New-York tribune., 1902-03-15
ONLY TWO TRACKS UNDER RTTER
ORR IN REPLY TO sWANsTROM. SAYS THAT
THERE IS NOT MONEY ENOUGH
FOR MORE

BY authority of the Rapid Transit Commission
Alexander T. Orr has replied the recent letter
OF D. Edward Swanstrom. President of Brooklyn
Borough. taking issue with his declaration that
the only plan for the Brooklyn Iyn-NIanhattan Rapid
Transit Railway approved by the people OF Brock
lyn Is one which provides for the construction OF
four continuous tracks connecting the City Hall
loop with the Borough Hall in Brooklyn" Mr.
Orr says that Mr. Swanstrom must have been mis-
informed on the subject and he recites consider
able history of the plans for the extension of the
rapid transit subway by tunnel to BROOKLYN At
the outset the letter says the Rapid Transit Com
mission was informed that the city would have
not more than SS000OO0 or possibly SO O0 OO0 for
the construction OF the extension of the subway
down Broadway and the construction of a tunnel
to Brooklyn from the Battery
The plans. after being adopted by the commits
sion were before the Municipal Assembly for some
months. the letter says and although there were
objections made as 10 the route of the tunnel and
suggestions for direct route to BrookTv-r
the objections now made by Mr. Swanstronn were
not made by single citizen Later in hearings be-
fore the Mayor and before the courts the plans
adopted by the commission We're approved al best
cacula ted, with the means available to serve the
greatest number of people
The new Mayor and Controller have been asked.
Mr.. Orr says. if the city could not have money
enough for four-track extension but thev have
not replied to the commission The commission
however. understands that there is not money
available at present to justify delay or change OF
present plans.
Mr.. OrT's letter continues:
IL IS plain that whenever there shall be the means
Tor the construction OF the two additional tracks
II shall be without any material loss or ex-
penSe, to construct them separately from The
road proposed The board would no doubt
have to consider the route along which such two
tracks should proceed.
1t might be well that instead of proceeding
southerly IN Manhattan from the City Hall. under
Broadway. they should be carried directly that is
TO say Il straight line substantially so from
the City Hall entirely in tunnel the junction OF
FOurth-ave. and AtlantiC-aVe-, some other con-
venient distributing point in Brooklyn In such
case the tracks from City Hall the pOint of dis
tributiOn in Brooklyn might be express tracks
without any station When the board shall have
the means TO provide two tracks from the Citv
Hall southerly TO the South Ferry. NAV deem IL
more convenient and cheaper to carry them doSu
ChurCh-st some other street than Broad rav.
The board is advised bv its counsel that no az
tension or alteration of the or general plan
now adopted can be had without the consent OF
the municipal authorities and OF the Appellate
Divisions The board does not deem il WISE 10 sIls-
pend its attempts to secure rapid transit urOnnptI-
for Brooklyn until after the financial officers or
the city shall permit il to add facilities which can
he later added. when such permission shall be ac-
corded the board and without delaying the partial
measure now begun.