New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-16

WHY HE FAvORS THE ELM-ST. ROUTE IN
PREFERENCE TO THE BROADWAY

The Rapid Transit Inquiry Commissioners met
again yesterday morning az No. 2oo Broadway' luz
first witness was Edward j. Rice, who was recalled
He IS the statstician of the Elevated Railroad lie
said that in the month OF January 1885, there were
S73 100 passengers carried daily on the Third ana
Sixth ave lines. The number OF trains operated
daily between the hours Of and p m was lo-'
with maximum seating capacity or JOAN MI
Rice said that the trains could accommodate S'o0@
passengers with seats any day In the year.
The next witness was ex-Mayor Abram 5. Hewitt.
He was examined as to his Views for underground
randi transit based upon his Investigations as
member of the Board OF Experts who Investigated
tho subject He said that he favored the Elm-st
rou,o instead of Broadway. and gave as one or MS
reasons the fact that the building OF the road
under broadway would require the tearing up OF the
street TO such an seriously 10 injure pus'
ness in that street
.,rhe reason why | favored and still favor the
F,m-st route" said Mr.. Hewitt. sis because that
street will haye to be reconstructed and widened
ord there will be no necessity for having recourse
70 UNDERMINING and the snoring of buildings which
will involve extra cost. broadway Is only NV Iee'
from Eln-st and | still believe that the building
of the road along Broadway would cost far in ex-
cess of $50,0o00O.
..While I was Mayor remember Broadway was
ro,aved and owing TO the decadence in business
during ths progress Of the work OF repairing. re-
garded II as an intolerab.e nuisance III the route Is
constructed along Broadway business Will be en-
,ireIy obstruced and il will take some time TO re-
cover.
The question of underplnning buildings along
broadway Is one OF great importance. and involves
cost of which no engineer in my opinion, no matter
how grea, his professional capabilities may be, Is
capable of giving estimate
The width of a four-track road along broadway
ia and must be more expensive ana danserous 10
| buildings than similar road along Ernst
MIR. Hewitt then said that the cost OF building the
/ al alan
quantity This was shown by the fact that the
| Legislature was asked for 100000 to cover con-
'sMr. sooy-smith I believe" continued Mr..
| Hewitt has testified that no serious danger to
| strrction of the road" Mr.. Hewitt here paused
for a moment. and then said. with smile: II my
gineers to say that any opinion could be accepted
as reliable. The Board OF Experts did not give Il
a bs S con sprnG ' for Il Is an error to be-
ieve that the road can be built for $4,000 900 The
to a certain extent. but have not lndorsed the
proposition that it could be butt for S0ooo,ooo The
ssp pepiHiI NOW "Swq as a lawyer
Chairman Coudert here said: but you are
"0h, it is so long ago since learned law that
have forgotten all about it, replied Mr.. Hewitt
necessary that New-York should have rapid transit
The most OF the difficulty however STnh Sy
exist during the next five years during we con- on
struction OF this road would be met by an arrahse
| ment between the Rapld -
Manhattan Elevated Company for additional Iacns ~
and express trains To-day the most im mp cpn
consideration for New-York City Is not tne eYE,,,
struction OF the road but 1t is that the ex;s'ns
elevated structures should be strengt nsneu, o ~
creased and put in a condition to move the peopt,1
up and downtown rapid transit rae VI Rba W.
When say this want It understood ina aha re
no axes TO grind and do not ho.d sihs,e ,, s
in the elevated or the NewYork CentIai asa ,d cot
say however. that the elevated roa1 ,rn nanorfa
every facility to increase its means 0' ''""''' -
ton" 81, o,,r,on again that
Mr. Hewitt then expressed ms opniT1"h he s,,cent
~ ' meet the requirements Of an underground rapid
/ transit. . -. - 500. afraid that n the
road was built aong Broadway hs sssv
| ~ GOT n bidder for the Elm-st route Mr. Hewltt
paid high tribute to the engineering aI Sa , EI
nsss-stand the ex-Mayor spoke At length on the