New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-31
THE NEW SUBWAY ROUTES ]tEpORIED.
FOUR TRACK LINES FOR 9TH And LEXINGTON AVES-
EAST SIDE IN Sd md 9TH.

The Rapid Transit Commission yesterday receiver
from its committee on plans and contracts the long
expected report on routes for future suoways' ue
building of which will cost perhaps s2oeoV"-
OF the FIVE Manhattan routes laid down TWO are
likely TO be unusually attractive TO the INTERIOR
ough company while two others VIII De equais
precious in the eyes Of the New-fork CITY ran
way Company. The extreme East Side route IN
lst-ave. connecting the Battery with The Bronx
is likely 10 lie on the city's bargain counter for
few years.
1t is believed by the Rapid Transit Commission
that the Belmont interests will bid high for four
track lines in 9TH and Lexington aves., these two
routes complement the existing subway system with
4 comparatively small outlay for added benefits.
IT believed that the New-York City Railway
interests VIII bid for the routes in Sd and 9Th
II will enable them TO get full share Of express
passenger traffic and facilitate the development of
the Union Railway system in The Bronx.
The commission has laid down alternative feat
ures for the Lexington ana 18th ayes. routes, which
will enable competing company to bid for them as
through lines reaching 10 the Battery and capable
OF being operated as units
The commission has made an effort TO squelch the
demand for an elevated loop connection for the
bridges in this borough by laying down four-track
subway route from East New-York across the WILL
ia.ns5urg Bridge with a continuation under De-
laneey-st. and with spurs 10 the bridges. Such a
system could be used By the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company with its present equipment. Other
Brooklyn subways planned for Gates. Lafayette
and Bedford ayes, from the Eastern Parkway to
East New-York, and a short from Beekman-st..
IN Manhattan. 10 Montague and Court SITS. in
Brooklyn.
The Bronx is cared for by extensions TO the ele-
waited system 10 Van Cortland Park, Woodawn
Wakefield and West Chester village.
The report viii come up for formal adoption at
the next meeting. Then the next step will be OBJ
tanning consents Of property owners along the more
important routes, and obtaining approval of the
routes by the Board OF Aldermen.
Assuming that these VIII be forthcoming in time
the engineers have for some time been at work on
plans and specifications for the Lexington-ave
route Probably this will be one Of the first to be
built
That there viii be a battle royal between Compel
ing interests for the Lexington-ave and th-ave
routes goes without saying. The so-caled 'alterna-
tive" route for Lexington-ave extends the lire from
42d-st (where the marlborough naturally would
connect with it, TO 5th-ave., down Broadway TO
Chambers-st and then with tracks to the Bat
ler- thus tapping a district where traffic is the
heaviest
At present there is no indication OF q combination
between the PETERBOROUGH and the New-York City
railway interests looking a division of the
routes although one is looked for by many railway
men.
The commission assumes" said Controller Grout'
that there will be competition, and that the bid
ders will be willing 10 build the main lines without
asking the city 10 put up the money IN fact. we
have received assurances that the city will not be
asked to- furnish the funds. provided the rental
terms can be made fairly attractive. The company
offering 10 do the most for what it gets will get
the contracts"