The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-08-15
RAIDROAD TERMINALS.

some Roads Entering New York Max
ing Mistakes in I.oeating Telaninals.
The Evening Post says With
the burning Of the Isaekswanna ternai-
nal at Hokoken last Tuesday the par
tial congestion Of traffic Oh reads That
temporarily took over the suburban
business which the crippled line could
not handle, and active preparations of
six leading roads entering New York
TO increase their facilities. the termi-
nal problem has become this week the
topic Of chief discussion in railroad
and banking circles. Although pecn-
liar difficulties are encountered in
providing proper terminals for the
great roads entering This city, the IN
adequacy OF the present facilities is so
notorious, and such apparently waste
full expenditures have been made. that
The necessity Of remedying the defects
Iof the present system appeals with
special force TO stockholders in general
at this time.
| Expenditures made within two
years by the railways entering New
city and Jersey City, together with
new outlays planned by the same
lines, will bring the fresh Investments
in New York terminals we'll above
1925, 200, 900. These heavy outlays
have not yet been definitely formu-
lated, but they may be grouped as fol-
lows Pennsylvania, s75,0o0,000; New
York Central, s45,oooO0O Erie, s10,-
000pO0: Delaware Lackawanna and
Western, 50 200, coo; Long Island, ST.
100000; Others (estimatedl, SIS ,000,-
900 total, $40, 100000.
The Erie allowance includes the
cost of the projected depot at Hobo
ken, the new ferries, and the recon-
struction of the main track mileage
within the limits Of Jersey City. The
miscellaneous item includes the new
draw-bridge on the Jersey Central and
I various smaller items on the West
Shore, etc.
These large outlays are planned for
the handing Of passenger business
chiefly. 1t is in this matter that the
most serious mistakes Of modern times
have been made by the railroad mana-
gers. Not single railroad entering
New York has adequately measured
this TRAFFIC oyer aseries Of years. Even
the Pennsylvania, with its splendid
terminals in Jersey City. failed en-
tirely to grasp tile real trend Of deyel-
opments.
1t seems obvious that the proper
New York terminal Of future years
will be found in Manhattan, and not
on the Jersey Shore or on the Long Is
land coast. Ii the Erie or the Della
ware, Lackawanna and Western build
huge depots on the Jersey Shore, it
seems probable that the next ten years
will find these two railroads repairing
their mistakes in much the same way
as the New York Central is now do
ling. The logical conclusion from the
Pennsylvania decision to build a tun-
mel into Manhattan is that the Erie
and the Lackawanna will sooner or
later be compelled to follow suit and
construct their own tunnels, or a joint
tunnel, under the North River.
The handling of the New York
city passenger traffic has been tire.
mendously heavy expense to the rail.
ways during the past few years. 1t
has undoubtedly paid its way, but the
waste on the tinkering with made
quate terminals must have run well
over $50, 600, 900, or at the rate OF about
S3, ,00O,00 year That there is going
to be revolution in this item OF trans.
portation may well be inferred from
the enormous investments in New
York terminals during these few
years. To make it pay, the roads
must increase their earnings on New
York and suburban traffic at least S6,
100000 a year, as it will take that
amount to pay interest on the total
outlay required. The railway mana.
gers figure that this additional net
revenue will be easily met.''
1