New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-25
MORE TROLLEY GRABBING.

The latest proposals for trolley extension IN
the northern part OF this city are 10 be re-
garded with some suspicion In part they are
probably commendabIe. There is little question
that there is need Of more extended Transports
tion service in The Bronx and Of better con-
nection between the lines in that borough and
those In Manhattan. We must repeat however,
that all legitimate ends ought 20 be sttainable
without sUrrendering the great One-hundred-
and fifty fifth-st. viaduct and the superb Wash
ington Bridge TO overhead trolleys. II they are
TO De used for car lines at ali, the propriety OF
which is doubtful, the company ought TO be re-
CURED 70 put the wires in an underground con-
duit As for the Macomb's Dam Bridge, we
have frequently hitherto expressed our opinion
OF its spoliation. What is suspicious IN the
present application is that a request is made
for a franchise for that bridge when such
a franchise was long ago granted 10 the
company. What Is the need OF a new one1
Does the Huckleberry company hope under
a new franchise 10 escape paying even the
very moderate rental for the use OF that bridge
which IS called for in the franchise already
granted? That is a matter which needs care
ful scrutiny.
Another ominous feature OF the new appli-
cation is for the right to build a trolley road
with overhead wires along Mosholu Parkway.
True, it is for only a part Of the parkway,
distance OF about a third OF a mile from
Sedgwick-ave. 10 Jerome-ave-, and there may
seem 10 be real need OF connecting the two
avenues in that way around that end Of the
Jerome Park reservoir, which there abuts di-
rectly upon the parkway. OF such need, how
ever, the most convincing proof should be
CURED 1t must be a great need, indeed, TO
warrant letting the Huckleberry road string fits
wires and lay its tracks park grounds. 1t
would be an inauspicious precedent TO set, that
Of surrendering even so short a stretch OF
parkway TO a trolley company. II cars are ad-
mitted TO Mosholu Parkway, there may some
day be a demand for letting them run on the
Bronx Parkway and then on Riverside Drive,
and the Ocean Parkway and the Shore Road,
in Brooklyn We have no doubt a trolley COM
pany would pay a handsome price for the privl-
lege Of running cars on the East Drive Of Cen
trail Park II would be q dangerous thing TO let
the Huckleberry road get upon MOshOlu Park
way at all, and If II be proved public neces-
sity TO have trolley connection around that end
Of the reservoir the road should be compelled
to pass through a tunnel under the parkway;
or else a strip Just wide enough for its tracks
should be assigned 10 II at that side OF the
parkway, and shut away from the parkway
with a high wall, and the company be com
PEELED TO pay for the cost OF restoring the width
OF the IaEANAg Dg lAle dGlulS4liOu u CUTIE
spending strip at the other side. No trolleys in
the parks OF on the parkways should be a Law
as unchanging as the laws Of the Medes and
Persians.
While we are upon this subject, it may be
well TO warn our westchester County friends
from YoBkers 10 Ossining that another attempt
is TO be made, indeed is already being made, 10
grab the Albany Post Road, or Broadway, for a
trolley line. Efforts are already under way at
Albany 10 secure the repeal Of the law which
protects that noble and historic highway from
such spoliation. and there seems 20 be danger
that these viii be successful unless strong coun-
ter efforts are promptly put forth. We can i'm
agine scarcely any greater catastrophe TO the
suburbs OF New-GOrk, along the Hudson than
the spOlation OF the Post Road would be- and
none more ominOus Of similar vandalism else
where. II that road thus be grabbed. no
road is safe. AS we have hitherto pointed
out, there is 40 need OF taking the Post Road
FOR trolley line except TO save the company
little money. a nearby parallel route could