The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-15
/ TRACK ELEVATED WON'T DO.
1T WOULD SIMPLY HANDICAP
FUTURE SLRWAY LINES.

Important opinions we're gathered yes
ten5ay on the proposal Of the Int thorough
company 10 add two tracks 10 It's Second
aWnue elevated lines from i50th street 10
First awnue and Third street, there 10 run
into a subway eXb nCng through Second
awnue, CLrystie, Canal and other streets
10 the cornt r Of Chambe 10 and West stree ts.
A few Of the opinions Of exp rte were as
follows
/. The radical objection 10 this plan Is
that II Is an extension, and an important
ext nsion Of the elevated lines. in dire ct
opposition TO the policy recently adopted
by the subcommittee Of the Rapid Transit
Commission, and univt rally approved BY
the public, that there should b no further
extensions Of the elevated lines
2 There are several reasons why the
elevated lines should not be extended. In
the first place, the injury done 70 the street
v ch they occupy is ne ce arily very great
Nsnifestly four track rc ad Is much more
i1iurous 10 a street than two track road,
U1ether the additional two tracks be on the
Eme level with o above the Xisting tracks.
In Gny event the defomity OF the street
T. pro portionatel y incUased. In the second
Ilace, every important extension OF the
longitudinal elevated lines will auto ms IT,
cElly reouce the amount Of additional
longitudinal subways constructed. Mani
testify the number Of longitudinal rapid
trsnsit lines must be in some proportion
10 the amount Of ira ffic 10 be carried. Capital
cannot afford 10 build undo rgrc Und lines
costin z with equipme mt, &c, about 81 800, 900
psr mile OF track witho adequate tn Z
fio 10 support them. Accordingly, by
Just about the extent that the elevated
lines are extended contemplated subway
extensions will have TO be reduced. At
present II seems certain that there will be
bidders for two longitudinal subways
upon the East Side, each with four tracks.
II. however. the Interborough Company
Is allowed 10 add two additional tracks
On Second avenue. construction OF one
cf the proposed East Side routes would
IN all probability be deferred for many
years, II not abandoned. It may be re-
marked in passing that this doubtless is
the very result which the officials Of the
Interborough company hope TO accomplish
by pressing their application for additional
trucks on Second avenue.
= This particular application for add
tional elevated tracks on Second avenue
comes In a peculiarly dangerous form in
that the Plan for additional elevated tracks
on Second avenue from i5Oth street 70
Third street is accompanied by the oondi-
ton that OF the latter point they connect
with the subway. occupying important
streets which would have little value ex-
cept 10 connection with the Second avenue
elevatsd ines. The effect Of this connection
would therefore be that this subway.
which would be permanent, would be likely
10 secure the same permanence for the
elevated lines on Second avenue. This Is
directly counter to the hope Of the people
al. New York that the elevated roads will
eventually give way TO subway lines. In
other words, this suggestion Is more than
what its advocates pretend namely, an
tempt 10 furnish early relief for The
BipuK. Il il an attempt to fasten the ele-
als1 railroad deformity more firmly upon
tie city and 10 meet private corporate
Necessity.
q. Tie trarsfe privilege offered by
thj MARLBOROUGH company in cas- it secures
y fTan cl Use for this lire is Of no raTticular
VI he. At preser but single fare Of five
cealslis charged or can be charged for a
rde upon tie elevated lires OF upon the
subway lines, however long. Therefore,
the Only exter sion Of the trar sfer privilege
suege sted is ss between the elevated lires
Prd the Interborough subway, This privi-
iase Is Of very little value, becavse all the !
lines ir volved are parallel lirCs, so that very
little would be gained by tTsr sfcTs. Fur !
thtTmcre, II Is an open secret, indeed it !
WIS definitely stated by Vioe-President |
Bryan at the hearing before the Rsrid !
Trnrsit Commission on Thursday, April 10, |
that il he's been for some time the avowC d |
policy a the Interborough company to |
furnish free trar sfeTs tCtyeen the elevB ted |
rrd subway lines, 30 that the suggestion |
that a franchise for two additional tracks |
en- Second avenue should he granted in |
order 70 SECURE the free tTsItfer privilege |
iE, 10 soy tie lcsst, II sir ceTe,
&. Apparently the chief argument offered |
n -upport Of tho application for additional |
. vated tracks on Second avenue Is the |
necessity for furnishing in the quickest /
possible time additional facilities for II /
Bronx. OF course, the people Of The Bronx |
would he very glad to have these elevated !
lp'c,, because they do not care what hap |
: ~ 10 Manhattan Island or to the people 7
o. Second avenue, but the Rapid Transit
{ O omission in dealing with such a ques- /
Goa must consi5er the needs Of the entire /
city. II would be manifestly unfair 10 4
facrihce the hundreds Of THOUSANDS OF ]
10 cement house jewellers living in Second (
a enue and increase the deformity Of that |
important thoroughfare simply for the |
I rpose Of fastening by a year or two |
2 o increase in the facilities Tor reaching !
= Bronx.
e. Furthermorr, the possible gain in time !
u1der the propo-ed plan Is very much e1-
, sccratcd. OF cour E, two additional ele- !
-ad tracks on the Second avenue line from \
l,Cth street 70 Third street could be con- I
'tructed within two year, but those hnes Z
would be Of no substantial value until the 1
OF the subway connection from /
Third street to tho corner Of West and .
Chambers etrcets, and tho contraction Of /
that subway would take just as long as the .
construction Of any Of the other proposed .
d wutown subways.
T. There Is every reason 10 believe that .
n would take only from year to eighteen 1
months longer to complete an East Side
way line from the Harlem 10 the Bat
than 20 carry out tho proposed Inter
rough plan IN connection with the Second .
rnue elevated line, and how Insignificant /