New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-31
Rapid TRANSIT MEMORIAL
BOARD PETITIONS THE LEGIsLAT-
,,pr TO ENLARGE IT'S POWERS.


OTHERWISE TO DEAL WITH THE OFFER
r,,t, METROPOLITAN OR THAT OF ANY
OTHER oRGANlzATIoN-M MUNICIPAL CON
srRrcTroN LOOKED UPON AS
IMPRAcTIcABLE
.,o,,orial to the Legislature which was
~ ~. rho Rapid Transit Commissioners at
fo.,o, meeting on Wednesday, was sent TO
NV yesterday afternoon. The memorial
~. o,,,,n,ne the salient points of the PROPOSE
et,,,tted by the Metropolitan street Rail
W.. Comnanv commits the Board to nothing.
rro commissioners will petition for the sta'u-
.o.,, mower 10 consider and deal with the orer'
,,,. members express their conviction tha'
..,,ricin,l construction is impracticabe' ana
.hat - rapid transit IS to be secured 1t must be
,trougb the medium Of private capital Briefly
.,rotoro in order TO act upon such proposals
80 ma, he submitted to them for the construc-
zion ~ the underground road, the Commission
&c ask that the existing law be so amended as
- ,orroit it to grant the Metropoltan's PROPOSE
49,, ~ act upon any other offer which it may
6oero more advantageous to the city
TENT OF THE MEMORIAL
Following is the memorial;
N January last the Board Of Rapid Transit Rai h
road Commissioners Of the city OF Ne, .aGaT Cow
,oifed 10 your honorable bodies memorial con- con-
ceTnns the problem IN [ IN Inc c
forts under the Act Of 1871 to secure the CoIsliuv
lion Of rapid transit railroad: Of the ADOPTION
in i Of the plan Of &C III anq bv essee
and Of the adoption by the present Board; AFTER
serious difficulties and in spite OF many oos. luz
n'SiCh mad been approved by the municipal author-
and after pro sdd S2 oa2f 9{ be .9e AP
pointed out tnat the routes and general plan had
been adopted under statutory authority which pre-,
scribed construction and ownership by nc Guy ana
not by private capitalists, and II referred 10 what
the Board then deemed and now deems TO be me
chip Of a rapd-transit railroad which must be built
C Cneer for ' Which the Board believed and now be-
neves 10 be Of large value TO the city. The me
mortal also referred 10 the decisive vote by which
the people Of the city had approved SUCH owner
The Board recognized however. and the memorial
municipal construction. The Board had itself no
authority 70 raise money, ana rapiu transit was
10 the financial authorities OF the city only one OF
many purposes for which public debt must he in
Cured The difficulties were due in large part TO
consolidation Of the former cities of New York and
Brooklyn and adjacent territory
EVERY REASONABLE EFFORT
Il has been the opinion of the Board that every
reasonable effort ought to be made 70 surmount
these obstacles. But the Board has always deemed
It he clear that its primary function was TO
cure rapid transit and not 10 establish any theory
Of ownership or construction. The memorial recog-
nized The high probability that If the solution OF
ayed resort to private capital might be necessary
l. also pointed out referring TO construction by
much more favorable TO the successful conduct OF
such enterprise than they have been at any
time heretofore" And the memorial submitted n
your honorable bodies series Of amendments 20
the rapd-transit law intended. in the city
snip by reason Of financial obstacles 10 enable the
Board 70 enter into contract for construction by
private capital and for private ownership well
as private operation of the road subject 10 the
terms Of The contract BIS proposing such amend
Assembly They have been favorahy reported and
are now awaiting action in each house.
originally begun in 1897 was renewed between the
Board and the owners Of the Metropolitan Street
entation 10 this Board Of an applica ton COPY or
which is appended to this memorial The appiica-
lion has been made public. and. far as We are
able TO Judge II has been received with consid
cradle degree Of public favor
THE METROPOLITAN'S APPLICATION.
The proposition is substantially this
First-The routes and plan Of construction pre-
pal agihori'ies and Appellate Division to be adopt
plan includes tunnel construction, except at the
extreme upper part OF the road
section OF ne road running from the City Hall
through Elm-st.. Fourth-9ve. Forty second,st..
George and that section to be completed within
routes prescribed by the Board to be built within
two wears after the grantee shall earn per |
Fourth-Passeneers to be carried the entire length
Of the road for single fare Of five cents. and e |
ne Metropolitan system for an additional fare Of |
three cents The fare upon express trains running
a. rate Of not less than twenty miles an hour and
for ar least two miles below Forty second-st at |
nor less than thirty miles an hour TO be 10 cents |
with night Of transfer from any part of the |
Meiropolitan system without additional charge.
rilh-mhe grant 10 be in perpetuity.
grantee entitled side gal
enes and other spaces in the tunnel not necessary
Gnciors authorized by law. and to receive rentals
Seventh-Rental 10 the city 70 be : per cent Of
s9ss receipts. provided that the grantee shall first
t ' per cent net upon the cost Of construc-
w., ~, botrG Inc grantee 10 be exempted from taxa
roh nHiI II shall earn per cent on cost as pro
RoSed W. the bill submitted 10 your honorable |
bodies with the memorial Of the Board.
WITHOUT STATUTORY POWER
The Board is at present without statutory power |
10 grant or deal with this proposition. Under the |
law as It now stands f. is bound construct with |
the funds OF the city not construct at all. |!
The Board is convinced that municipal construction |
Is now. and perhaps for a long time Will be- i'm
Wacucable II rapid transit Is to be secured now |
the Board must have the power 10 make grant to
private capitalists. The amendments already sub
mtted 20 your honorable bodies provide most OF |
uoa Ike That now submitted by the Metropolitan
SonIany But the amendments are in some respects
4"t present law cOntemplates a fare not exceed |
ing me cents but the system Of transfers included
N the metropolitan application had not then been
propose. ana the Board cannot say that the con-
teLlence " such system 20 the travelling public |
j. hC- fully worth the additional charge. Inc Met
IopONan company asks that the grant shall be |
moe i,ae 70 separate company which viii lease to the
metropolitan company Under the amendments
heretofore submitted the Board could make a direct
s:eAt ory 20 an existing railroad corporation itself
lS.4ii.e Il railroad within the city.
. ne 50ard hes prepared and now submits with
th.s memorial additional amendments intended 10
eNlffc IFS powers that IL may fully consider
dhc "a ap3a the proposition Of the Metropolitan
company or upon any Ike proposition. The Board |
mas entered into agreement with the Metro |
lolun company, and, except 10 make the appca- |
sDa p-oic, Will not further consider In any way
ueaI win or with any other application for the
construction Of rapid-tTansit road by private
-al.lG- 90 4.