New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-10
TOO MANY CAR TRACKS,
AMSTERDAM-AVE. PEOPLE ro'H
STREET RAILWAY CON-
PANIES' PLANS.

A pubic meeting VI PiopS'N' N'''''
holders storekeepers. and representatives OF d.
Luke's Hospital, Columbia University, the Home
for Aged Couples the West End presbyterian
Church, the Park Presbyterian Churca, the river
side Baptist Church and st. Michaars Episcopal
Church was held last night In the new PARISH
house Of ct. Mlchaels Church. NO 70 west Ninety
ninth-st to protest against the Metropolitan Irac
tIon COMPANY and the Forty-second-st. branch OF
the Third Avenue road laying four tracks FOR
electric lines In Amsterdam-ave, ana 10 TAKE 'ie
first step toward urging upon the authorities the
necessity OF compelling tho two companies 10 ru"
their cars the same track.
Ex-Assemblyman William b. Ellison was CHOSEN
permanent chairman or the meeting anu i'''e''
Hunter secretary.
Thomas A. Fulton OF St. Michaels Church. had
prepared blackboard sketch Of Amsterdam-ave'
showing the four-track road on which the horse
cars now run. Mr.. Fulton said that the avenue
was sixty feet wide from curb to curb. thirty-sX
feet being covered by the railroad companies ieaV-
Ing only twelve feet either side, including the
gutter, for general use
kilograms received from the Rev. d.
James a. Francis. of the Riverside Baptist Church'
who said two lines Of fast running cars on Am
sterdam-ave would be disastrous" apd wished
success TO the citizens In their effort TO suppress
the contemplated plan and also from r. Twyenort'
OF the West End Improvement Association, VINO
said: I'VE have got rid Of Dead Mans curve.
don't let have a childrens Jugsernaut IN Am
sterdam-ave." The Rev. Dr. John T. Peters. OF
St Michaers spoke In the interest OF the churches
and Sunday schools along the avenue He said
that the four tracks as they now exist were PAD
enough but when II came TO constructing cable
road with four tracks which there would ne
fast running at short Intervals. the menace
TO children who would be Obliged to cross the
tracks IN going to the Sunday and pubic schoois
would be great.
Charles s. Patterson Of No 26 West One-hun'
,od- a hist said that he hOOsenOlnet
would sneak in the interests OF the inmates OF the
Blind Asylum and also OF the Aged Coupies
Home He said that the increasing danger 10 these
persons by fast running cars on a four-track roau
would he beyond comprehension
John Mcdonald. OF the West End Assoclation'
said that the rights Of the people TO the occu-
nancy OF tho streets had never been definitely set
tied and he believed that II was high time that
this question was brought strongly before the
Legislature.
Louis Rosenfeld one OF the consus OF the League
OF American Wheelmen. said that as private
citizen he wanted TO protest against the touf-
track cable line. and he believed that there were
thousands of wheelmen who would indorse any
action taken by the meeting
Mr. Fulton said that the Police Department the
Fire Department. the Public Works Department
and the Street Cleaning Department were all In
sympat thy with the movement. and would give all
the aid possible toward accomplishing the desired
end.
The chairman OF the meeting advised each one
present to get up petitions TO circulate among their
friends protesting earnestly against the four-rack
able road. on motion. John A. Beall, John Nc
Donald and ". b. Livingston were appointed a
Committee on Resolutions. and they presented the
following which were unanimously adopted:
That II is the sense OF this meeting that we re-
gard with grave apprehension the prospects OF two
lines Ct rapidly running cars propelled by electric,
ny and occupying four tracks and more than m, haf
tho entire width OF the roadway AT Amsterdam
ave. that such use OF the avenue VIII be fraught
having occasion that avenue. especially In
view OF the number Of aged and inhrm persons IN
mates Of the several Institutions upon the avenue,
and the thousands Of children attending the public
Resolved. That II is the sense OF this meeting
that the city government should and docs possess
so as TO limit the space which shall be occupied by
railroads and railroad tracks ana W" request the
s~ri this right the u,termost in the defence OF
the rights and comforts Of the people 10 nro,r,.o
which shall represent the various Interests in the
70 take such steps as they may deem necessary to
test the right Of the railroad companies to occupy
DO. and wha; relief II any, can be obtained either
10y the taxpayers or the abutting property-owners.
Resolved Tina, a committee OF Ave be appointed
by tle Chair TO wait upon the Metropolitan street
Hallway Company and request In the name OF the
Yves, Side residents and property Owners that an
EFFORT be made 10 arrange With With the Third Avenue
only Amsterdam-ave.
The General Committee who called the meeting
the Rev. u. John =. Peters. chairman: Fred
l.. Beattys. IIiand Flowers Thomas A. Fulton.
John A. B-all. q. II. Baker. librarian OF Columbia
University. John Mcdonald. OF the West End I'm
provement Association: Charles S. Paueson. r. G..
Hunter. s. J. Luckngs Frank r. Wise. OF Good
Government club Il. John G. Coleman OF the West
End Protective League. and n. +. Livingston, n
trustee OF the Church OF the Sacred Name. This
committee Will be increased TO forty AZ
The consent OF that number OF persons can be Sc
cured 10 their names. and from that number
the two committees referred TO in the resolutions
WI. be selected
Letters were received from Richard Deeves and
other business men. and also from
Commissions Mack. OF the Board OF Educa ton.
who said that the committee would have the sup
port OF the Board OF Education. and that the Board
would make solemn protest against exposing pub
lie school children to this peril.
Mr.. Fulton said that ne had seen Chief Bonner
OF the Fire Department. and that the latter had
assured him that II resolutions were passed at the
meeting he Chief Bonner) would lay copy OF
them before the Fire Commissioners al once. and
ask their influence against the four-track nuisance
from nreman's standpoint Mr., Fulton also
ST ted that he had been informed that the boarding
and livery stable keepers along the avenue would
organize In q day two and unite their efforts
with those OF the committee
=. j. Luckngs yesterday saw Mayor Strong and
FIRE Commissioner Sheffield and they expressed
their agreement with the meetings object.