New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-07

RAPID TRANSIT COMMISSIONERS CALI
FOR NEW sPECrFICATIONs
COMMISSIONER sTARrS SPEAKS ~ OPPOSITION m
THE PLANS LAST SUBMITTED BY
THE CHIEF FxcISEpR

THE PLANS LAST SUBMITTED BY
THE CHIEF ENGINEER
The Rapid Transit Commission met IN N.
Home Life Insurance Building yesterday A.
ternoon. and decided to reject the Could sas.
plan for extending the elevated system becaus.
It could not be complied with. the commisso,
having no power to authorize the Gould synd.
cate TO build a surface road. as was proposed
in their plans for extensions. The Commission.
session was an executive one. 90 that what dis.
cussion was had on the Could proposition could
not be learned.
After the meeting Secretary Delafeld declined
10 say what the tenor Of the letter TO be sent
TO the Gould-s Sage people would be lie sad
II would be prepared next week. and would he is
sued probably from the Office Of r. VI Shepard
the counsel Of the Commission.
After discussing the Gould proposition al
length 1t was decided TO reject It az It stood ard
the following resolution was adopted
Resolved That a communication be .oN
warded by the president Of this Board 10 the
Manhattan Railway Company in conformity with
the discussion had by this Board to-day the
form to be first approved by al the Commits
soners present at this meeting
MR. sTARIN's OPPOSITION
The question then was TAKEN up az ~ tnla
Engineer Parsons's plan as submitted a, the last
meeting and John II. Starin made long state
ment in opposition to IT. Mr.. starn said that
ne was opposed 70 the Em-st route. as proposed
BY Mr.. Parsons. because. in the first place. the
street was worthless for such a purpose. Sec
ond. because II ignored the great commercial
centre OF the city below the CITY Hall which
furnishes 40 per cent of the up traffic Of both
ted third because 4
ignored the shopping district. and would really
furnish only three miles OF rapid transit, To
consider the proposed route would only lie
thrashing old straw. he said. because. from an
engineering point OF view. the street was the
worst that could be selected.
Mr. Starn said that he was still Of the opinion
that the underground road under Broadway
should be proceeded with. and that the legal
questions arising could be considered as they
came up. He objected strongly u the inter-
minable delay. and he thought that In securing
the consents OF property-owners the former
Commission had laid the foundation Tor real
rapid transit through Broadway. Mr. starin
argued that the Commission was only the Great
ure OF the Legislature and as such u snoua
formulate a plan at once and proceed via
It as the Legislature directed. Opposition should
not paralyze the Commission, as the question
was one OF the commercial life or death OF vast
portions Of the city and the sooner the battle
was made hot with energetic efforts the sooner
would victory come Before asking for fur
Their instructions Mr.. starin thought the Com
mission should know what laws It already had
NEW PLAN PROPOSED.
Then a new proposition was brought before
the Commission. and 1t met with the approval OF
Commissioners Orr Clafln and steinway AFTER
the whole matter had been discussed the foi-
lowing resolutions were offered:
Resolved, That the Chief Engineer be ana ns 20
hereby U.s. directed to submit 10 this Boarl az , a.
early'a date as possible routes ana me- follow
First~Totai cost after abundant allowance FOR
contingencies. not TO exceed $oooD"o thor,
second-Route To proceed from the southern a
City Hall Park and Park Row 10 Er,-st an. ana
Fourth-av to or near tho Grand Central statoh.
q nn The side route to proceed under Forty
second-st. to Broadway and the Boueyari 70 %,s
east side route to proceed under farkave and over
private property . the Harlem River and aer9 s,
as the proposed limit OF cost Will permit 49,
ThTdThe railroad to have fosT Fa roS,es 20 an;
above that point two tracks on each route except
that third track for xpss ana eco
Fourth-The road to he in tunnel except on the
west side at Manhattan Valley. ore hundred-and-
twenty -hfth-st. . .,
PHILIPPIANS TO be so drawn a. 10 permit further
extensions in the future from the south and norm
termini and permitting the two and three track
portions TO be widened into n four-track system
without unnecessary expense or interruption OF
traffic.
Resolved further. That tho Chief Engineer re
authorized to call upon counsel Of the Commission
for such advice he may deem necessary IN NO
prosecution Of the work hereby directed
Both counsel and engineer by resolution were
then authorized TO serve the Commission az
compensation to he later determined.
Jesse w. Reno submitted his plans again 10
the Board and they were ordered filed.
Mrs Fay Pierce wrote a letter 70 the Com
mission. advising that no plan be authorized
that would in any way change the aspect %
the Poe cottage To be placed In Poets farA
1t filed.
Counsel reported the decision Of the Appel
late Division Of the Supreme Court declaring
the constitutionality of the act creating the
Commission -
The Commission then adjourned 20 meet the
f. st Thursday In September.