The evening world., 1894-04-14
GOOD DEAL OF BUNCO.
Legislature Imposed On in the
Fifth Avenue Road Case.
Property Owners Will Not Consent
to the Proposition.
Here Is q Canvass Made by "The
Evening World.

/ 1t appears from investigation made by
THE Evening World" that the attempt
now being made to obtain franchise
for a street railroad in lower Firth
avenue is a good deal OF n bInco The
Metropolitan Street Railway Company.
better known as the Broadway Tr2. stIon,
Syndicate. In whose interest the bilNNN
n railroad on Fifth avenue was intro
duced in the Legislature by Assembly
man Roche. has Informed the public and
| the Legislature that the necessary con-
sents OF the property-owners to permit
/ the construction Of the road could be
obtained. This does not appear to be
the case.
The Fifth Avenue Railroad Company,
which was organized for the purpose Of
keeping a railroad OFF Fifth avenue. has
the consents OF the ma jorlty OF property
owners for road. This paradoxical
situation was explained by Nice-Presi-
dent Loew. OF the Fifth Avenue Com
pany, yesterday.
The Company Is composed OF Fifth
avenue property-owners who are In favor
OF the preservation OF the thoroughfar
as u parkway. They learned that an ef-
fort was being made to put a railroad
on the avenue. so they organized the
Fifth Avenue Railroad Company with
the object OF heading off any corporation
from obtaining a franchise.
1t was the understanding. however
that IL q railroad was to be built on
Fifth avenue It should be under the
control OF the proprety-owners, and as
an evidence Of good faith for the keep
Ing OF the compact. the consents to
such a railroad were signed.
This Is copy of the legal document
the property-onwers signed in 1891:
We, the undersigned. owners of property as
hereinafter designated, bounded on that portion
OF the streets or highways uron which II is
proposed to construct and operate the railroad
hereinafter mentioned, do severally consent that
! the Fifth Avenue Railway Company, incorporated
Sept S. 1885. may construct, maintain operate
use and extend street railway on the surface
OF the soil for public use in the conveyance
OF persons In for compensation IN The city ird
county OF New York. In. through y nld along
from and to the places hereinafter Tcn'!oned.
Commencing at the intersection of Fourteenth
street and Fifth avenue and running thence
northerly with double tracks, in. through and
along Fifth avenue in continuous line to or
switches sidinES turnouts ald turn-'aHies Fnd
suitable stands as may be necessary for the con-
Since the above was signed. Vice
President Loew says his Company has
obtained the consents OF the Fifth ave-
nue property-owners as far north as
Fifty-ninth street and south to Wash
inston Square and on South Fifth ave-
nue..
When Mr.. Crimmins made the asser-
ton that the Broadway Company could
obtain the consents he must have been
misinformed by his agents. for the prop
erty-owners are az unalterably opposed
to a railroad on Fifth avenue as they
were In 1891, as is shown by the result OF
a canvass made by THE Evening
World on the east side OF Fifth avenue
alone from Washington Square to Twen.
ty-third street. the part of Fifth avenue
for which railroad franchise Is asked.
1t is believed that Mr.. Crimmins relies
greatly on the. friendship OF Richard
Croker to put his bill through the Legis.
lature, The Traction, Syndicate has re-
ceived many valuable favors through
crokers Legislatures and his Boards OF
Aldermen. The knowledge OF this prob
, other day that Croker is paid large sums
: OF money by the Traction Syndicate
Mr.. Crimmins may get his franchise, bu
not the consents.
, beginning with William Butler Dun
, cans house. ! Fifth avenue. and ending
with 1s7 Fifth avenue, which belongs tt
building at the junction OF Fifth avenue
and broadway. at Twenty-third street
there m only ore property-owner who
Is In favor Of a street-car line. and onl!
one other who has expressed his indif
ference to II. All the others seem to b,
, more or less bitterly opposed to thu
proposition.
Mr.. Crimmins, of the Traction Com
pany, said that he had sent out c!rcu
lars to all owners, Canvassers to most o
them and been personally to see many
r he derived his knowledge that a majorit!
were In favor Of his road. Only one o
all tfose seen by "The Evening World
ecii recceivei a Circular, or having been ,' ap su
D preached by a canvasser. or having bee
) visited by Mr.. Crimmins in relation to
sign what most Of them thought was
petition or memorial to the Legislature
asking for rapid transit on Fifth avenue
Even II the lessoes had signed consent
they woull be valuecss. Only the own
er, can dispose OF his property rights,
About % per cent. of the lessecs woul
not object to a street car line on tn
avenue, but as has been stated. the
have no voice in the matter. The othe
u per cent. are as strongly opposed /
The proposition as are the owners @
Following is the result OF The Even
ing WOrli' house-to house canvass:
/ Fifth avenue. W liam Butler Dunca
is most decidedly opposed to stree
car line.
8 Fifth avenue, A. E. Bateman--Nc
81 home when The Evening World" re
porter called; but is known to be n
opponent to the railroad.
s Frth avenue, owned by Mrs. CHECKER
ing, VINO lives in 'he Everett llous
Fourth avenue ana Seventeenth stree
and was not seen by the rcporte
Her husband was member OF the A.
soc.ation for the preservation OF FIT
avenue and against the railroad.
: FIFTH avenue, Miss Dana, lessee-Sh
s opposed to the cars. She thought ht
landlord would also oppose them.
3, II, lS, Ii AMI II Fifth avenue. II
RrevoOrt II H.use-DWncr not ascertainct
lessee Octavlus Il. Llbbey favors tF
cars
10 Fifth avenue, Dr. Elwnri l., Par
ridgc-lias not Eiv"n sufficient though
: 10 the subject 70 decide, but believes tni
cars on Fifth avenue would not be SCI
s,nable just yet. Nobody has asked Il
= ia consent.
q Fifth avenIe-Mrs. JOSIAH c, Wate
ha ~ hppn sl<gl for M