New-York tribune., 1902-01-30
POWER TO CONDEMN LAND.
BILL PROVIDING FOR TUNNEL AND STA
TION NEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA
RAILROAD IN THIS CITY.

Albany, Jan. 29 (SpeciaD.-Senator Stranahan
Introduced bill to-day which. il is believed. is
Intended TO authorize condemnation proceedings
that will allow the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany TO obtain site for its proposed great rail-
way depot. and TO provide land for its proposed
underground railroad in the city to connect with
the tunnel its officers propose to build under the
Hudson River between New York and New
Jersey.
Senator StTanahan frankly admitted tonight
that the bill was in the interest of the Pennsyl-
kania Railroad. He said:
The bin is intended to aid the Pennsylvania
Railroad ia its design to construct a tunnel
beneath the Hudson River and then cross be-
meath Manhattan Island in an Underground
railway to the East River, and thence in a tun-
uel beneath the river to enter Long Island City.
understand that the bill is agreeable to the
citl authorities 1t has been the subject of
many conferences between the authorities Of
New-York and the counsel OF the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company. 1 have had one talk my
self with Mayor Low about the bill.
The charter of New-York now forbids the
granting OF franchise Tor a longer period than
twenty-five years The bill provides. however,
for revaluation Of the franchise every twenty
i've years. The counsel of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company made the argument that
while IL was commercially possible to sell fran
Chises for twenty-five years where the fran
chises touched only city matters, 1t would be
Impossible TO persuade a trancontinental rail-
road to accept a franchise for such limited
period when 1T was proposed to make such a
poses TO make when it constructs the tunnel
beneath the Hudson River and the underground
railroad in New-York- The bill is limited en-
ttrely.
have not had talk with Mayor Low about
the bill since its completion, but chatted with
him concerning it while 1t was under prepara-
Zion.
The bill says:
The bill amends the greater New-Fork char
Ter that ii will read:
The Board Of Aldermen is hereby authorized
en it's discretion to grant 10 any railroad cor
5poration now or hereafter incorporated for the
purpose so declared in its articles OF incorpora-
fion. of constructing and operating a tunnei
railroad or railroads In the city OF New YORK, 10
be connected with the railroad or railroads OF
or hereafter organized whether under the laws
nf the State of New-York or OF an adjoining
State and thereby forming a continuous line
for the carriage of passengers and property pe-
Tween point points within and point OF
points without the city of New-Tork, a iran
chise right or consent, either with or without
Limitation as to period OF enjoyment, for the
nonstruction and operation under any lancs.
streets avenues waters, rivers. parkways high
hvays or public places in the city of New
York of such tunnel railroad or railroads, with
all necessary sidngs. platforms stations, facih-
ties for access TO the surface ana other appur-
renences and with the right TO emerge TO the
surface upon private lands at the termini.
n5very such grant shall contain and be subject
ITO conditions requiring payment to the city OF
New-York by the railroad corporati ton OF rea-
eonable compensation therein prescribed, which
shall be read;ustsble at intervals Of not less
Khan twenty-five years; and prescribing rea-
eonshle period within which said railroad shall
he completed.