New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-16
CITY MUST RELIEVE ITSELF.
DECISION IN THE AMSTERDAN-A
RAILWAY CASE.
THE RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS REFUSE TO RE-
OPEN THE MATTER. BUT SUGGEST a WAY
OF coERclNG THE COMPANIES.

OPEN THE MATTER. BUT SUGGEST A WAY
OF coERclNG THE COMPANIES.
Albany. Oct 1.-THE Board Of Railroad Commits
eionors has denied the application OF the Commits
sioner OF Public Works Of New-YoTS CRY ana cl'-
teens living in and near Arnsterdam-ave Tor 4 re-
opening and rehearins Of the application OF 'he
Forty-sec ond Street MlnhatIanville ana ST. Memo
las Avenue Railway Company for approval OF
change Of motive power from horses 10 the uhcer-
ground system Of electricity. on August u TIE
Board granted the petition of this company ~
change It's motive power there being no oOJeO''o"
made At the public hearings on The matter el'heF
hv The municipality or ~ citizens Inc Me,.o-
routan Street Railway Company received Similar
nerr,ssion on Marcn s last. Each or the COM
nories has for about twelve years operated lis
scnara,e horsecar line comprising four tracks 0"
his avenue and under distinct charters
Tho Com missioner OF Public Works says that the
construction OF the underground condWts LOT
+basa two railway lines parallel and close To-
retber will offer srea, obstacles 10 the alterat ION
or renewing OF the six hfty-hch "a'oi mains
which underllc the surface OF the avenue '""' nc
believes great danger 10 the citys wafer supply
will result theretrom. and that me ope'A'io" u
FOUR tracks by electricity. with rapiay HoVlhS
rvs will irnTerN life and limb. The indiVd"ai Pc
t!tione $ reoeat all these allegations. so.
The METROPOLITAN Street Railway Con'paii'' uH"1
,ha nerrnlss.on of the Board and the autAorly OF
,he Commissioner OF Public NofHs' mas "N'
s.,c,ion The Commissioner Of PUNE No'h9'
,r b,s refused 20 grant a like permit 20 'Hs
-. ..,,det company which has proceeding
:, court 70 compel him TO give u t-"'
rr,e decision Of the Board. after eiaoofa'e9 se'''
forth the above facts, says - o,+a
=. nil ma sean that questions are .e.,-or
WIZ nd DC for decision: first has /; the RU POM
10 reopen the hearing W.. 80 80 g.s ennroval unless
cation tn~t crrdtions are accepted by the compa-
njos7 S. cond if it has sucn po% tSs 1rst ir the
e,,EssJi. the second falls Win me seor pre-
Hrst bnt y yLdW tas 81 Justified in discussing H.
fe'.pD ~ ,sr.ction OF the locality 1t appears 10
- 49, maintenance Of four tracks IN Ahs'e.
dar-o,e. Is burden on the thorousn ,,s w. he
., II were an original propos'''O', 49,. cow
tolerated. The avenue Is pIoaN :, rhers was
.-ocLs should never be laid upo" ~
-" a., tho rhvsical aspect when preciuueu
ho,h ines az horsocars using the same u"oNS' .0
poard be.ieyes that there is nothing !" SUI" '1
o,ion which would preclude tle use - 1
49, ,r,ck bv cars operated by undefsrouiu
oou"'o - e. - ha regretted that the local au-
$1,000 o,d the property-owners VINO cohseh'eo
"a e building OF the last set OF tracks lao oIN no
,,si.r that il q franchise were srah'eo 'oi 'ii'7
ror.ion az the street. the company "ppSi1s ~
such franchise should use the exist d bic
wou,d be in the public interest," anu E us matter
W.. - the TWO companies involved n TINS MAJ" M
should agree to use Du' On" seems 10 us. should
I'D individuals who in the forms or corpUate 81
arfz
aIs vaIua6le privileges which others 90 hot pT S
sess 10 conform matters OF thlS hl',ui 80
reasonable desire OF such citizens Inc ~is me- %.
tbs CITIZENS living along and upon ANS 80 "a SO
sre certainly known and when: as IN IN. us ND
tbev can he compiled with without uncue nc, of
I'm ~ either company II would seem tae pa 49, o
Generosity II not OF prudence 10 comply '"
with 1000. or. IN this matter
,or Section 100 OF the Railroad law limits US ~ 70
Consideration OF the kind OF motive low ,be
used and we have approved OF the b u1 racks Of
UrdarcrOlnd current of electricity ne % "a
both Companies far as the PROOF II, ''' ble 70
shows and so far the Board mas oeen d"' - az
ascertain are legally in AmsterGalsaVe, ~ yhe 81
are not the CORPORATION Counse! OF the SlH % %
Eew-York by action can compe ernee 90 DOT iheV
must be considered as legally therS II IS nov iTl
.bis BOARD but for the city of New'ioT 10 attacn
her right 20 be there. If the Boarc can reopen
an approval OF this character II may W. $50
liked When does the power Of the Board cease s
in mat direction? II It can reopen now II Can
90 nnn ~, any time even after the road Is IN ope[a
ION under Changed conditions lnoeed wee o o1
soplication granted. the Board coud, ~ s0'A'
In the event Of ultimate failure 10 op.an oth n
reIief the municipal authorities have II N nhes
,over 70 absolutely regulate the operation OF .nvse
w" lines OF railroad In a manner conducive 70 me
nublic welfare The speed of the cars can De 40. az
forsecar rate Of say four miles an nour ad ,b an
other features OF the opeTa'4O" i's''"'
the bounds OF safety