . simpson.
Mr. Butts asked that the Board should refuse TO
hear the company until the courts had acted upon the
preliminary injunction granted By Judge Andrews. Ne
sraining the company from using before the Railroad
Commissioners the consents OF abutting property OWL
ers, many of which are alleged to have been Will
drawn Mr.. Rogers, the chairman OF the Board sau
however that the could properly be heard on It's
merits insnuch the statutes prescribe no priority
a. between the consent Of the Railroad commissioners
and that Of the property owners
The Harlem Bridge, Morrsania and Fordham Kali
way had obtained the requisite number OF consents
from owners of property abutting on its lines to chahge
It's motive power. 1t afterwad secured from tile Board
Of Electrical Control the right 10 erect poles and STRING
wires in the street for the operation of the trolley sys
TEN. This permission was granted by Mayor Uraht
and Commissioners Moss aud Hess in the face OF loud
protests from some Of the property-owners, VINO as
serted that they had given their consent TO the change
OF motive power under the representation that the
company to introduce the cable system. Charles
s. simpson then secured revOcations of consent from
property owners in Boson-ave apd Arthur G. Butts
obtained similar revocat0ns from protesting property
in Third This action reduced the consents
held by the company TO less than one-hah the re-
Quired valuation These revocations were served on
the officers of the road yesterday.
in opening the hearing before the Railroad Com
inject UtttSa md Il
Of the troey system. He asserted that the overhead
wires would not only be unsightly and undesirable
incumbrance but would be in violation OF the law re
quring electric wires TO be placed underground 10y
the act of 1887 the Board of Electrical Control could
permit the erection of poles and wires only in sparseb
settled districts. Such Third ave. from Harlem bridge
to one hundred and seventleth-st could not be con
sidered. The proposed change would be ineXpedient'
also as Third ave above the Harlem River, was aneiny
INSTRUCTED by the suburban and Rapid Transit Railrtd
To add the trolley poles and wires to ms Obstruction
would greatly increase the impeachment to travel and
the nuisance of the whole neighbOrho0d. Besides
all this continued MI Butts, " the system is eX
tremely dangerous TO life, and has been condemned
wherever used. The people. along me route Oh the
railroad want better transportation iacilteS, Dut tey
prefer the borsecars until they can have proper
and genuine rapid transit. Now that the Rapid
Transit Commission is about to provide proper and
permanent means Of transit, there should be no au
thoity given for the erection OF this maAeshft system
What we are here for is to try 10 save Third-aye
and incidentally the entire city, from the grasp Of
powerful corporation that is trying 10 force upon Us
what We do not want ,.
Ex-Judgc Hail. who said he represented majority
of lie property In BOsOn-ave spoke IN favor
vi granting the Application lie sald nc uIu no.
think that the property owners after having gwen
their consent and after the latter had been nIed a.
required by law, could withdraw them. 49,
II they do So, he asked, now long can lllls
thing on a.. .o,-..
In an animal ID discussion as to whether the com
many lad actually secured the consent Of majority
OF the properly owners along the route, Mr. Rogers
agreed with .no council OF the protesting property
owners that d railroad route was continuous me
from one point " another and that Iadlatlng lines
are In reality district routes -. A.. o;,no.a ,o.a
Ex-Governor Mise, behalf of the railroad, pictured
the advantages and safety of the trolley system from
the railroad company's point OF view, ana argued
against the right property To withdraw their
consent after II has been MED. 49, ,.,
Mr. Rogers here said that, in view OF the injunction
suit now pending in the courts the Board thought IL
better to adjourn until these proceedings were seteu
AT that tiuie the Commissioners VIII hear testimony
as TO whether not the requisite number OF consents
william b. Ellison. president of the Fordham Club
presented a resolution passed by that club favorlng
the granting of the railroads application.