New-York tribune., 1901-11-26
HEARING on NEW-YoRK CENTRAL TUNNEL
BRONX MEN WANT CITY To FORCE RAILROAD TO
USE ELECTRIC POWER.


USE ELECTRIC POWER.
The Committee on Railroads of the Council held
a public hearing yesterday President Guggen-
heimers resolution providing that the railroad
companies using the tracks in the New-fork CEN
trail tunnel be directed to electric power, and
that the work of changing the motive power should
begin within sixty of the passage of the meas
ure and be completed within two years.
The authority under which 1t is proposed that the
CITY shall directing the change is a contract
between the city and the New-York and Harlem
Railroad. dated January 9. 1892.
Everett p Wheeler was the first speaker in favor
of the ordinance. He read from long printed ad-
dress of many thousand words. He said there
were now 475 trains day passing through the tun-
mel.
The real part of the difficulty is the escape OF
nauseous gases from the locomotives. and the dlff-
culty will never be cured until the use of coal Is
stopped he declared.
He referred to the original contract with the
New-York and Harlem Railroad and said that the
charter of greater NewYork, of 1891. gave the Mu-
nicipal Assembly full power in ordering the cnange
The State Railroad Commission only had power TO
recommend to the State Legislature but the Mu-
nicipal Assembly had much more power than the
commission.
Il am of opinion. a lawyer. he continued
that there should no hesitation 70 the tudg-
ment in raising the questions as To your power anu
I am sure that you would succeed
He urged the committee to force the raliroadS 10
immediate compliance with the law. saying If they
did not the railroads would put the matter on IN
definitely
Mr. Wheeler referred to various electric railroads
in other cities and added that the Second-ave
elevated road would its cars in Second-aNe. pJ
electricity on December | He discussed the feis, AS
ibfItv of the electric system in the subway he
urged that the Rapid Transit tunnel be so so con con
neCted Igith the tracks in the Grand Central STA
ton that through trains could be run to the bat
terv from The Bronx and adjacent points MS
he declared. would save the business man at ieaSt
twenty minutes in his Journey
James L. Wells. the second speaker 1aVCred tn6
ordnance He said that The Bronx had 29otJe
people and was larger than any city In the state
except NeU--York itself and Buffalo Ihis taCt rs
said should he the why the railroad Shoulu
nor hesitate 10 extend its tracks. ,,..
W W Niles said the reason OF the PAD 1aclltes
of the New York Central was that u did not Want
local traffic. John H. Bierman. OF Nll1arnsorluSe'
spoke briefly IN support of the ordinance
IRA A Place. counsel for the NeW,1ork l Centra! RAJ
road said he present principally 70 @ ma 3aI }
what the grievance was. He '.iollied MIR w heeler
ard Nr Wells for their eoquence- He took
mn the law on the subject of the power or tne
Municipal Assembly. He declared that the con
tract OF 1882 could live, and then quoted ff9t
various acts of the legislature. In the act OF isF
in spport of his contention, he said the leslsdtuI
not only authorized but directed the operation Oh
the road by steam ...I. .h. CON,
many Of which am counsel has this matter uhder
corsideration In a more vital way than can any
one else We are looking for this metnoo Oh
operation all the time.