New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-02

COMMISSIONERS WANT PUBLIC DISCUS
SION OF 1T.
THE BRANCH IN LOWER BROADWAY NOT TO BI
BEGUN UNTIL THE OTHER BRANCHES
ARE IN OPERATION.

THE BRANCH IN LOWER BROADWAY NOT TO BE
BEGUN UNTIL THE OTHER BRANCHES
ARE IN OPERATION.
Members Of the Rapid Transit Commission said
yesterday that the plan for rapid transit
road, TO which the Commission gave Its tentative
approval on Thursday. simply the best plan
which they thought could be devised within the
prescribed limits. 1t is open to CRITICISM anu !he
Commissioners expect that many Newly orkers VIII
avail themselves Of the opportunity which is 10 DC
given to them make criticisms and suggestions
when the Commission holds public hearings. Inc
fuller and freer the public discussion OF the plan
is the better the Commissioners will be pleased
The statement which put forward on Thurs
day In the name of Mr.. Orr. the president OF the
Commission was drawn up after full discussion
and represented the views of all the members OF
the Commission the Commissioners said yester-
day. and they not willing 10 add to 1t ex-
pressions of their individual views. except to say
that their approval Of the plan was the result OF
failure to find any better plan. The scheme is Tor
an underground four-track railroad from the city
Hall Park through Elm-st. Fourthave. Forty
second-st, Broadway and the Boulevard 10 Ohe-
hundred-a nd fourth-st.. with three two-track
branches and a loop under the City Hall Park
The two branches extending from One-hundred-
and-fourth-st TO Kingsbridge on the West Side
and TO the Bronx Park on the East Side VIII he
partly underground and partly elevated roads. The
and Broadway to South Ferry will be underground
The Commissioners say that they have been
forced 10 adopt the underground plan. not because
underground roads are to be preferred TO elevate"
roads. but becau-e there is remaining route for
an elevated rapid transit road in the city Inc!
believe that by means of proper construction and
the use of electricity in running and lighting
trains the passengers riding In cars Of the under
ground road will have pure air at a uniform ten'-
peraturc and good light and will be comfortahle'
while they will have real rapid transit
The chief reason for laying out the route OF the
main line so TO leave that part of the city east
NJ Central Park without rapid transit facilities was
that II would cost much less money 10 buiid one
four-track road from Forty-secOnd-st~ TO one nun
dredand- fourth-st underground than 10 pu,,d ~
fwo-track branches of the same length. ana !he
Commission is limited by the decision or the Ap-
pellate Division of the Supreme court 10 4n eA-
Considered also. that the part of the city wes' OF
Central Park is most In need OF rapid Trans" ~ "
ciies Above One-hundred- and -fourth-st me
branches will afford facilities for rapld uahsI, o'
both sides OF the city. i, ,,.or
IL Is not probable that the branch IN lover
broadway will be built until the other branches
and the main line are IN operation; u, me-, o,re
sent While IL is the duty OF the RAPID lrahsis
Commission TO lay out a route from one enc 10, Oa
the city 10 the other IL does not loiiow ma, ,iro
route nj the same time. Several or the toinhis-
sioners are opposed to building the ROAD In Iower
Broadway on account or the eredt eApe,so w WI" NV
might be created by the claims for damages ID!
the owners Of high buildings IL IS behcveu 'lat ma,
- tho road from the City Hall Park north Is put
in operation the owners OF nuiiunss III , ,u n 60
give their consents for the building OF me pIahcil
10 South Ferry. otherwise the demand loi o'nv NJ.
Hail Park and less in the skyscrapers nearer the