New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-24
HE METROPOLITAN'S SCHElfE
CHARGED WITH GOING AHEAD WITH WORK
WITHOUT NECESSARY permits

Mayor Strong received a letter Yesterday from
John +. White. OF No Cedar-st. in which an a.
tempt apparently. on the part OF the METROPOLITAN
Street Railway Company to steal march on the city
and change its motive power on a small stretch of
Coiumbus-ave. Is disclosed The letter is as follows:
As resident of the Greater Nev-Yorlx beg to
call your attention TO matters OF especial public
interest. Botn or these matters relate to the fla
Grant aouse OF authority by the Metropolitan Street
Railway company and action by /, in violation both
OF ne charter Of the city and express violation
IirstmJPon Corinbus-ave.. between Fifty-nnth
ana sXty-ifih SITS the Metropolitan Street Railway
which shall be operated both by cable and an un-
GeIgfound electric system. This will Involve the
.ppnuIIits one TO carry the cable and TO carry
The Metropolitan company. or Ninth Avenue
company, OF when II t. the lessee has a charter
Tor the use Of cable only. consequently the substi-
rying both the underground electrical system and
Go Ga1ie VII TO the extent that the structure is
entirely illegal.
The company admits that it has not obtained
particular from the Railroad Commission or author
OF Public Works. The attention Of the Comms-
sioner OF Public Works was yesterday called TO
section Of the Corporation Ordinances provides that
the removal OF the pavement OF the streets without
punishable with a fine Of sloOo for each offence The
lt3i section makes it the duty Of the Commissioner
Of pavement made without his authority.
company to 1so tw6 knSs Of 81 moTe Dover IN he
operation of the same tracks also bears upon tho
AmsteTiam-ave. situation. in which am sure that
Your Honor Is interested. Upon Amsterd1m-ave.
the METROPOLITAN company takes the position that
1t is physically and practically Impossible for tho
OF motive power. This Is the very thing which 1t
5T 9w G2E upon n e. %Ho any @o
the Penar Code and the ordinances which mako 1t
Thri-Upon Broome-st. between the rowGry and
A SITS NJ. Nc fqn < d.
in licu ~ the single traciq which for moro than
forty years have been used in these streets.
The company Is changing its motive power and
laying an additional track. The permission of the
and the permit OF the DEPARTMENT Of Public Works
gives Il authority for single track lony. Both the
company and tho Commissioner Of public Works
Things hut the work still progresses notwithstand
ing the want Of power IN the company ana inc DUTY
ises. The attention OF tho city authorities is now
called 20 this matter, and immediate action IN the
premises, II IL hoped. Will he taken
Mayor Strong asked what no had TO say
about the letter Il don't caro- to say anything
now" he answered 1T seems 10 mo that 1t Is a
matter for Commissioner Coils TO answer"
II was learned that the Commissioner had got the
communication from Mr. White in his yesterdays
mail. and had at once ordered Investigation.
The reporter was told in the Department that the
statements made by Mr. White were true. and that.
although the Metropolitan company got a permit to
tear up the boulevard no permit had been given
anywhere in Colunbus-avc. The six blocks In ques-
ton are between the intersection ot Coiumous-ave
with the Boulevard and the crossing OF the com
pany's tracks in Fifty-nnth-st There VIII be cleo
trcity on both these tracks. and the company evil
IDENTIFY wants a short connection for some purpose
Commissioner Coils. when seen about tho matter,
said that lie had called or the Mciropohtan com
pany for an explanation. and ordered any changing
OF conduits stopped at once. lie said, however,
that he had issued a permit 20 the MetropoHi m
company TO repair is tracks In the part OF the line
involved II had taken advantage OF this permit 10
change the condu!ts. . -
As 70 the Rroome-st. tracks. where Mr. White
complained that the company Is putting IN Two
tracks with n permit for only one. Commissioner
Coils said that he stopped that work several days
ago when his attention called TO II.