New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-03
RAILROADS GET A HEARING.
THE STATE COMMISSION CONSIDERS
MOTOR AND OTHER CHANGES.
SETH LOW AND OTHER PROMINENT CITIZENS
URGE THAT IN RETURN FOR THE FAvoRs
NOW ASKED THE METROPOLITAN AND
THIRD AVENUE COMPANIES
SHOULD GRANT SOME.

SHOULD GRANT SOME.
The State Railroad Commission held an important
session at the Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday. In
the morning hearing held the applications
Of the North End Street Railway Company and the
Kingsbridge RAILROAD Company for certificate of
approval for presentation to the Municipal AS
scmby. and In the afternoon the Commission heard
applications from the Metropolitan and Third Ave-
nue. Railway companies for permission TO change
the motive power on their lines 10 underground
electricity. Ashley W. Cole presided. and the
other members of the Commission present were
George W. Dunn and Frank w Baker. Among the
railroad and their lawyers present were Presi-
dent II. II. Vreeland OF the Metropolitan Street
Railway Company W II. Page, jr., II. A. Robin
son and Charles F. Brown Many North End prop
erty-owners also attended in the morning.
Mr.. Page first told OF the plans of the Kings
bridge Railroad Company. which, he said. was
owned by the Third Avenue Company. The fran
chse desired is for a railroad up the Boulevard
from Manhattan-st. to One hundred and sixty
ninth-st. and along the Kingsbridge Road and
Rverdale-ave TO Yonkers modern under
ground electrical equipment was promised, with
transfers TO connecting lines and through cars
over the Forty-second-st. and Boulevard roads and
over the One-hundred and -twenty ffth-st. line 1t
was said that II the franchises were granted TO
potan Company upon any part Of the Boulevard
the COMPANIES would use one set OF tracks win
duplex conduit systems allowing each company TO
use its own electrical power, obtained from Its own
Ex-Judge Charles f. Brown. for the METROPOLITAN
pany which controls The - N2r1h Emo ma I Hee
enth Avenue Railway Company. next described that
ongs from the eng Of
hundred and -sxteenth-st, to and along Manhat-
Boulevard. and along One-hundred and -forty-nfth-
st. westward from LenoxIaye TO the BouIeyard'
ST and Kingsbrdge Road to Yonkers
North side propertylowners then SPOKE OF the de- de-
thoroughfares mentioned James Mccreery said
he was land poor because of lack Of facilities b.
Il AckermaB Robert h0guet P 5sc29 H lars
heard in a similar strain. Testimony was then
given under oath for the two competing railroads
the applications Of the Metropolitan and Third
Avenue companies for permission to change the
ground electricity Superintendent Robertson OF
the Third Avenue road testified that It was the
their cable system for the trolley with the further
privilege OF using storage batteries ana compressed
cesses Of tide il would be Impossible to use the
underground trolley system, the tracks would be
covered and the conduits filled with water For
sge batteries or compressed air or both systems
should be used in an auxiliary sense Little ex-
cavaton would be needed to efrec; the change de-
sired in Thlrd-ave., but the entire Fort George
road would have to be rebuilt. ,.
President Nreeland next testified as % details
OF the changes desired by his company. on seven
trunk lines it is desired TO install electricity ana
Plus storage battery or air power. or both.
West Side delegation present 10 oppose inc
power was then heard The delegation consisted
OF Seth Low. the Rev Or. John p Peters OF 81,
Of the Holy Name; Amos Strobe and Albert Kohn.
school inspectors. and klaen Van Rensselaer,.
Seth Low was the principal spokesman OF the dele.
cation He opposed granting the permission ASKED go
ior unless the roads promised TO abandon one set
OF tracks along Amsterdam-aye.
II, IS the desire OF the public" said Mr. Low.
that tho roads use in Amsterdam.av only one
act Of tracks. as they have proposed 10 90 on the
routes now under your consideration Inc repre-
sent atyes OF both roads have dwe!t upon the con-
felt by them for the public interest, and 4,
their concern for the public Interest is sincere. and
as they here show that they can get together when
the problem OF Tenth-aye II they want 70 IL
they Will not so arrange their tracks yoiuntaTiiy'
this request for more favors. to exact this Ams'er-
dam-ave reform.
up'' tho corporations Nj Low responded that It
would be holding Up corporations IN Iesma Re
that they had A duty toward tho public In this
matter. and said that property-owners would with
t6e REFORM FORM Gemanded was vas granted
The chairman asked II the bondholders, under
the mortgage o, the Amsterdam ave. road would
rendered. M Low said ne would trust TO the rail
roads counsel 10 protect the bondholders In Ques-
ton.
School Inspector Kohn spoke Of tho danger to tho
1909 school-children who live near Amsterdam
ave. from the many railroad tracks there; and Mt
Van Rensselaer, also addressed the Commission.
Mr. Page said that Mr.. Low ms president OF
Columbia. had signed consents for both the Metro
potan and Third Avenue roads 10 re-equip the line
along Amsterdam-ave. Mr.. Page proceeded 10 offer
so 90 for plan devised by any responsible lawyer
that would allow OF the disposal OF this mortgaged
road without repayment 10 the mortgage holders
lie said four tracks would be necessary in Amster-
dam-ave to prevent blockade after the upper
T-nth-ave. lines were connected with tho Amster-
No date WAS set for tho announcement OF the Do