New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-08
A STATEN ISLAND COMEDY.
HOW RESIDENT VIEWS THE WAR BETWEEN
THE RIVAL ELECTRIC RAILROADS.

Sir: Those of your readers who are not residents
OF Staten Island were doubtless much mystihed
fortnight ago the reports OF hostilities be-
tween the Trustees OF the village OF New Brighton,
On the one hand. and the employees Of the Staten
Island Electric Railroad. known popularity as the
Syndicate on the other, the latter being engaged
In laying a track through Cas-leton-ave under au-
thority or an invalidated contract
AS the franchise for the construction Of the same
has been given definitely by the Trustees 10
the Midland Electric Railroad, and the facts in
the case have not yet been published by any of
your contemporaries. may not space for
their brief statement?
The contest now ended has extended over fifteen
months. and In view OF the methods resorted 10
may oe safely set down a of the most extraor-
dinarv ever waged in any portion Of Greater
New-York. This has resulted from the peculiar
tactics of the Staten Island Electric road. which
not only counts among its shareholders magnates
of the Standard Oil Company (Messrs. Henry H.
Rogers and Thomas F. Ryan, but is reported to
have Interested in It's fortunes ex-Secretary Will
lam c. Whitney and John d. Crimmns OF the Met
ropoi-an Traction Company OF New-York- re-
sumo OF the incidents of the last twelvemonth will
reveal a very curious comedy played for the bere-
fit Of Staten Islanders but which in their capacity
OF taxpayers OF Richmond County, they may find
ultimately somewhat expensive
For the benefit Of those unacquainted with the
topography OF the island. It is necessary to explain
road extends from Holland Hook where II connects
with a ferry to Eizabethport. y. j. TO South
Beach. beyond St George, the landing place OF the
ferry boars 70 New-York OF the Rapid Transit
Company The contest has been waged the part
OF the Staten Island Electric road 20 prevent the
Midland Electric Corporation from building line
through Casteton-ave.. and thus finding, at IFS
eastern terminus an outlet to St George. the Md
land having already constructed line through
West Castleton-ave. from Colum5ia-st to Broad
way. In point OF fact the Staten Island Electric
road no more needs branch line through East
Castleton-ave than the proverbial coach needs
fifth wheel. For some distance the street is with
out inhabitants. and reaching Broadway 1t
would have TO provide omnibuses to transport Its
patrons 20 its main line at the junction Of that
thoroughfa~e and Richmond Terrace. Its opposi-
ton evidently has been caused solely by a desire
10 prevent what it considers a rival corporation
from reaching a natural outlet at St. George-but
the facts
On January %. 1885, the Board OF Trustees Of the
village Of New Brighton passed resolution 10 the
effect that in OF its granting It's consent TO the
construction Of any street surface railway within
the corporate limits the said consent should not
become eNsctual unless, before the delivery Of the
contract and the doing OF any work hereunder the
company TO which the same Is granted should de-
post in some authorized trust company the sum
OF $4,000" On December 3, 1895. such consent was
given TO the Staten Island Electric Railroad Com
pany &c build a railroad Castleton-ave on the
condition expressly stated that the company COM
ply with the resolution OF the preceding January
On December 49, 1885, additional resolution was
passed STIMULATING that within thirty days OF its
passage. and before the delivery of the contract
and the doing of any work under the same the
said railroad company should file with the Clerk OF
the village penal bond in the penalty OF 10000
With this resolution the Staten Island Electric
Railroad Company never complied. II is true that
81 kfsf hand
was fled and no sum OF $4,000 was placed in the
hands Of ary trust company About week after
the expiration OF the thirty days. within which
period the contract TO have been signed and
the general stipuatons complied WITH the presi-
dent Of the Board of Trustees died Then was be-
gun a series OF desperate measures on the part Of
the Syndicate" 70 prevent the reorganization OF
thai body with a ma joriy in favor OF the Midland.
two OF their men purposely absenting themselves
from the meetings for weeks effect this object
The reorganization was. however accomplished
finally by the appointment as Trustee or MI Sea-
ton a frield OF the Midland road on June 10 the
Board received report from It's COMPUTES on
Railroads. recommending the resembling OF the con-
sent given previously TO the staten !slahe EisclG
elther 20 deposit the $4,000 10 file a penal bond
for that amount within the stipulated thirty days
and for other reasons.
Before this report could be acted upon the Syn
dicate' procured an Injunction enJoining the Boaru
from adopting the recommendation OF us commit
tee Altogether five intunctions were obtained, that
being the number Of judse s IN the JIaiead
ton The Trustees. however. found no dificulty |
in having four vacated on d mere ex parte state
ment OF the facts, but in one case arsumeht WIS
heard ard decision was given in FAVOR OF the
Board
AT last on July g. the Syndicate" decided 70
make the tender Of the cash and the bond but the
ferward Mr. seatons term Of Office expired, and,
a supporter of the Staten Island Electric road be-
min thus matters remained until last month.
when one of the Trustees who had hitherto sided
interests of the village would be served best by Civ
Ing the franchise the Midland road. His de-
tbe ,acf1cs TO which the syndicate resorted.
duly reported in The Tribune on December H. -
II and Is A this point. II VIII be seem the comedy
degenerates into broad farce.
Having obtained possession OF the invalidated
by a majority OF the Board OF Trustees TO have
been an act OF official malfeasance on the part OF
fra nchise would in all probability be repealed AT
the meeting Of the Board on December 10 the
work late on Saturday. December u. TO construct
their line and continued doing until they were
'emnnves were arrested by the Trustees. but
we're al once balled out and set 10 work again.
hsfore the magistrate and balled until confusion
became worse confounded To make the farce sun
on their side not only the entire police force OF me
village, hut formidable array OF deputy , In
for whose services the taxpayers o. the county may
be called upon 70 pay. -- ., D.. :. +,
All fhis tardy activity. however, proved 70 be IN
- ,s +he Trustees proceeded, the evening OF
rerember Is t. rescnd the resolution by which the
iisnufed franchise had been given 10 the staten
Iva E1ecfric Railroad Company and then 20 pass
another awarding II to the Midland road In this
ircision | am assured. the Trustees are upheld al
49, ynantmously by the residents OF the interior
~ the island whose interests are Identical with
bosa of the latter corporation, which has during
he Exciting scenes OF the last fifteen months pur-
sned A manly and straightforward course IL mas
made no promises that II has not kept and OBJ
ained no franchises merely for the purpose or
heading off a rival road A newcomer on tne
siand II has gained friends rapidly, and now that
.s vav "a clear TO St George IL proposes. under
stand 10 push that and its other branches rapidly
~ con, nlstion on September 3. 1885 the Staten
Island Electric Company began ts nght against
h.. Midland by hling blanket application for
~ nchises over nearly every avenue ana street IN
,he village OF New Brighton, while az the same
meeting a protest from sixty leading citizens was
-,.t,,od calling attention TO the fact that a con-
rect signed bv the company and dated March u,
ss5 10 build road on certain streets mad not
.i.ning OF the contract will soon be here and the