New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-25
IN TONS OF ROSES.
WY YEARS. SUCCESS.
C0lgate's
Soaps and Perfumes:
FOR THE UNDERGROUND ROAD.
E. NJ SHEPARD SUMS UP ON BEHALF OF
THE RAPID TRANSIT BOARD.

REPLY TO THE OBJECTIONS OF PROTESTING
PROPERTY OWNERS - YESTERDAYS SESSION
OF THE SUPREME COURT COMMISSIONERS.
The Supreme Court Commissioners appointed 70
take evidence to determine whether or not an UNDER
ground railroad should be constructed In accord
ance with the plans Of the Rapid Transit Board.
met again yesterday at No. 256 Broadway. Frederic
r. Coudert chairman, and Commissioners George
Sherman and w. H. Gelshenen were present Pres-
ident Alexander F.. Orr and Seth Low. Of the Rapid
Transit Board also in attendance.
Chief Engineer William Barclay Parsons was re-
called. and a few questions put to him by E.
NJ Shepard, of Counsel for the Rapid Transit Board.
He testified that the building In City Hall Place
which cracked while an excavation was being made
for an adjoining building only three feet five
inches from the line OF excavation, and not seven
feet, as has been testified before the Commission.
Then Mr.. Shepard began to sum up on behalf OF
the Rapid Transit Board. He said 1t not dis-
puted that additional rapid-transt facilities were re-
quired in NewYork and that these facilities should
at least be equal to those proposed by the Rapid
Transit Board. IT, however" said he. ut appears
from the evidence advanced by the protesting prop
erty-owners that the injuries which would result
to property would be great TO overcome the
benefits which would flow from the construction OF
the railroad then unquestionably II Will be the duty
OF this Commission report in the negative as re-
CARDS the proposed railroad. The question for this
Commission TO cOreider, ana tne only one III ivy
opinion, Is whether the objections of the abuttng
property-owners so serious and so completely
established as to outweigh all the benefits to the
public from the proposed road
Mr.. Shepard then began TO attack the ooJec'ions
that had been offered by the opponents OF the under
ground road. He called attention 10 the wohderiui
growth that had taken place in the city or New
York and said II was only fair TO assume that this
growth would be as great in the future as 1t had
been In the past.
There will be also an enormous increase IN pusi-
ness within the next ten years and there must De
enormous profit TO the city from Improved rapid
transit facilities" continued Mr.. Shepard. He went
on TO say that the who owned the valuable
property between Fourteenth-st and Bowling Green
were always opposed TO rapid transit. The elevated
roads were built however. NO doubt, ne said'
1.-The elevated railroads have served great purpose.
but venture say that If there were no elevated
railroads at present In New-York, no one WOULD
have the audacity now 70 ADVISE an ee'd'eu sS'se'
for this city.
Mr. Shepard said that the citizens Of New-York
City by their votes in the election Of 1894, showed
that they were In favor of municipal construction
of rapid transit railroad. Three out OF every
four citzens" said he, voted in favor of municipal
construction and those who SO voted did SO IN SUD-
In ss Gr of an Of tse cost OF the
road and said: ~ respectfully submit that the Com
ON the other side say that the cost the road is
restricted 70 SO0oO.00 There is no such provision
that the amount Of bonds to be issued shall not
without tho consent Of the LEGISLATURE eXcee1 the
sum OF s5oOO0OCO That is TO say, when the Rapid
Transit Commission comes to build the ROAD, II
shall not involve the city in greater DEBT 'nan
so COO 0O0."
At this point Mr.. Coudert interposed, and asked
| Suppose that II would cost E5,c0VO TO build the
| road. what do you think would be our duty them
| II think" replied Mr.. Shepard, that your duty
would be to report in favor Of the construction OF
| the road" . -,.- r,
| De Witt representing protesting property-owners
along Broadway read number Of statutory enact
| ments and ordinances passed In 1917 and lslI gov.
erning the construction Of vaults. Mr.. DE witt
sad that the city had derived considerable revenue
from these vaults, and any invasion OF them now
would be injurious to the owners some OF tne
vaults were built at great expense ana the speaker
cited the case of the vault under the Imperial HOTEL
which cost $1,000. ., %, ,n.so
At this point adjournment was taken until lV'W
o'clock this morning.