New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-21

the main object OF which was the removal OF toll
yates and the improvement OF the avenue The
road was In bad repair. and the grand Jury had
threatened several occasions to indict the COM
pany which claimed ownership As the population
increased and new regions were opened I'D for
residence travellers found Il an easy matter to go
around the gates and. tolls were small and the
expense Of repairing was large item. the
psny made overtures TO the county.
Frederick W. Dunton. who was supervisor OF the
old town Of Jamaica. in 1897 appeared before the
Queens County Board OF Supervisors and stated
that in order TO settle the question OF title the
operating company willing to make agree
ment relinquishing the title the avenue under
certain conditions. and that the thing could be
accomplished at expense Of S3.C0O. The money
was voted. To Townsend l. Scudder. at present
Democratic Congressman from the Ist District
who then counsel for the Board Of Supervisors.
according 70 the records. also allowed the
OF 5000 for looking after the publics interest
IN this matter. How these interests safe
guarded be seen BY perusal OF the remark
able agreement entered into. What the railroad
company relinquished and what the county gained
outside OF the privilege Of spending $4,000 In
paving the avenue-it would take Philadelphia
lawyer TO figure out
One Of the points in the suit to break this
agreement will be as to whether a valid contract
be made where a member OF one OF the
tracing parties acts agent IN bringing about
such agreement Another is that according 70 the
State law. a street railroad company does not have
the right 20 lay T rails. and must pave between its
tracks and two feet each side OF them. II the
company had paid It's share OF the Improvement it
would have resulted I'm a saving TO the county OF
$4,000 But under the agreement the company
not only avoided this. but the county IS obligated
70 forever keep the entire street IN repair.
No explanation of this remarkable agreement
has been made by the parties who concluded it.
although statement giving their reasons for the
same would be welcomed. The matter was slightly
touched upon at the last election. but the docu-
ment was OF such recent discovery at that time
that its contents were thoroughly understood
However. all the present turmoil and strife IN
Jamaica the road brought about by the
running Of the elevated trains down incline TO
/ the street. When the incline built. stated
| by Borough President Cassidy a hearing before
/ the local board. lie informed that It was the
intention OF the company to single cars. There
/ would have been no objection to this. but when
/ trains made their appearance there was a storm
| Of protests. The trains for eight months. and
| were then removed through the efforts OF the
/ jamaica Avenue Association
Then came a greater protest than ever. for the
railroad company put the service back TO where It
was six years before and put up the rate OF fare
/ to 10 cents which It holds II is entitled to do
under the charter Of the old horse railroad COM
/ pany. The jamaica Avenue Association had to
bear the brunt Of the blame for this state Of af-
| fairs because the impression gained ground that
the members OF this organization were satisfied to
/ get the trains stopped. and did not intend to do
I anything further
/ In answer to this. however. John Adikes. one Of
I the progressive OF Jamaica's business men
and who has been severely criticised IN this latest
phase OF the situation. says that the association
/ is taking steps TO compel the company 70 restore
\ the service and rate OF fare which existed prior
TO the time OF the motor trains. The business men
OF Jamaica say they are not opposed to the Brook
\ Ign Rapid Transit Company. and indeed that they
! welcome II as a competitor OF the Long Island
Railroad But they insist that a fine and much
/ travelled thoroughfare like Jamalca-ave Is not
built to withstand the operation Of heavy trains.
\ They say that the motor trains. which stopped
only at stations FIVE six blocks apart destroyed
entirely the local character OF the service and in
commoded the short riders.
Under the agreement the railroad company IS alb
solved from the expense OF repairing the pavement
/ OF the avenue. and from appearances II will be
/ only a short time before good sized bill for re-
pairs IL presented TO the taxpayers Of the borough
/ There ia question that the motor trains have
\ seriously disturbed the brick pavement, and the