New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-20
Mr.. RHoADEs PROTESTS.
WRITES TO COMMISSIONER COILS oP-
POSING THE METRoPoLITANs PLANS.

HE URGES THAT. IF THE PERMIT TO CHANGE
THE MADIsoN-AvE. ROADS MOTIVE
POWER is GRANTED PROPERTY
OWNERS BE PROTECTED
The following letter. under date OF yesterday
has been sent by John Harsen Rhoades TO {. ii. L.
Coils Commissioner of Public Works Of this city
ny Rsr e of the for
date In reference 10 the Application OF uie ~,
Change It's motive power to electricity on the Nsw-
York and Harlem Railroad. now laid In Fou rn,
exceedingly that enforced absence from New-York
viii @ being se IN be- y duty on
behalf of protesting property-owner In naH nire
10 to aarn nc S1 against Your giving
snch permit for the following reasons: ~. oe ,ax.
payers of this city, that this request; WHICH aIa,Ia
is Ss SSy shea not be
without compelling i TO Pay 4 that V the streets
are the property of the public, and that valuable i,n
franchises for their use without compensation
New-York. Who are elected by the people to pro
tee! the Of the n6e al c an as ha are de
manded should be resisted TO the utmost, ana ,T pny
i The permits asked for and not before II the
Legislature Of the State has given s ; away Know inere
that they may realize The extent of the njusce
done TO them and take measures to eotrec, 's e e
bodied in the charter OF this road provision t9or
the propclling Of cars below Four,eenth-st:. and
we ask if this provision Is not SUI, d TO- es
granting the privileges asked for ., motive mower
proposed without proper restrictions, Will seriously
depreciate the value OF property upon this avenue
and constitute intolerabe nuisance TO the resi-
company shall al least agree to clean and keep
clean the pave and agree H To
salt its tracks in winter. which is now oc Eng
oNR S u nom tn he ' Other ines owned by IT, remove
the snow IL winter: regulate and contro me spseG
of sse sas: D Ie the " cngns P bells each
Stree; and not be allowed to run Its c anS
al hours n n the G%s Ths
SS 9 raead hss yard eaeS
evening and we fear IKE result ,ba u peops Compel
sacree upon ew maintain that j, int it Il feS
Injustice TO destroy the p PRO- bnfde on Of
sion in order that others may oeneht o' 'he'
We understand that contracts have been awarded
10 tear w the centre of this avenue IN ORDER 10
S snrib or rffs se eot Of Which We as property
owDers vii have to pay m" time Should be now
chosen do this work and if II is because th hS
does S d %s in IT'S he nure?
that the sewers S of b pST sSnG Gf
, ,on If this is So ask why should not this
have been remeded before ana %ny ,6s this
corporation which is demanding greaa pry ,ds9 1
Of this Avenue arc to have their property Injured
by the acts Of WnlEn have rs sn hons
protest and complain in. that mt the Of pahS eir
authorities are goirg peSonG are ne of private
For months this Is to be torp up rem
dtion TO imper the health of those living upon me
This snSy IN PeTP ss ass OF Y,n ra
pay nS"t efeen feet wide and several feet deep
through The centre Of its roadway. ,,r r,o,,s
are BEING al invaded and serious injury is TO be done
10 us and our patience Is abou, Te srow
ing restless under these violations OF the Very
spirit Of ag6Gy a and gres
Under the law no new road can be ou,it eHcspt
able properly on each block of the street to be so
used. and yet. when the road Is 6uit anc III Pac
ton, it is claimed that the consent Of the majority
of al the s Sn sne S in Ham On
Fourth-ave. and the Bowery may not object 10 NE
fcien to crush those who live upon the residential
part of the If ns IS n aw such nS' we pe
this bart o ereaa that oh fns 2"
s s,re iraic and use its power without due
regard these rights WHICH are inherent to the
act IN sP, hs Of f, fairness s and he sq4 eaS
1sSsrd 59s s''1ias
property by people stung with s sense OF h'us
have no desire or intention to injure this cer.
or , at hans Submit %h' on Of
protesting property owners on this avenue that we
have rights which ought to be respected that we
believe our rights property-owners anu our
rights as taxpayers of the city OF New-York are
being invaded through this attempt on the part OK
the Metropolitan Street Railway Company 70
change it's motive power without giving re-
muneration to the taxpayers and without giving
protection to the residents on Madison-aVe -,
p S-As have said in the beginning of my let.
tor I regret very much my inability to be present
in person at this hearing | do not think that the
decisions rendered thus far in connection with the
Eighth Avenue Railroad should apply TO the queSs-
tions involved in connection with the Harlem KALI
road IL must be remembered that the questions
et issue there have not been as yet FUZZY ad1udi-
Gated and cannot be until they are submitted 20
and passed upon by the Court OF Appeals OF ms
State 1t Is by means yet settled that the CITY
rights in connection with that road have been de-
stroyed .-, ,..o. a..
This case Of The Harlem Railroad stands upon its
own facts and has connection win tne Elghtn
Avenue Railroad, and II Is now possible Tor you 70
make a stand in connection with this ral!road ana
70 attempt 10 secure for tho taxpayers OF this city
proper compensation and we believe that II is poo-
sible for YOU TO not only such compensation,
hut also such protection to the property Owners on
Madison-ave. they are justly entitled 70. II oniy
provision being made TO protect properV-o~"eiS
and taxpayers alike.
I sincerely hope that there may be q second near
ing OF this case as l could say much In person
witch I am unable to say by letter. return 70
New-York on July g. and respectfully ASK tnat the
privilege accorded to counsel In legal proceeu-
tngs when they unable 10 be present by reason
OF other engagements be accorded to me. and that
a second hearing be granted. at when can DO
present and state my reasons more 1uily'