The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
STREET CAR LINE TREATY.
TRACTION AND THIRD AVENUE
AGREE TO STOP GOING TO Law.

They VIII Settle Their Dtnerences Anaicabiy.
0rns Each Others Routes Ne Wore, asa
Cross Each Others Tracks Al Lis. -Aunster-
dam Avenues Four Tracks TO stay There.
A number OF conferences which have been
held recently between William c. Whitney and
the officers OF the Third Avenue Railroad Com
pany have led TO tho assertion that there was q
consolidation Of interests to take place between
the Metropolitan and Third avenue systems.
This ia not true, but 1t 10 true that the companies
havo buried the hatchet, and will stop suing
and nnjoining each other. Edward Lauterbach
said yesterday that tho conferees had been, on
various occasions, President vreeland and
Messrs. whitney. Ryan. Root. and Crimmins
for the Metropolitan Street Railway, and Presi-
dent Elias and Messrs. Hart, Page, and Lauter.
bach for the Third Avenue Railroad. The OBJ
ject has been to reach an agreement by which
the two companies will avoid in future any
moro of the expensive litigation they have been
enjoying. This object, Mr.. Lauterbach said.
had boon practically attained, though somo for
malities may yet have to be gone through with.
Amicable adjustment OF present ana future diff
ferencos 10 contemplated. Each line will be
permitted TO extend itself in natural directions
under municipal supervision without opposi-
ton from the other company. This will do away
with tho opposition Of the Metropolitan inter-
US w sAS sNS @e
avenue limo as we'll as with the objection Of tho
Company introducing its electric System
init, inter Pt sSe r sTss x p Ut tSe i! Fh thS %' ssanSo oG poaS ss
Grand and Broome streets. These latter cleo
trio connections will DO made as soon as the en-
gineers Of the two companies can agree on the
best planR. The now arrangement will be In no
sense a consolidation Of the roads, and each will
continue to operate Its lines independent Of the
other.
Fresh complications have arisen in the mat.
ser Of improving traction on Amsterdam avenue,
and particularly in regard to operating both
and those Of the Third Avenue Company on
ono set of tracks instead Of on four tracks.
Both companies have expressed Q willingness
no Isgai or mechanical difficulties in the way.
The mechanical feature would not offer any
grave troubles. but when the legal situation
culties. Tho Metropolitan Street Railway
Company leases the Amsterdam avenue road
from the Ninth avenue line, and they are both
any one else use them without the consent OF
the George Law estate. On the other hand the
Third avenue road owns q majority OF the stock
st. Nicholas avenue road, whose tracks are in
question, but 1t cannot alter the character of
the road without changing the security Of the
| holder.
Counsel for ono of the roads said yesterday
doing anything on Amsterdam avenue except
to continue the use Of the four tracks: a
mandamus proceeding, is now pending in which
1t Is sought to make the Commissioner Of Pub
lilo Works issue q permit to the Third avenue
road to enable II to change the power for Am.
, sterdam avenue from horses to cable. The
other road Is to be operated by electricity. 1t
looks now as II there must be four tracks in
the avenue; Property, owners object TO this,
declaring. that 1t would be a source of great
danger when the new power was used on each
road.