New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-18
TOPROTECTTHE CATHEDRAL
BISHOP POTTER AND Mr.. MILLER PROTEST.
THEY URGE THE RAPID TRANSIT COMMISSION
LIS NOT 70 HAVE ELEVATED

LIS NOT 70 HAVE ELEVATED
TRACKS THERE.
Bishop Potter and George Macculloch Miller sent
forcible protests Yesterday TO the Rapid Transit Com
mission against the Of rentve.. In 'front.' OF the
proposed new Cathedral aud the buildings Of st. Luke
Hospital Columbia ollege. The letters were received
and read at the meeting OF the commission held In the
afternoon at No. 80 W!lliam-st for the purpose OF
again hearing representatives, Of the Manhattan Com
pany and city officials the subject Of the amount
Of compensation I" be- paid TO the CITY for the
privileges offered the Manhattan Company on Satur-
day. Mr.. S,cnway announced on Thursday that lie
favored Mr.. spencer's plan proposed at the meeting
OIL Saturday with the exception OF that part OF the
plan which provided for exclusion Of the elevated
road through the upper Boulevard Mr.. stelnway said
on Thursday that h. was opposed TO running an
elevated through The boulevard. lie favored an
extension through Tcnth+ve. instead OF through the
Boulevard. II Mr. Stenway's proposition that
brought forth the protest from Bishop Potter
and Mr.. Miller. who il II member OF the boards OF
trustees OF the Cathedral and the Hospital. Mr..
Mer's letter was as follows:
Noticing from the morning papers Mr.. Stenway's
approval Of Mr.. Spencers resolution. provided the
tension through ehundred- and nthst. the Boule
ward, TO Diaeonalave.. and thence Tenthayc.. be
changed the road directly through Tenth
from OnchundI ed nnthst and that the latter
route VIII take IL in front OF the Cathedral about to be
built upon Tenth-3Vc.. between Onehundredandenh ana
Onehundred SIS, being much interested
In this Institution well in the new St. Luke's
Hospital the block next above the Cathedral re-
spectfuy that the railroad should not be carried
through Tenh-ave front and the detriment of these
institutions or 10 Interference with the locating Of
institutions OF kindred character in that n"ghborhood
fully appreciate the selfish and personal instinct
which who thinks the railroad would njnrc
his property upon you that IL be placed opposite
his neghbors rather than his land. but in tho
present instance far the Cathedral is concerned
think moy speak for citizens generally in
asking possible it he spared from what would so
greatly its architectural effect.
The for Cathedrs, extending from Onc.hundred
and-tenth 10 Onc.hunlrcd-and thirteenth ST. between
Mornngsdc and Tenth selected IN part because
OF seeming be position where this monumental
structure ard rander proportions than any
other likely be built for long time would stand In I'M
view adornncnt all the upper part OF
city and placed the axis OF Onc-hundred-
and.twefh-st order that view might be had OF IL
through the length from the west which of
course be impossible the railroad ran along It's
front ct Tenth-ave.
The use Cathedral would also be less IN.
teriercd by the noise Of the railroad This holds
good also with almost similar effect respecting the hospital
although it interference with the quiet Of the hos
pta of IL which most to be dopre'
coted.
For the above take the liberty OF sending You
this hurreiy written personal communication under
standing thai you are this afternoon and there
not therefore. being opportunity for conference Win I'D!
associates Boards q Trustees OF the Cathedra OF
hospital and Of obtaining more ornai
them upon the subject With great respect rcs"'
gentlemen yours very truly.
GEORGE MACCULLOCH MILLER
Bishop Potter's letter, which was addressed 70 'ir'
Stelnway. was follows:
change suggested. learn. as to the route
Of the elevated railroad which would take 1t from one
and ninth.st north through Amstcrdamave AS
To the disadvantages this from the point OF WOW
Of civil engineer does become me. as laymoh 70
speak. But hope 1 may venture as citizen oil New"
York to its best interests arc very dear 70 point
out that such would practically destroy what Is
intended TO be- in fact though not in name ono OF 'e
most picturesque parks in America IT the purpose Of
the institutions. whose ground viii &c paet any cu'
In by the plan. 20 throw these GROUNDS open !" e
public and them attractive a art ana arch
tecture can ACCOMPLISH maintaining them OF course at
their own charges venture 10 submit That IL wouo De
crave misuse OF opportunity TO obtrudc In such
park which can serve the use OF inc puohc
equally well IL placed block 10 the westward.
The meeting OF the Commission open TO the
pullc and was called 10 order orty after O'Clock
ly Mr.. Stahn. who presided. Mr.. Steinway. who Is
still confined his house. was the only commissioner
absent. Julien T. Davies was present to represent
the interests of the Manhattan Elevated Railway.
Controller Myers was not there. A subordinate from
the Controllers Office present, but he did not
speak MIR Davies asked II he wanted 70 saw
anything In addition 10 what he had said 10 the Com
mission at the public meeting on Wednesday lie
replied in part a. follows. taking up and answering
the points made by CO9troHer myers III ms 0oH-
munIcaton 10 the Commission Wednesday:
sAl that has been suggested By the city has been
OF the most vague character. apprehend that the
Controller would have indicated the methods he
did unless he held that the privileges granted to the
Manhattan road valuable ones. ! am not here
to combat the proposition laid down BY the Controller
that The principle OF adequate payment Tor cor
porate franchises 10 the community creating their
value has now fortunately become fixed rule OF
legislative action and municipal government The
whole question is, What Is adequate compensation
for privileges and what their valuel' These So
called privileges are mere privileges 10
GO on and spend money. Until We
have spent 10000 900 these franchises be Of no
value to anybody The fatal objection to the
three methods of fixing the compensation suggested
by the Controller is the tax on gross earnings. Our
gross earnings be no criterion OF the value OF the
franchise, 1t costs the Manhattan Road $500
cents to carry each before one cent cen be
pad TO our stockholders. Five per cent tax on our
gross earnings would involve tax OF 10 or 20 per
cent upon all amounts applicable to the payment OF
dividends. Such tax as this would fall With Ter,
rible weight on the Manhattan Company. Now the
90 per cent tax money applicable to toe payment
Of dividends Is pretty serious ,, Ne
Davies said that they were impractcable ana ao1eo
"I the proposition were that me Mnnate" n1 th
growth OF the city, then the question wonld De an
appropriate to consider. Eut the prly ,,g =
new ana additional lines upon which We can carry
more passengers the net income OF the ROAD is moi
going TO be increased"
Controller Myers will again be heard at the meet
Ing OF the Commission Tuesday, when MI Dawes
will probably reply to him. ,
several letters protesting against the extension
through One-hundred and twenty ninth,st We're READ
Mr. Bushe read the following resolution, which wac
unanimously adopted:
The resolution adopted this board at its meeting held
March H. 1898, which provided for extension of the
Manhattan Railway with Two tracks through one'hundfed
-ninthst from Third TO Eighth'avc, being
deemed Instantaneous by said railway company and OBJ
ctonabe TO property upon the line OF such pro-
posed extension, ,
Resolved That this board the said proposed
extension with view determining desirable substitute
therefor.