New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-27
BIGGER MERGER EXPECTED
TRACTION COMBINATION IN WHICH
GREAT LINES WILL. FIGURE.

The organization of complete and har-
moniousy operated system of underground.
surface and elevated electrical railroads for
travel in the city, between the different
boruughs and to the suburbs is being spoken
of by many observing NewYOrkers prob
ability of the future The tendency TO
combine rival street railway lines led to the
organization of the Metropolitan and Third
Avenue systems in Manhattan and the Brook
yn Rapid Transit system in Brooklyn. The
absorption of the Third Avenue system by the
Metropolitan and the lease of the latter TO the
Interurban Street Railway Company have been
believed to be natural steps leading to con-
solidation with the Manhattan elevated sys-
tenn and with the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
The organization of the interborough Rapid
Transit Company to operate the subway roads
in Manhattan, The Bronx and Brooklyn, when
the subways and tunnels are completed has
been regarded as most natural arrangement
by which union with other systems could be
complished later The plans for tunnels under
the North and East rivers and under the island
of Manhattan, to connect the Pennsylvania and
Long Island Railroad systems, and the plans of
the New-York Central for improvements in ter
minal facilities in Park-ave.. have been talked
of in and out of Wall Street as significant indi-
cations of vast combination of city and sub
urban rapid transit facilities.
The lease of the Manhattan system to the
Interborough company was spoken of by finan-
cters yesterday a natural union of long haul
roads. Most persons who travel on the ele-
waited roads in Manhattan ride long distances,
and it is to be expected that when travel in the
subways begins most OF the passengers on the
underground trains will ride several miles. Most
persons who are going 10 ride only a dozen
blocks or so prefer to go on surface cars.
That there will be in Manhattan and The
,I-T-- 1Tr~,
between the "long haul and short haul sys-
TENS is the firm belief of many shrewd per-
sons who have watched the progress of street
railway combinations. The Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company controls both surface and ele-
waited travel II will be remembered that the
Metropolitan Street Railway Company was once
a bidder for the rapid transit subway system,
believing apparently that the surface lines were
me natural means of distributing passengers
between widely separated stations of a rapid
transit road.
Many New-Yorkers believe that it would be
for the best interests of the city and its peo-
pie to have all local railway travel In the con-
troll of one corporation. provided the city could
enforce proper reEuIatlons LOT heaIIh anu sdIe az
ty of passengers, and, provided the corporation
could be compelled 10 give adequate transfers
between the connecting lines. They would look
upon such combination OF trafnc faci1ues as
calculated to increase business and invite addi-
tional prosperity. The adoption of electricity
as the motive power for trains and cars
throughout the city is regarded S help TO the
computation of all lines.
The interest which the Pennsylvania and New
York Central would have in such a combination
can be understood readily. The New-York Cen
tral already provides facilities for an enormous
suburban traffic. When the objections TO travel
in the Park-ave. tunnel are removed by a
change from steam to electricity and the ter
ninal facilities are increased, this traffic prob
ably will be greatly increased The tunnels TO
connect the Pennsylvania and Long Island Rail
road systems with big station in Manhattan
are expected to deliver an immense passenger
traffic.
The companies must naturally be interested in
the facilities to be afforded their passengers in
Wfy,v,e 70 F1,a1r vY1Nf
mate destination in the city, and in the factli-
ties which will act as feeders TO the stations
That the companies would have some voice in
the management and operation of the local lines
of traffic therefore might be expected Future
organization and consolidation of traffic facili-
ties will be awaited by the people of the city
with no little interest.