New-York tribune., 1903-07-17
Low ATTACKS RAILROADS
He CSiticiseS Financing of Inter
urban and B. r. Il.
TO PROTECT CITY IN FRANCHISE


Mayor Low. at the meeting of the Rapid
Transit Commission esterday criticised ad-
versey the financing of the Interurban Street
Railway (the Metropolitan and the Brooklyn
Rapid Transit Company.
In discussing the terms of the proposed fran
chise 10 the Hudson and Manhattan Tunnel
Company. whose line Will run from Jersey City
to Fulton and Dey SITS. the Mayor said that
something should be put into the franchise so
that the city would have voice if the
company later wanted to dispose of it's fran
chise.
Take the Metropolitan and the Union Rail-
way and the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company.
Of Brooklyn. as examples. continued the
Mayor. THE Metropolitan a strong COM
pany. but it has passed into the hands of n
mere stockholding company without our know
Ing just how much substance there is to II. In
Brooklyn there was the Brooklyn City Railroad.
a perfectly strong and responsible company.
1t first leased to the Brooklyn Heights a
company with only half mile OF track md
this company in turn was leased to the Brook
lyn Rapid Transit Company. a company Of
| capital stock rather than capital"
Before he would assent to the franchise of the
new tunnel company. the Mayor asked for the
adoption Of the following addition to Clause 8
| Of the franchise:
THIS board retains the absolute right to order
@ IIp OF accommodations as 1t; In Its tudg
nent may deem proper. There may be an appeal
the SI1nren5e Sonrt in tb 5o TT F Pp@aL@ 5vsIoh 9i
decision shall be binding upon both the tunnel com
pany ana the CITY: but upon such an appeal, the
determination Is questioned, shall be upon the tun-
mel company.
Edward II. Shepard. counsel to the commits
sion. said that probably the Mayors amend
ment would need to be changed to read that
| the commission should have the right to order
certain changes. and that the reasonableness Of
these changes could be appealed to the Appel
late Division in Of dispute.
The commissioners, with the exception of Mr.
Jesup, were all present yesterday. On favor
able reports from committees the board, after
! discussion. decided to permit the Belmont COM
pany to connect the Third-ave. elevated with
The Bronx viaduct part of the subway. The
company must get also the consent Of the
Mayor. Of the Board Of Aldermen and Of a ma
jority Of the property owners along the line Of
the projected road. Mr.. Belmont's offer included
the agreement to charge only one fare from
Bronx Park to the City Hall or the Battery.
Similar favorable action was taken on the ap-
plication to extend the elevated system TO the
Fort Lee ferry house.
The franchise for the Manhattan Hudson tun-
mel went over. as the Mayor wanted certain
changes made. The contract provides that the
franchise shall be in perpetuity. on terms to be
adjusted each twenty-five years For the first
ten years the company is to pay 500 year for
the right to enter the city and 30 cents a linear
foot of track year for the tracks within the
city limits. For the next fifteen years it is to
pay like entrance fee and 81 foot year for
its tracks. In all other respects the conditions
OF the franchise are similar to the conditions
under which the Pennsylvania tunnel franchise
was granted.
Clause 8 of the contract says: THE railroad
shall be diligently and skilfully operated with
due regard to the convenience of the travelling
public as long as the franchise hereby granted
shall remain in force
It was decided to amend the contract 20 pro-
vide that the company shall operate under the
laws of the State Of New-Y
Final action on the application post
poned until the amendments agreed upon can
be printed with the contract as presented The
franchise will probably be granted at the next
meeting of the board. after which it will go to
the Board of Aldermen
Edward NJ. Shepard and A. B. Boardman pre-
sented a written opinion to the board that the
contractor the subway, John 3. Mcdonald.
and not the city. is responsible for all damage
done in the construction of the subway.