New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-18
GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS.

A few weeks ago Mayor Van Wyck said to
delegation OF property-owners VINO were pro-
testing against four railroad tracks IN Amster-
dam-ave. that he thought they would nave 10
anpeal TO the courts, the municipal authorities
In his opinion not being in a position 10 inter-
fere effectually Soon afterward the courts
we're invoked and an application for an inJunc-
ton would have been heard yesterday II short
postponement had not been agreed upon by OPP
posing counsel. But there now seems 10 he
pretty good reason to believe that the municipal
authorities, while perhaps not able 10 interpose
directly, do nevertheless retain control OF the
situation and can, il they will, settle the con-
troversy in a satisfactory manner At recent
hearing In the City Hall a representative OF the
Metropolitan Street Railway Company said that'
however the case might be with the Third Ave
nue. Company, his principals were not concerned
!nasmuch as they already possessed what they
wanted in Ansterdam-ave Now, however, the
fact Is recalled that, although the Metropolitan
Company has made an arrangement to run It's
cars over the Third Avenue Company's tracks
in the Boulevard from Fifty ninth to Sixty-hfth
St, the two corporations having combined 10
that extent. the consent Of the Municipal AS
sembly is required to render the agreement OPP
eratiye Attention is also directed to various
applications In behalf Of the Metropolitan Com
pany relating TO extensions and change or mo-
tive power from all of which it appears that
the city authorities still hold strong hand ana
can win the game for the people II they choose.
1t would be novel thing to see the Metropoli-
tan people in chastened mood, and II may be
rash to expect that the Municipal Assembly
will assist In producing such metamorphosis,
though President Guggenheimer and several
other members are quoted as talking In an en-
cling way about the matter and the out
look Is more hopeful than II recently seemed TO
be, without regard to what is going on at Al
bany. But the bill just introduced in the Legs
lature by Senator Ford and Assemblyman Fai-
lows IS not unlikely to have some influence
We are not prepared to say that 1t IS thor
oughly good bill as II stands. On first consider
alton it appears to interfere where there Is no
need Of interference, being general In It's terms
and directed against the existence OF more than
two tracks In any street whatsoever. MT. Full
ton chairman Of the Citizens Committee, made
some sensible observations on this point yester-
day, saying that whereas Amsterdam-ave. was
not the only street In which four tracks were
nuisance there might be others-the Bowery, for
example--in which two would not meet public
requirements
We do not understand that the opposition is
waiting on the issue Of events at Albany, and
should consider doing so n mistake. 1t now APP
parently has the resources and facilities for
stout fight here in the courts and the Municipal
Assembly, and 1t will probably be- to make
a continual and resolute use of them. One I'M
expected advantage Is found, If reports are cor
rect in the changed attitude Of the Third Ave
nue. Company, which is now said to he ready to
agree to joint use of two tracks with the Met
ropolitan. Mr.. Lauterbach was recently repre-
sented ms declaring with characteristic empha-
sig that such n thing was impossible; but. as we
have often remarked, railroad people can turn
corner as quickly as anybody else when they
are so disposed If in reality the Metropolitan
Company alone remains obstreperous the logic
of the situation may before long induce differ
ent frame Of mind in its managers.