New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-28
OPPOSED TO GRANTING THE FRANCHISE

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: \, the meeting OF the Board OF Aldermen
tomorrow | understand that final action will be
taken as 10 the granting OF the franchise for sur
face railroad the Kingsbridge Road and other
streets and avenues In the upper part OF Manhattan
Island
AT "A meeting recently held. the Railroad Commit
tee OF the Board OF Aldermen. by vote OF 8 10 ?.
reported In favor of granting the franchise TO the
Third Avenue Railroad Company This majority,
with one exception was composed entirely OF East
Side men, and IL would seem that IT was their mani
fst intention to look FOR what they considered
the interest Of their constituents at the expense
~ the rest OF the city. and especially at the eN-
pense OF the district Immediately affected They
said I'm their report that lat the various public
hearings. the preponierance OF sentiment In favor
OF the Metropolitan Traction Company was more
than noteworthy and seemed TO call for affirma-
tive action favorable the said company"
II calls In no uncertain tone for afiirma-
tive action favorable TO that company now, and
tho balance OF their report does not furnish.
nor is Il possible that II could furnish single
legitimate reason why such affirmative action was
not taken The other general statement. or rather.
rnisstatement-'we feel that II would be for the
greatest good to the largest number TO give
the grant 10 the Third Avenue Railroad Com
pany"- Will not deceive any one Il IT possible that
its authors believe It? Tho Third Avenue Railroad
Companv operates fourteen miles OF railroad In this
'.
eghty-one miles. Is it possible that the patrons OF
A surface road I'm New-York city operating four
teen miles of road outnumber the patrons OF
railroad which operates eighty-One miles? The
Third Avenue Railroad Company already furnishes
IFS East Side patrons with means OF transportation
To the West Side north OF One hundred and twenty
ATHEIST by It's lines in One-hundred and twenty
urth-st and Amsterdam-ave. Is II then FOR III.
greatest good the greatest number that the
Third Avenue road should have two lines OF road
running north OF one hundred and twenty
on the West Side. and that the Metropolitan Trac-
ton Company should have none?
And what about the statement 1T does not
s.nm lust 10 the people OF the city at large to
slider The wishes Of those directly Interested In the
growth OF the locality In and through which the
new line of city surface railroad is TO traverse?
II strikes me that this idea OF Justice must have
been manufactured expressly for the occasion. and
that "the people OF the city at large" will con-
slider that the opinions OF the property -owners and
residents along the line OF the proposed extensions
are entitled to far more proper regard than has
been accorded them by this committee
The reasons for giving this franchise 10 the Metro
nollfan Traction Company are too numerous TO
hermit OF and too manifest 10 require any emu
fneratlon In this brief communication.
In exclamation of their action. the arguments. or
rather the excuses, set forth by the majority OF
his railroad committee furnish reasons why
his grant should be made TO the corporation whose
~ he expressed wishes OF almost every reputable
resiient OF the upper part OF Manhattan Island.
%ew York May a. 1885,. ROBERT r. PERKINS.
Young Married People