New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-04
NO REAL RAPID TRANSIT.
CHIEF ENGINEER PARSONS on THE
MANHATTAN PROPOSALS.
THE BOARD OF RAPID TRANSIT COMMISSION
Frs ASKS THE COMPANY FOR FURTHER
DErAus-PROTEsTs AGAINST De
FACING THE BOULEVARD.

FACING THE BOULEVARD.
TIE Board OF Rapid Transit Commissioners
met Yesterday afternoon to consider the merits
OF the plans formulated BY the Manhattan Rail
way Company for the extension OF the elevated
system. After celebrating on the proposals for
over two hours the Board came TO the con-
cusion that the scheme in It's present form was
too indefinite, and required elucidation in several
pertinent points before it could be properly
passed upon. For one thing. the company's petit
ton obviously fences with the Boards request
that a specific time should he named within
which the extensions will be completed. While
IL is true that Mr. Gould and his associates haze
estimated in their application the period ii will
take to construct the new lines. they carefully
refrain from committing themselves TO any
specific obligation in the matter Of time by
stipulatinG that such time shall be counted only
after the consent OF the contiguous property
owners shall have been obtained
The ambiguity Of these conditions was i'm
mediately apparent to the Commissioners. and
in this matter, as well as on such important de-
tails the extent OF encroachments upon
streets and the grading Of crossings, it was de-
clded that more definite information was neces-
sarv TO an Intelligent consideration of the plans
With a view TO expediting action on the extern
sions a committee consisting of Alexander +.
Orr George l.. Rives ara John II. Starin was
appointed TO confer with the Manhattan officials.
MIR PARsONs's OPINION.
The debated question as to whether the Rapid
Transi. act empowers the Board to authorize
the erection Of an elevated railroad across
Broadway below Thirty -third-st. brought
forward at The meeting The counsel to the
Board gave IL as their opinion that the intention
of the act was clearly opposed to the placing Of
any structure. not only along. but also across.
Broadway below the point named. william
Barclay Parsons. the chief engineer Of the
Board. after a careful study of the plans, laid
a communication before the meeting wherein
ne stated that while in certain cases the *
tensions might be OF benefit 10 the people
there was nothing promised by the company
that was likely to give real rapid transit
Alexander E Orr presided at the meeting. and
the other members present were John Claain.
Woodbury. Langdon. John II. starln and George
l. Rives Neither the Mayor nor Controller
Coler attended In obedience to instructions Mr..
Parsons reported that he examined the plans.
and submitted an expert opinion. part OF which
Is as follows:
The application Of the company also asks power
10 construct TWO additional tracks along the routes
thorizcd to operate two tracks only. and one ad-
dit.onal track alons the route OF the tAstlhs Ia.l
three tracks only These latter extensions are 10
be- constructed from time to time as the traffic
shall I'm the Judgment Of the said company. re-
quire demand" According TO the Application.
therefore it IS evident that the company actua,y
obieates itself 10 construct but two track exten-
sious and does not promise. within any set time.
to construct any additional tracks along lis exist
Ing routes While the proposed extensions would,
in certain cases. be Of bcnca, to the people there
is rotLing from an enginoering point of view.
promised by the company that would give any ad-
The examination Of the map Of the proposed OK
tension would show that the construction OF these
proposed lines would add seven crossings OF the
expressly reserves the right to make these cross
ings either under over; or at grade II ths iattrr
course were foio"ed 1t Is evident that the run
ming OF even the present express service would
TO maintain high speed OF express trains with
one Of the impedments to high speed on the
present elevated railroad the existence OF curves
with very short radi at which points it Is neces-
sary TO diminish the speed Of the trains ma teriay.
where are introduced in which II the street
itself is be adhered 10 as the route. curves OF
short radii will have 20 bo used necesstating the
diminishing Of speed. There is nothing contained
yato property at these points. In order 10 the
curves and permit the maintaining Of continuous
high speed.
40 RIGHT TO CROSS BROADWAY.
The opinion drawn up by Edward NJ Shepard
and Albert 3. Boardman as to the question OF
the legality of crossing Broadway was next read,
and was to the effect that the Board had no
a
tboroughfare anywhere below Thirty-third-st.
on the question as to whether the rights OF
the New-York and New-Jersey Bridge Company
prevented the Commissioners authorizing the
building Of an elevated railroad along West-st.,
tho counsel ask for further time TO prepare an
opinion on IN" matter.
After long discussion OF the Manhattan
plans the following resolution proposed by
John II Starin and unanimously adopted:
Whereas. The statements contained in the appli-
cation nled by the Manhattan Railway Company
are deemed Indefinite IN the following respects.
That the said application docs no, specifically
state the time withia which the railways, tracks
ami facilities proposei by sucn appHcatlon sHdlI
he constructed definite specification OF the time
being absolutely essential in the opinion OF this
That the said application does not describe with
the streets forming such routes shall be encroached
upon by the by . r aencao n1
shall be AT grade or not;
Rcsoivod That the president be requested to
corlmunicate with the said corporation. requesting
written information concerning the matters mus
Resolved That the president be requested to in
itc me representatives Of the said corporation 10
Inter with a committee Of this Board concerning
fhe said application In order that definite scton
upon the said Application may be eNpediied ana
that the Committee on Contract; appointed by res1-
luton OF this BOARD or July l. 1891. shall reWe-
s,rt The Board FOR the purpose or such confefen
40 DETACHMENT OF THE BOULEVARD.
prorerty-owners along the Boulevard are AL
roadv beginning TO protest against any deface-
mont Of that thoroughfare by the erection Of
elevated railroad structures The mere sugges-
,ion on the part Of the Manhattan company TO
,oLe tie Boulevard one Of the new routes has
FUSED owners Of property in that neighb0rhood
"a md numerous protesting letters and petit
tiouS 10 the Board , ~
- was reported yesterday that the Third
Aveuue Railroad Company had awarded CON
&c for the changing OF the cable power on
~ ,.eto,u 10 electricity. Edward Lauterb bach
Ia .S yesterday that while contracts had yet
Tee, placed the directors of the company had
decided to operate the Forty-second-st, one
,',,,'ir.d- a nd twenty -ffth-st and Amsterdam
@ and the Dry Dock lines with the under
@,,,,rd electric power. Mr. Lauterbach added
- ~, ,'biIo some time in the future the Third
ma 80 might be changed 10 the underground
All, system no thought had as yet been given
Ne