New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-23
NJ. S.R. NAY FIGHT CHANGE
TTWOULD HELP BELMONT
Bridge Trains TO Enter Sub1cGy at
FlatbuSh-aUe. and FaltoT-St.

Controller Grolst sa.d yesterday that the new
Manhattan Bridge would figure prominently IN
the proposed subway extension from Flatbush
and Fourth ayes. TO Fort Hamilton The Con-
sroller, President Orr ana Charles Stewart
Smith are the members o. the Rapid Transit
Commission comprising the committee on plan
and scope. Mr. Grout said that the tentative
plan for ths Fort Hamilton extension is sub
BSantially as follows:
Tie Brooklyn terminal OF the Manhattan
Bridge VIII be at the intersection OF Flatbush-
ave and Fulton-st. The subway trains over the
new bridge VIII go into the subway Of the
Brooklyn extension now building at this point
and run 70 Fourth-ape. before making the turn
howard Fort Hamilton. This extension from
Fourth-ave. and Flatbush VIII be about seven
miles long and VIII cost approximately $780,
600 mile. AL the work VIII be done without
resorting TO the open ditch method.
To give the Belmont and the Metropolitan
companies an opportunity TO bid on even terms.
the Rapid Transit Commission VIII amend the
AIetropolitan's proposed route by extending the
West Side line 20 Forty-second-st and thence
east 20 Broadway instead OF stopping it at
Ehirty-fcurth-st. and running it east TO Lexing-
zon-ave. This route VIII enable the Belmont
people to bid on proposition that really viii be
a valuable extension Of their present tunnel
affording The company West Side line below
Forty-second-st. and an East Side line under
I4exington-ave. above Forty-seccnd-st. When 1t
comes to submitting bids, the Metropolitan com
pany doubtless win indicate that they prefer the
Y -oute proposed by themselves TO the commits
sion, and VIII not bid al all on spur from
Eighth-sve. TO Broadway.
The Belmont people VIII prefer TO bid on the
soute which includes connection between
11ghth-sve. and the present subway at Broad
WAY. on these two proposed routes the COM
snission VIII decide The Metropolitan company
win offer free transfers 10 all its crosstown
Zines and the Belmont company will offer free
Transfers 20 its trunk line running from Inc
Bronx to Brooklyn.
Il notice that some OF the papers to-day say
that there win be nothing done in subway work
Tor another year" said the Controller. That IS
not correct. II is true THAI the preliminary
work VIII take year. but We shall begin the
Eraming OF a new tunnel contract al once. IL
VIII take a year for to get things IN shape
10 award the contract, perhaps, and by that
time we can obtain from the legislature new
taws embodying some Of the desirable features
of the Esberg bin, which did not set out Of the
Rules Committee. I am in favor OF getting
rapid transit legislation by the Introduction OF
separate bills, providing for single feature
Each. IN that way we shall be able TO get some
of the best features OF the Elsberg bill with
out inviting the united opposition OF the inter
ests naturally antagonistic to our plans. one OF
ahe things greatly desired is bill providing
Tor the taxation OF the next subway. The Bel
mont interests escape taxation on the subway
soon TO be opened. il IS less OF an experiment
saow than il was five years ago, and there Is no
treason why future subways should not sustain
their proper burden OF taxation"