New-York tribune., 1902-05-16
ONE BIG TUNNEL SYSTEM.
MR. ORR THANKS THE TRIBUNE FOR ITS
WORK FOR THE EAST SIDE.

As direct result of the agitation by The
| Tribune for East Side branch of the sub
[ way. the Rapid Transit Commission adopted a
resolution yesterday authorizing William Bar
| clay Parsons its chief engineer, to prepare
! comprehensive interbOrough subway system for
| the whole city of New-York. The proposition
was embodied in a letter written by Alexander
\ +. orr president of the commission. to Mr.. Par
| sons. and which was read in open meeting.
| Mr.. Orr. in referring to his letter said to
| Tribune reporter after the meeting
| Il want TO thank The Tribune for the work
| it did in showing the great need OF rapid transit
/ on the East Side 1t from that series OF
/ articles that 1 the conclusion that the
| commission should go ahead and plan not only
| for the great East Side. but for all those parts
| of the city that need rapid transit. Paris is
| doing that. The French capital has laid out an
elaborate system of tunnels which it is going
| ahead and building fast as it is able
Mr.. Orrs letter is in part as follows:
| My Dear Sir; The public has come to fully
recognize the wisdom OF development OF the
rapid transit facilities of greater New-York and
OF the use OF its street property for rapid transit
purposes upon general and farseeing plan
I Rapid transit franchises. IL is now believed.
| ought to be granted with reference TO a system
! attic treatment OF the subject. under the guild
/ ance or initiatOTy control OF a single body like
( this board, with tenure sufficiently long to
sure not only the adoption OF comprehensive
u.
| cution- This idea was embodied in the present
/ rapid transit act. providing it did not only
/ for municipal construction of new rapid transit
railroads., hut also teT the grant OF rapid transit
franchises 10 companies opera ting existing lines
When the present board took up the study of
/ the problem It's Jurisdiction confined TO the
| present boroushS of Manhattan and The Bronx.
and it then proposed general plan. with cen
| tral route along Broadway to FOurteenth-St.
and from that point with direct extensions tow
ard the northern limits of the city, one on the
East Side along Fourth and Park aves and the
nd he
Boulevard. That plan was disapprOVed by the
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court chiefly
upon considerations of expense; and the maxi
mum limit OF SO 100000 which it was under
stood that the court might approve. compelled
the East Side line from the main line as far up
town One-hUndred- and -fourth-st
When the plan now under construction
adopted the board was careful to announce that
because OF the COnStTaint thus placed upon its
action, il formed only a part of a more compre-
:, hensive system which the board intended to lay
out soon as the financial condition Of the city
should permit. In the hope that such financial
ability IS not far distant. the board instructed
YOU at its meeting held on the 1st inst. to sub
nit plans for East Side line connecting with
the present rapid transit route at FOrty-second-
st and Park-ave. This instruction did not i'm
ply a determine tiOu OF the board as to what
should be the next rapid transit route adopted
but only that the necessities Of the upper East
Side would have 10 be studied and considered.
as would also the further claims OF FrOokIvn
and the claims OF other bOrOughs-
The board is almost ready to advertise the
contract for the Observation-Disclosures extension
already adopted. II has at the request OF the
Mayor begun the consideration Of a cOmprehen-
Siye terminal system intended to include the
present Brooklyn Bridge and the bridges Nos.
ana .. now under construction IL mas re-
ceived from the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad Com
pany, and is now considering, an application
for the grant of a franchise for tunnel rail-
road under the Hudson River. across the Bor-
ough OF Manhattan under the East River. and
connecting in the Borough OF Queens with the
Long Island Railroad system. Under the amend
ment to Section % of the Rapid Transit act. and
without further legislation. as l am advised Il
will also he possible. with cooperation OF the
city authorities upon which. believe. We may
count, for the board. upon the application OF the
New-York Central and Hudson River Railroad
Company. to authorize enlargement OF the
terminal facilities OF that company so as TO per-
nit it to make the peremptOrily needed change
of motive power in the Park-ave- tunnel
presently he before the board
II is therefore, clear that the public has
a right 10 expect from this board the prepara-
ton of a general and far reaching system OF
rapid transit covering the whole city of New
York in all its five bOroughS. II was in anticf-
patton Of that work that the board in January
last asked the Mayor and Controller for early in
formation to the extent 10 which the debt
permit rapid transit extension IN addition TO the
Neutrality-suspicious. and Brooklyn Manhattan
roads. When that information shall be received
the board will be better able 10 decide where the
next rapid transit expenditure shall be placed.
The far reaching plan have suggested could
not of course be carried out at once. or per-
hans comnIetelv carried out for many years
The streets Of New-Yorx be dedicated 70 tI,nrsi
railroad purposes. with proper regard to the
long and. no doubt. splendid future Of the city.
two things may reasonably be expected. First.
that rapid transit construction viii proceed upon
the lines so laid down rapidly the means OF
the city and the amount of private capital
ready for rapid transit investment will permit
And second that relatively unimpOrtant fran
chises will not he granted in such way or ssecial
routes be devised as to prevent OF obstruct
a permanent and sufficient programme.
The resolution was presented by Mr.. Clanin
and seconded by Mr.. Starin- 1t was as follows:
Resolved. That this communieat OF Fres-
fdent Orr. under date. May %. 1902. he for-
mnily referred To the chfcf ensfneer. VIII
e a the board that prepare
compreh IN ensive scheme OF rapid transif A.
therein suggested.