The sun., 1898-02-07
ORR'S LETTER TO GOULD.
r>yrs THREE OR FOUR TRACK
yIrFs tyD NO GRADE CROSSINGS.

.,.c,r, How MANY Tracks. sn what Level
and on what streets Nc Enpects % Buiia
.pa How seou-Eariy Conference Asked For.
rh,s IA the letter sent on Saturday by Presi.
S.ot Orr OF tho Rapid Transit Railroad Com.
.,,.,ion TO President Gould Of the Manhattan
Elevated Railway:
e,oro, j. could Esq, Presfdent Manhattan Rdt'srdv
CompdnH
MIR SIR: Your letter OF Jan. 81. together
,-,,h the formal petition Of the Manhattan
pathway Company for leave to extend Its rail-
.o.d over certain routes, therein specified and
% huild certain additional tracks over streets
already occupied In part by its structure, and
Tor certain other facilities, were presented to
,be BOARD of Rapid Transit Railroad Commits
,,oners at its meeting held yesterday afternoon,
and we're carefully considered.
The board. as now advised, adheres TO the
h.Iisf OF which have already informed you,
,h.t Il would prove OF convenience to many
people, even though It should add nothing to
IN. speed of transit, II extensions Of your rail-
,o.d should be built over West stree; and north
s-Iv from Third avenue at 177th street to 201st
,,rs., and although tho sense OF the board has
not been officially. expressed concerning IL.
am also Of the impression that the board would
Cor the same reason favor q crosstown limo at
or near Canal street.
The board is, however, informed by its coun-
,el whose formal opinion send you herewith,
that II Is prohibited by the statute from author
,z,ne the construction Of an elevated railroad
across Broadway at any point south OF Thirty
third street. II has, however. taken under
serious consideration the advisability Of an ap-
plication to the Legislature 10. SO amend the
atatute as to remove this limitation upon its
powers.
And in connection with your proposed West
street route. II is also pertinent to add that
claim Is advanced by the New York and New
Jersey Bridge Company that 1t has acquired
an exclusive right to portion Of the route
proposed by you. by reason of the fact that the
Commissioners appointed by Laws 1890, chapter
2s3, have located so-called approach to
such bridge extending over West street and
other streets from Battery place to Fifty ninth
street. The board has not as yet reached o
definite 1hS this SLAIN
route" the board is not as yet prepared to eI-
press any opinion.
pressions OF the board regarding the formal ap-
that, in order to guide its action. shall request
that you furnish more specific information re-
First-ft is the Impression Of the board. after
stTneon Of tho proposed Vest street line tho
crosstown line, and the northerly extension OF
your east side line, would add nothing to the
speed Of transportation, unless grade crossings
were. generally speaking. avoided, and unless
the capacity OF your existing trunk lines was
tona tracks and the board is also Informed BY it's
engineer that If the construction OF the 'west
side extension route. as sought by You, were per-
mitted, IL would add intolerably to the existing
congestion at the Fifty-third street crossing and
upon both of your west side lines south OF that
snd
existing railroads.
prove prove OF marked convenience to the public.
they would not furnish faster transportation
pss p sSs tns ~ 81 anS nss
were avoided.
The first Of these conclusions seems to be con.
which requests that power be granted to con-
struct four tracks upon all OF your present or
ADDED TO Tour e1stine Sssn sy as may
placed ''on. above. under. or contiguous to-
such route or routes.
indefinite by the board, because it does not spe-
city the number of tracks to be placed upon
any particular street nor the form Of structure
further reason that it expressly reserves to tho
company the right to determine the time with
atruGted or whether they shall be constructed
at al. This clearly appears from the sentence
haitian Hallway Company will begin to con-
struct, and will construct, such additional track
or tracks from time to time as the traffic shall,
In the Judgment of the said company, require
or demand"
The board accordingly requests me to ask you
to furnish further written statement speci-
Tying the numb Der Of tracks to be erected upon
each street, whether such tracks are all 20 be
placed upon the same level, or, IL not how they
are to be placed, and the total proposed width
Of such structures; and that you viii also in
form the board of the period within which your
plan contemplates that such additional track or
tracks shall be built in each street.
second-The question as to the form of struc-
ture perhaps implies the further question which
am directed to ask, namely, whether the vari
GUS crossings contemplated by your applica-
lon are designed to be grade crossings and, II
not In what manner such crossings are to be
snectedf This question is deemed of particu-
iar Importance by the board, since grade cross
ing9 are deemed particularly Objectionable by
" and because. II the crossings are to be above
grade, the new structures must, 1t would ap-
above the street.
that iniraml n am also requested to inform you
thst IN order 70 hasten the progress of the con-
siqefauon OF the matters initiated by your ap-
pncation ;the board has appointed a Committee
composed OF Messrs. John II. Starin, George L.
hves, and myself to confer with representafiyes
Of your company. The board in question would
oe eiad to confer with representative of your
sssTmpany at your earliest convenience. am.
'rS @ yours very truly. A. Z. ORR. President.