The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-07
RAPID TRANSIT FRANCHISE.
Az OPEN LETTER TO THE COMP
TROLLER FROM PETER n. SWEENY.


Rapid Transit Commissioners, by which
the franchise for Operating the Road Is
to BE surrendered to the Contractor for
Finy Years as = Part of the Contract
Of construction Municipal Ownership.
uor Bud $ Co,er. Esq. Comptroller o. The
can " Nep York
SIR. address you as the chief financial officer
%, the city upon a subject Of the greatest possible
importance TO our citizens especially those OF
tine Boroughs Of Manhattan and the Bronx that
IL in regard to the scheme about to be launched
e. provide for rapid transit from the City Hall
rarA To the Bronx Park on the East and to Kings
bridge road and Rverdale avenue reaching the
station there of the New York and Putnam Rail
road on the West The routes need not be speci-
n,I in detail for the purposes of this communi.
cation.
rhc proposition to provide rapid transit be-
tween these extreme and the Intermediate points
Of the boroughs directly involved has been in
active agitation for nearly ten years Onr city
hero narrowed by its water boundaries. liz practi-
rally Il territory "of one dmension"-that Is, Of
lrn.th the northerly. residential section being
uorr ~ less remote from the great business centre
until IT reaches the extreme point OF twelve miles
I'll, area Of Manhattan Borough is about $4,000
arrr, he Borough Of the Bronx is about OF the
extent The latter with magnificent capacity for
Jpyc'upement from its remarkable natural advan-
tau, has practically, remained dormant because
Of its inaccessiblity. waiting for the long prom
is,d boon Of relieving communication. The prop
rrty here has been heavily charged for opening
An regulating streets and progressive prepar-
atoms for occupation have been attempted: but
al have failed to make il available and profitable
10 any general extent The distance is isolatng
an the demand for relief is as Just as It is uni
vrrSnl Here too. are the great new parks which
~ he NAu Va
SlOOOO 900
rnrSe parks and parkways nine in number
,r,br,.i ing 5000 acres, combining unexcclled
II ural resources for public recreation and enjoy
mint and picturesque attractions bland and water
scenery scarcely to be paralleled Pelham Park
las a rnast line on the south miles in extent
S., apart in Cortlandt Park are 1870 acres for a
ra-a,r ground for the National Guard. These
PARIS require alarge annual expenditure for their
maintenance and development
bringing these remote sections OF the city on
this side Of the East River in close relation by
rtpI transit contact will confer inestimable
general benefit Greater New York: among
other reasons because II will introduce to Use
fitness large area OF territory able to bear tax,
alton to an extent which will considerably tighten
ihrload in every other section.
The issue as to the best means Of obtaining
rapid transit is therefore. OF supreme moment
+" every citizen.
Indeed do not know of any question affecting
our community of graver magnitude Through
thu fortunate financial condition which the munich
pallty has attained in reaching the point OF prac.
ticabc capacity for the great purpose in view as
recently announced by you, the scheme OF rapid
transit has TO the front for public considera
tun with pressing importance The substantial
Net under which the present apid Transit Com
misSioners are about TO proceed passed on
the 2lst day Of March 1894, and the Commission
ers have been laboring with the question, with
more or less activity, TO the present time
II has been announced now that they are
about to proclaim their scheme OF operations
and it is the nature Of this scheme the general
features Of which am acquainted with, that
desire To present for your consideration. as calcu-
lated IN result To the disadvantage OF the public
interests to an irreparsble extent
The community know that the vast cost OF the
proposed system Of rapid transit ia to be borne
and paid for by the city In the form OF an enor-
nous debt, trenchng, probably. other i'm.
pnrtant municipal necessities. But they do not
know that when the road is thus constructed at the
expense Of the taxpayers it will not practically
b"long to the city. The plan 70 be proposed Is
that the contract shall be given to corporation
Ia be selected by the Commissioners. as contract
and when il is finished the franchise Of operat
INK inc fhlrOdu IL 10 DC tne properly OF The corpora
ton for fifty years when the city is To buy the
property of equipment a new lease for a like
period is to be given. The building of the road
and the possession Of the franchise are blended
together in one inseparable scheme though
having no Just relation to each other: and in the
result the city will necessarily lose the control OF
the franchise for an insufficient consideration.
1t is mcaslirably as II the contractors for the
Croton water reservoirs and condnits to pro-
vide the city with water at the city's expense,
should have the right given 10 them as a part of
the contract TO sell the water for their own benefit
paving very limited price for the privilege 1t
Is this point which desire TO present TO you, in
the hope for its public discussion before it is too
late
It would seem TO be an obvious proposition that,
as the city is to pay every dollar for tho consruc
ton Of the road II should retain the posses
sion Of the franchise either To be operated BY
and for the citys benefit or disposed of at the
rpe time Of completion and then only to the high
est bidder
Let us glance for a moment in a general way
at what this franchise is TO be a tunnel il To be
constructed for four tracks two tracks for rapid
through travel and two other tracks for local
accommodation starting from about the City Hall
I" about Tooth street. with branches from
that point going east under the Harlem River to
Bronx Park and on the west crossing the Harlem
Ship Canal and Spuyten Duyvil Creek to Kings
bridge road and Riverdale avenue To the Putnam
county railroad station passing the thickly
populated part Of the city through tunnels and
the upper sections Of the city largely on viaduCts
The tunnel portion will be capacous, varying in
width from loops for two tracks Of rs feet In
width to a maximum width of 68 feet for the four
tracks The tunnel is TO be IS feet in height the
roof coming as near the surface Of the street as
possible Convenient and comfortable access is
I" b" provided by the application Of the elevator
system, avoiding the wearying climbing up and
climbing down of the three-story stairs Of the
elevated The tunnels are 10 be lighted as bright
asday and furnished with pure and wholesome air
by well known processes The propulsion is TO be
by electricity or compressed air avoiding com
huSton, by which the air would be vitiated and
securing, by every means that experience and
sclenc" can provide. safe and healthful as well
dSfapd transit The roadbed in the tunnel being
on solid foundation il will be 80 constructed as
= provide absolute smoOthness nf motion II Is