New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-20
TO SAVE ST. NICHOLAS-AVE.
PROPERTY OWNERS FIGHT AGAINST
THE PROPOSED RAILWAY.
THE CORPORATION BEHIND THE SCHEME
ORGANIZED on APRIL Is. AND is
SAID TO BE BACKED BY THE
METROPOLITAN


The committee appointed at a mass meeting
Of property-owners OF ST. NIcholas-ave. to op-
pose the building OF street railway on that
thoroughfare met last evening at the home OF
William A. Hoe. No. 729 st. Nicholas-ave Re-
ports We're received from those having charge
OF the different branches of the work and prep
arations made for the hearing before the
Joint railway committees OF the Municipal AS
sembly on June 30 at the Council Chamber. The
members Of the Property-owrcrs Committee are
William A. Hoe, f. c. Brown, Peter Alexander,
Willard Brown c. A. COutant, l.. X Bingham
and James p. Davenport Mr.. Hoe is chairman
of the committee.
Ex-Judge Davenport who has acted az coun-
sci for the committee, reported that those having
charge OF the work OF obtaining signatures to
protests against the construction OF the rail-
way mad met with great success. Not only
owners Of fine homes on the upper end OF ST
Nichoas-ave.. but also tha owners OF apart
ment houses between One-hundred- and-twenty-
fifth and One hundred and thirty-ffth SITS, had
generally signed the protests. The amount or
property represented by the signatures aggre-
gated several millions Of dollars The protests
will be presented on June 30, and the applica-
ton of the Municipal Street Railway Company
for the granting OF franchise will be heard
Reports were also received as to the interest
taken in the contest by drivers riders and bicy-
clists. One petition against the road Is open FOR
signature at the New-York Riding Club. An
other Is in circulation among members OF the
Suburban Riding and Driving Club and among
owners OF horses who use the Speedway to which
ST. Nicholas-ave is a main approach. Many
wheelmen have also expressed their interest In
the opposition to the railroad.
The Harlem Board OF Commerce. an Influential
body OF citizens which has already accom-
plished much in improving Harlem, had. 1t
was announced taken strong action against the
proposed railway Resolutions were adopted by
the Board OF Commerce denouncing the pro-
posal to take for street railway purposes one OF
the most beautiful avenues of upper New-York.
which used to large extent for pleasure
driving No necessity existed, IT was said, for
such railway A petition circulated
among the members OF the Harlem Board Of
Commerce against the railway, and commit
tee consisting Of James p. Davenport chairman,
H. c. F. Koch c. b. Morris. r. j. Hoguet and
A. L. BaggOtt was appointed TO appear at the
meeting Of the railroad committees and give
expression to the opposition OF Harlem residents
10 the proposed railway
The contest carried on by the residents and
property owners Of Washington Heights against
the proposed railway has extended over several
NichOlas-ave Is In some sections one or the
most beautiful streets In the city. 1t Is llned
with trees and the houses are in many cases
surrounded by lawns. 1t presents contrast to
the average city street in the variety and
beauty Of the houses st. Nicholas Place. which
leads directly to the Speedway and is practically
O. irt OF the avenue, has vide sidewalks partly
covered witf grass. and many OF the houses
stand back from the street. giving picturesque
and parklike effect to the thoroughfare. With
out access To the Speedway through ST. Mich
olas-ave. that pleasure ground. on which mill
ions OF dollars have been spent. could be reacned
only through Seventh-a and over the Viaduct.
Street railways already running within one
or two blocks on either side OF St. Nicholas ave,
and there is no demand by the residents or
Washington Heights for additional railway
between Eighth and Amsterdam aves.
The corporation which has applied for the
franchise to construct railway on St Nicholas
ave is Of recent formation, having been organ
i2ed on April II. Its purpose Is limited to the
building OF a road from One hundred and -sS-
teenth-st 10 Yonkers along Manhattan and st.
Nicholas aves Kingsbridge Road and Riverdale-
ave Its connections. however would be with
the Metropolitan system, and 1t would use the
Metropolitan tracks for a part Of the distance,
so that It is believed by tn, residents TO be
organized in the interests of the Metropolitan
Street Railway Company.