The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-24
.MADrsor 1rrrUr rnonnBr.
Third Avenue Roaa nisohs Trscuen,s way -
the Pest Once.

Tho Metropolitan Street Railway Company
having filed with the Commissioner Of Public
Works a map showing It's plan for reconstruct
ing the Madison avenue line from Centre street
to tho Post Ofico, In order TO operate II by under
ground electricity, there was another hearing
in Gen. Colliss office yesterday morning on It's
application for a permit to tear up the streets.
The plan. which was filed under tho Commits.
sioners request at tho behcst OF tho Third
Avenue Railroad Company. which feared an
attempt on the Metropolitan's part to usurp It's
rights in Park row south OF tho bridge, showed
tho Metropolitan's intention 80 to change
tho Third avenue company's cable conduit on
the down track now used jointly by tho two
lines of cars as to make it into u double conduit
for cable power and electricity. The Third ave.
nue. company opposed tho plan on tho ground
that tho only right which the Metropolitan had
on tho down cable track was under n contract
which permitted 1t to use the track as at present
or for the operation of cable cars, and that, by
the Metropolitan's own showing in previous
contested cases, the operation Of a cable and an
underground electric line on the same tracks
was impossible.
w. II. Page. Jr.. of Hoadly, Lauterbach &
johnson declared that the structure proposed
by the applicants would be a nuisance and an in-
cumbrance on the street, and was a physical i'm.
possibility. Tho question had been raised In
prior litigation as to the operation OF cars by
cable and underground electricity in the same
conduit, and the Metropolitan company had
called engineers TO show 1t was impossible to do
It. This II had established by judicial decision.
1t had said that 1t could not operate cars by un-
company's cable conduits in l25th street aud
Manhattan avenue. Its map showed a purpose
to run two tracks and lay four forks. while its
charter permitted only one track and one fork.
Edward Lauterbach was present with Henry
Hart. tho chief factor in the Third avenue
company. He grew bitterly sarcastic. and, re-
ferrins to the time when there were friendly re-
had come when II the metropolitan Street Rail.
way Company proposed to absorb the track of
another corporation the assumption was that
nothing was TO be done in opposition-a " sort
of when i open my mouth let no dog bark
season. ;" he said. But the dog does bark In
spite OF Sir Oracle he continued. land with
due humility we say that there is some prop
Henry A. Robinson, for the Metropolitan COM
pany. said that that company had never con-
tended that 1t was impossible to run cars by
cable and underground electricity on one track.
His company proposed doing II In Twenty-third
street, and had built the conduit with that In
view, he said, but he acknowledged that it had
not yet been done, and that there were not two
slots at present. He admitted in response to Mr..
Page that the Metropolitan company claimed
to own two tracks down to the Post Office. The
company rested its rights in the original owner
ship and the agreement with tho Third avenue
company.
Gen. Coils said that II the Metropolitan CON-
pany, had q clear right to use tho tracks. he
should not bother himself much with the ques-
ton Of the physical possibility Of construction.
he said that he might consult the Corporation
Counsel in the matter.