The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1904-07-20
NEW HAYRN'S BRONX PLANS
REASONS FOR sI1-TRACK ROAD
10 NEW ROCHELLE


Connection With the Elevated Road
and the Subway-ReIation to the
Brooklyn Plans of the Pennsylvania.
According to Borough President Half
fen, the New York, New Haven and
Hartford railroad. the New York
Evening Post of last night says, has
decided to convert its Harlem branch,
running from New Rochelle to the Har-
lem river, into six-track road. This
iroad covers the extreme east Of the
Bronx, all along from New Rochelle TO
Second avenue and 10th street. AT
the latter point it has joint station
| with the elevated railroad The two
roads use Jointly the Harlem bridge at
10th street, and their tracks are actu-
ally Joined. The rolling stock Of the
Harlem branch is almost identical with
that Of the elevated road. There are
the same small cars. and the Harlem
trains are propelled by small engines
similar to those recently discarded on
the Manhattan lines On special occa-
sions trains have been run from the
City hall in Manhattan to New Ro-
chelle.
Probably the fact that such means Of
ready transit are possible to all points
in Westchester county reached by the
New Haven road will surprise most
people. That the necessary improve
ments and traffic arrangements were
not long since made is attributed to
the proverbial backwardness of the
New Haven line. It has for years abb
solutely controlled the traffic situationiI
/ in the eastern sections of Westchester
county. For this reason it has done
1 little to improve facilities. Its suburban
rolling stock is still antiquated; its
communication terms high and inconyen-
lent; its train service entirely made
quate. 1t has itself no independent
means Of entrance into Manhattan, but
still uses the Harlem tracks north Of
Mount Vernan, and the Grand Central
station. Along the Westminster sound
shore many flourishing suburban settle
rents have grown up, in spite Of the
poor accommodations of the New Ha-
ven road. They have infinite POSSIBLE
tiles of growth If adequate Transports
tion is assured Lately several int1u-
ences have tended to arouse the New
Haven management. In the first place
/ the management has changed; and
Westchester county people have hoped
great things from Mr.. Mellen's admin
istration. Again, two rival railroads
are before the board Of aldermen for
franchise through the Bronx, needed
to complete a proposed Westchester
line. If one succeeds and builds its
line 1t will get at once practically all
\ the suburban business Of the New Ha-
ven road, and also take advantage Of
Iother opportunities which that corpor-
alton has neglected. That the New Ha-
lven company realizes this is evident
from its open official opposition to the
Port Chester plansto say nothing Of
the generally accepted theory that, as
a part of its warfare, It resurrected the
defunct Westehester franchise.
/ If President Haffen's information IS
accurate, evidently the New Haven
company has changed its tactics. In
Estead Of blindly attempting to sweep
lall competitors from the field, 1t is to
Iextend its own lines to get the busi-
lness itself. This.tit is believed, is its
lmost effective method Of campaign. For
some time It has been buying property
on both sides Of the New Rochelle
branch, so that it already controls stif-
ficient land for its improvements. All
that is necessary Is to merely lay its
trails, perhaps enlarge its terminal ia
/ cilities at the Harlem river, and enter
Unto an agreem1t with the Interborough
Ito use the Second and Third avenue
tracks Of the Elevated road. Unques-
ltionably this latest agreement could be
made. The opening of the subway will
probably relieve somewhat the pres
Isure upon the elevated roads, so that
there would be room for the New Ha-
ven suburban trains or perhaps, even
more likely would be a junction with
1.-THE subway. AT Westchester avenue
land Southern boulevard the New Ha-5
wen line and the subway cross; at this
lpoint, however, the subway being an
elevated road. BY changing the grade
the tracks of the two lines could be
ljoined, and the New Rochelle trains be.
run down the subway to City hall. The
Ipoint is that this can all be done a
year or so after the subway is opened.
lThe New Haven line already exists. It
has a franchise and thus needs no au-
lthorization for making its proposed
lehanges. The Port Chester or West
leicester road on the other hand will
take some years to build.
1t is thus likely that, If the New Ha-s
Iyen makes these changes little more
Twill be heard Of the rival companies.
Essentially, the intended route of the
Port Chester and the Westchester, and
THAT actually covered by the New Ha-.
Iyen line are the same. They cross the
Ieastern section OF the Bronx-at pres
tent unbuit-and take in the shore
Towns. The New Haven road has the
advantage in that it can distribute
passengers further east. The Harlem
branch now joins the New Haven main
lime at New Rochelle. There is no
treason, however, why suburban trains
cannot be run as far east from this
lpoint as is required. They need not stop
at Port Chester; they can go to Green
witch, to Stamford, to South Norwalk
Ito New Haven, If necessary. At pres
ent there is probably room for only one
lsuburban railroad in the Bronx and
lWestchester. The latter has been gem
Ierally regarded as dummy concern,
raised by the New Haven company to
kill off the Port Chester. 1t was sug-
Il gested to-day that this purpose having