New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-24
TO BEGIN WORK AT ONCE.
STATEMENT BY mr.. REA.
Plans for Hell Gate Link Before
CouanissiOn-7'he Rental.

Samuel Rea fourth vice-president OF the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company. said yesteT-
day az the Offices Of the Rapid Transit Com
mission that his company intended TO begin at
once the building OF the proposed link from the
fushyiok district IN Brooklyn TO the yards OF
the New-York. New-Haven and Hartford Rail
road at one hunored-and- thirty-eighth-st The
construction involves the building Of eight miles
81 double track and bridge across Wards and
Randalls islands spanning Hell Gate at
height OF 1875 feet. and 20 cost S3OoOcOO
Mr. Rea met President Orr OF the Rapid Tran
eft Commission and Controller Grout. two OF
the subcommittee contracts, and the three
had a long talk about terms for rental for city
streets Nossrs Orr and Grout told Mr. Rea
that although HIS company contemplated
using a private right OF way. its connecting line
would be useless unless It crossed the citys
streets and avenues and that the commission
wa, resolved 70 charge q rental based on the
linear feet OF single track
I'VE do this because there is now before the
board OF Estimate and Apportionment an ap-
pIication 20 cross streets and avenues In Inc
Bronx ano we want the principle OF charging
a rental on the linear foot basis established
said the Controller.
Apparently the Controller had IN mind the
application OF the Eew-York. Westchester ana
Boston Company for certain privileges.
sion would consider 4 proposition for the CON-
pany 20 pay the city cents a linear foot for
tho nrst ten years and 10 cents a foot year
thereafter &c q rental Mr.. Rea SAID that TINS
would amount 10 about $1,000 year The cost
of the connecting link Will be jointly borne by
she Pennsylvania and the New-Haven roads
as each company owns half the stock OF the
connecting company When in operation the
Ink VIII give an ail-rau route from Bay Ridge
TrT-
and Astoria 10 the Nevv-Haven yards. at One
hundred-and -thirty-eighth-st reducing the
Pennsylvania car ferriage for New-Englana
points from twelve miles 10 three. The Penr-
eyfvania cofupsny mas long docks at GreenVAle'
X = near Staten Island The company VIII
run cts cars 10 this place and ferry them across
10 sixty-nfth-st.. from which point the cars VIII
he forwarded over the connecting road TO the
>1erv-Haven's system. Il had secured the per
mission Of the War Department 10 construct
the bridges but ii cannot build the tracks II
needs in the Bushwick and Greenpoint districts
Of Brooklyn without a franchise which must
come from the Rapid Transit Commission.
According 10 the plans submitted. al street
crossings will 10 either by tunnel by viaduct.
aTr Orr said the commission viii insist on a
provision in the charter compelling the railroad
company TO change its motive power from steam
- eiectrfcftv when the people OF the district
traversed demand II, and also insisting ma t.e
railroad company work with the CITY 20 OON.ate
any crossing at grade. when Il becomes heCes-
sarv 70 open new streets in the SUBURBAN dis
fr1cts. -. -
M Rea animated that he thought the terms
hard and Mr. Orr called Mr. Grout 20 corner
So sSsrrssion After their talk Mr.. Grout
fola Ar Rea that the commission must abloe
nv the terms originally suggested. but that ne
,.oro,.fttee would recommend the acceptance OF
a contract reducing The rental price oy one
no ds-5n- the irst ter years OF the twenty-five
wears OF life OF the charter -, -
A. Ss-oTt wanted a provision that the Rapid
transit Commission reserve the night o oroer
end regulate n passenger service over the route
~ nurl,c interest seemed TO demand H. MI.
12ea objected so vigorously that Mr.. Grout con-
scented 10 withdraw bis proposition Tor me 1ilne
being No actual agreement was reacheo, GUY
r. vas decided 70 draft q contract under the
conditions stated for Mr.. Rea 10 submit 10 hls
company and for the contract committee 10 SUD-
NIT 20 the full board q RAPID transit OOi"-