New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-26
SOME INDIGNANT CITIZENS.
PROPERTY.owNERS HOODWINKED
PEOPLE IN THE ANNEXED DISTRICT FIGHTING
AN AGGRESSIVE STREET RAILROAD.


The action n, the BOARD Of Electrical Control In
granting permission TO the Harlem Bridge, Moriisanis
and Fordham Railroad Company to use tIe "oi.y
electrical system has increased the indighauoh vi eo
residents along the line OF the rcd, ana many Oh e"
do not hesitate 70 that representatives Oh t'e 'on
pany made acquiesccd In false statements 10 80 nv
signatures OF the property owners 20 consents ior '"'
change in the method Of propcling ears. Inc com
pany runs street north and northcast i''Hn
Harlem Bridge. II la, been In existence Tor many
years and has not been successful financially party
because the service rendered has been wrctchedy po,
The cars were dirty and old, they made infre1nem
and irregular trips, they Moved slowly that Walking
often better, and the iiucklcberry ROAD mas
long been theme for contemptuous remark among
the residents above the Bridge.
The company running the has had some mis
fortunes in having the service interered with by the
grading and repairing Of Streets but little effort
apparently was made TO overcome the difficulties Tho
service between MOr.sania and FOrdiiam last year
practically abandoned at times and at the best
consisted only OF running occasional cais at long
int vals There Of course. considerable deficit
at the end Of year In the accounts Of the com.
pany but the franchise considered valuable. and
the stockholders have shown no desire to surrender
control OF their property
The residents had become almost hopeless OF any
relief, when last summer they began to hear rmors
that the managers were about 10 change their pOi'>
The cable system was be introduced, handsome cars
to make travel easy and rapid The extension OF the
suburban Rapid Transit line TO Morrisana and IFS
probable continuation 10 fremont and Foidham had
stirred up the officials Of the road The cable system
was the only spoken Of with any frequency out
an occasional suggestion was made that some form 81
electric storage motor to be attached TO the cars eht
be found better
Men employed by the road began to go about with
printed forms Of consent changes OF the system Of
running to one by cable or electricity. NO one
suggested apparently ever imagined That an over
head wire sy stem would be introduced. The trolley
sy stem was comparatively unknown and was supposed
to be adapted only districts In which there were
few houses Upper Thirdave. Is lined by brick and
frame stores ard dwelling houses Of about the grade u
the lower West side avenues Of few years ago. me
application to the Board Of Electrical Control accord
ingIy the residents by surprise. The time given
them act short, ard the Board would not con-
sent 10 further adjournment The Mayor especially
seemed in great haste. and Commissioner Moss
from his couch and painfully made his way " the
Mayors Office TO help on immediate action.
The lawyers representing the opposing citizens had
secured scores Of signatures 10 statement that tie
slgners wished withdraw their consent 10 tho
change that they opposed 10 the trolley sys
tem and that they had beed led into giving their con
sent by representations that cable road 10 bs
built. They said that hundreds Of signatures ID
similar statements could he obtained If time were
allowed. They urged that opportunity be given to
discuss the matter further but the influences, whether
political otherwise, in behalf Of the railroad officials
were strong, and the permission Was hastily
granted.
The residents along the line Of the rcad NOE
entirely discouraged tner attempt prevent the
company from erecting poles and string.Dg wires for
in prOpelllng The action OF tie electrical
commissioners is defeat for the property owners but
many steps must be taken before Jne change from
the horse RAILROAD to the electric railroad system can
60 into effect. ~ each Of these steps the property
purpose attacking the change, and they hope
TO meet with iina success.
The means By which the consents Of the property
obtained commented upon in tho
discuss before the Board Of Eleo ical CONTROL bus
the lawyers engaged ia opposing adoption of the
syste thlnh that the Whole truth has not yet
been exposed. -icy believe that represcn atoms were
purposey and systematically made that the new means
Of ocomotlon TO be adopted the cable system.
mis- system would not nave been opposed, and would,
in fact, have been welcomed BY ali residents along
the Of the railroad Whether such repre- sents-
tons were always made by those who procured sigma
the consents not, IL Is certain that the
prevalent idea among residents OF the Twenty third
ana Twenty fourth Wards that either the cable
system electric storage ystem would be used
ne overhead w.Ic - stem not suggested 10 tho
sgners. Many of Inc signer, of the original
sents have formally stated IN writing that their
signatures we've oDtaned on misleading representa-
TONS.
system not only mat IL II ulislghy, but that IL
Is absolutely dangerous To property, II not to liie
say that the post, and wires are ornamental, but it,
advocates do contend that II Is not dangerous To fe
iney say Inat tue wires do not carry .nfncient
cnudn-cr life, even IL they come In contact
directly with the BODY Many incidents have. how
gers the by this system, and the only
answer to the many complaints OF accidents IS tas
familiar one of wellhnOwn steamship company W
any criticism Of the food service on their vessels
We'll, We never lost life. YOU know ILL.,, -, -,
IL practically conceded AT the meeting OF tho
Board of Electrical Control that there va, danger
lire if telegraph wires should fail on the unpro-
my extra guard wire over the connecting with
the car woula prooaoy be Of little value 70 protect
enough TO be of real service without expensive
and nnslghty addition to the structure.
Third ave. between fremont and tordham, has been
widencd recently and should not be Immediately dis
inquired by The erection of the unsghly poles neces.
through winch the road runs is soDdly built up for
consider able distance, and other portion, viii soon
be occupied by large stores and tenement houses. Tho
elevated railrOad passes over Third ave part OF tho
distance and the structure j. 50 low thai u VIII Dc DIM
cult to run the cars under IL while using the usual
trolley stand, on the ears. The wires Of fhe sys
TEN must certainly come IN dangerous proximity 70
Of the trolley system. the Mayor said thar IL wa
especially adapted to spar,ely settled districts Tho
lied region which will. in few year,. be exceedingly
populos 1t is emphaticay city a, t,,inshtsns
think should be allowed on the streets WHICH "ouid
not be permitted down town. .,,.,. ..,,. 4.
that Mayor Grant. in this instance made no eNot 70
obi ain for the city financial advantage from tne
change 10 a new system Of propelling the ears: lie
insisted upon liberal return % me cry belor, ns
granted permission to the Broadway Railroad 20 snops
The cable but he made no endesVor 70 suro
ANYTHING from the Annexed District road He mlght
have gained substantial benefits for the ety. a. VIA
the incwase of population the road VIII certainly %
highly profitable. go " -, ,, o,o... =.
7The seriousness with which the Mayor proposes .
clause in the permit that the wires might az some uns
be buried was only equaed by the READINGS, VIII
which the proposition was accepted IN aiusn"oy
condition of that kind did not dsmay the om'ials
the road who will be called on 70 decide As 70 tn7
fime when IL will necessary To take down tle WINS.
The next step be taken by the aggricveI rs,i-
dents has not vet been decided upon. \. 4. BUTTS,
Charles simpson and other lawyers are actively AZ
al work. strong opposition will be shown 70 mo
Granting of permit by the state RAILWAY ,Onlnls-
Ton Tar the change Of motive power. ana " ouler
means f,iI a ,uit may determine whether signatures
le-i -, .ro residents Along the llno