New-York tribune., 1902-12-27

the boards special committee, consisting OF
Mayor Low. Controller Grout, C. V. Fornes
president of the Board of Aldermen, and Bor-
pugh Presidents Jacob A Cantor and Louis F.
Hafen.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
After reviewing the various plans suggested
5y the railroads engineers and by property
sowners interested, the committee recommends:
First-That the vault spaces under sidewalks
about the station and in LeXington-ave. be not
granted In this connection.
Second-That the grades shown and the gen
tPark-ave., the Grand Central Station, and for
sthe elimination Of the grade crossings at Morris
Heights, Fordham Heights and Highbridge, and
its plan 'b' for the elimination OF grade cross
zngs in the vicinity Of kingSbridge, including
Ringsbridge Road, East Northumberland
thirtieth-st Broadway Corlear-ave Tib-
Sat+n,a T1-es+ T,.-o b,,nd brfia+,7st
and West Two-hundred-and-twenty y-seventh-st.,
under the provisions Of Chapter 5l6 of the Laws
tof 1901, be generally approved; except
Third-That Park-aVe. be continued by 60
foot viaduct from Forty-ninth-st 10 Forty
sifth-st.
Fourth-That the railroad companies engage
10 prepare at once plans for the elimination Of
their only remaining grade crossings in the Bor-
ough Of The Bronx, to wit, on the Port Morris
branch of the Harlem road, and when said plans
are approved by the city TO execute the same
Fifth-That if the execution of any of the
aforesaid plans creates any legal liability on the
part Of the city or the railroad companies TO
any property owners. the railroad companies
therefrom
Sixth-That it be recommended TO the Rapid
Transit Commission to consider favorably plans
for the connection Of the subway at Forty
second-st with these railroad lines, and also for
the connection of the Forty-second-st. subway
station with the Grand Central Station, and
that the railroad companies ask for these con-
slections Of such commission.
AN ANNUAL RENTAL
Seventh-That the railroad companies pay the
city annual rental Of $4,000 for the use Of
the sub-surface of streets shown on their plans,
south Of Fifty-seventh-st- and Park-aYe eX-
cept as TO vault privileges provided in the
first recommendation; assume all the expense OF
constructing the bridges and Tladucts from
Forty-fifth TO Fifty-sixth-st., inclusive except
for the additional width of the Forty -fifth-st.
Niaduct and less the sum Of SbO0OOU, de-
termined as the cost to the city of acquiring
and constructing equivalent street space; con-
tribute the land for the city to build the Park
ave viaduct provided for in the third recon-
Inendation, and in all other respects bear the
costs and charges involved, and stated in
their proposition of December 8 1907.
Eighth-That upon such bridges and viaducts
may be erected such signalling apparatus as
may be necessary to the safe operation of the
railroads, and which cannot be placed or used
3n the yard or station below, the plans for which
shall be first approved by the Mayor and the
president of the Borough of Manhattan.
Ninth-That the entire action of the city
herein is conditioned upon the railroad COM
panies procuring. asserting to and aiding the
city TO procure ali legislation necessary to carry
these plans and propositions into effect in their
entirety and without modification Except such
rs the city voluntarily accepts), and which leg
aslation shall also permit and require the change
of motive power from steam to electricity or
some other motive power not involving combus-
tion in motors by all the railroads
at any time hereafter using the tunnel in
Park or Fourth ave. which permission and re-
nuirement shall contain, however, a proviso
that In an emergency arising from a break
down of the motive power used, through trains
only may be temporarily operated by steam, the
emergency in each case to be determined by
the Mayor of the city.
Tenth-That the changes herein involved shall
within thirty 62VS after such leg
sslation is had, prosecuted diligently and finally
completed within five years.
Eleyenth-That power house Except sta
tions for the transformation of electric current)
shall be placed Manhattan Island more than
two blocks from the waterfront, except with
the consent of the Board OF Estimate and APP
portionment, and that the location of all such
power houses shall be first approved by the
Board Of Estimate and Apportionment.
ALL PARTIES IN INTEREST
In commenting the need of the proposed
changes the report says:
The deplorable accident which occurred in the
tions and loss of life. caused immediate and
irresistible demand for change Of motive
power from steam to electricity in the tunnel in
Fourth-aVe, demand made as lmperlouSly by
the patrons of the road residing without the
city by the city itself. Indeed, the victims of
that catastrophe lived for the most part in New
Rochelle. The object of this demand is safety
in travel These facts are recalled 10 remind
the board that the people of this city and the
only ones TO be thought Of in connection with
the arrangements necessary to be made in or
der TO make possible the desired change of
motive power. The whole travelling public of
the United States, well the railroad COM
panies and the city and its inhabitants and
property owners. are parties in interest and the
city authorities expect to control the situa-
ton only so far as they stand for what is just
and reasonable and in the general interest OF
ell the parties to the controversy. But subject |
to these limitations we are bound especially to
neigh hhorhood
The advantages proposed by the plans and
propositions Of the railroad companies are;
First-The abandonment of the use Of steam
as a motive power. and with it the freeing Of the
tunnel from steam. smoke and gas
Second-The opening Of eleven new cross
streets-six at grade, one end Of four at slight
grade. the other ends Of the four and OF the re-
manning street at grade not exceeding per
cent The creation or recovery Of these trans
verse streets seems 10 the committee to be of
prime importance TO the city and to the neigh |
borhood.
Third-The relief of Forty-second-st. Depew
Place and Vanderbilt-ave- of all station carriage
and wagon traffic by the construction OF an ele-
waited carriageway and carriage stand within
the station. about eight feet above the con-
course. as the space is called from which pas
sengers now pass through the iron gates to the
trains. This elevated carriageway will be
reached by the Forty-fifth-st viaduct from both
Lexington and Madison aves.
Fourth-The extension of the waiting room
across the entire Forty-second-st front OF the
station.
Fifth-The elimination of nearly all the grade
crossings maintained by these railroad COM
panies within the city
THE TOTAL COST
In order to carry these changes into effect. the
railroad companies propose TO install electricity
their motive power as far north as Croton
on the Hudson River Railroad and White Plains
on the Harlem Railroad. The total cost of all
these changes is estimated by the railroad COM
panies at S25,O0o.OO0- Such charges involve
in addition certain relinquishng Of their fixed
rights by the railroad companies. In response
to the demands Of their patrons and of the city
and the State.
In the plans Of these changes in Park-ave. and