The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-25
The Old Reliable
ROYAL
BAKING POWDER
ABSOLUTELY
PURE
There is no substitute
OPPOSE ELEVATED CHANGES.
Surprise Mt the Demand to Build Extra
Tracks Downtown.


The ASSOC ia,ions of taxpayers and cit-
zens organized for protection against FUR
ther encroach ment OF the elevated struc-
lures on tie last and West Sizes, who were
not admitted to the secret meeting OF tne
Rapid Transit Board on Tuesday, we're
surprised to learn yesterday that, instead
of being dead, the demands for turt'!cr en-
largement Of these oi5fguIing structures
| were elaborated by the Belmont interests
at that meeting, and the propositions made
to add two tracks to the Second and the
| Third avenue structures, to run an extra
, track to the City Hall and an extra track
| to the Battery from Chatham Square. In
addition to these virtual reconstructlons OF
the elevated railroads, it was proposed to
| widen the Second avenue Harlem River
bridge, and SO practically deaden the In
| terest Of capital in further subways on the
Island of Manhattan or tunne- the
Harlem River.
These eight or nine associations. whose
members have been at great expense re-
tanning eminent counsel, were greatly
surprised at this revival OF question which
from public sentiment and official utterance
within the !ast ear they were justified in
believing was thoroughly settled. The
patching of the ancient bridge structure
over the Harlem at Second avenue naturally
means the postponement OF further tunnels
under that river connecting The Bronx
with Manhattan, and virtual duplication
of the elevated railroad system would de-
stroy the possibility of any further sub
WAYS for at least twenty years, during
which time it would be necessary for the
public to use such facilities as the present
monopoly sees fit to furnish.
The commission has fixed public hear
ing on these questions for June s, at which
time it will be necessary for the citizens
to appear again and protest. The counsel
of one of them was evidently in error when
he recently stated that the question Of
enlarging the elevated railroad structures
now in the streets Of New York had taken
it's place among public questions alongside
that Of Diminishing the area OF the parks
in other words, that it was settled question.
Public sentiment concerning the curtai!-
rnent of the park area by various devices,
street wideni ngs for Instance, was settled
permanently in the negative when the To-
cation of the Columbian fair was In the
stage Of debate, and although it has been
feeby raised sir ce here and there no one
ever takes it seriously.
The revival of this demand Of the Belmont
interests at this particular time acquires
additional significance when taken in con-
nection with the adjournment Of the Board
of Aldermen without action on the new
rapid transit routes transmitted to them
by the Rapid Transit Commission. The
board had an opportunity to utterly mega
tive the aspersions cast upon it as hold
up" body by acting on these purely public
railroad questions, but it left the applica-
tons hanging in the air and adjourned
to a date subsequent to the day on which
Gov. Higgins is compelled by statute to
either sign or veto the measure now before
him aboishing the -hold-up' board. In
the event of Gov. Higgins vetoing the bill
deriving the Board of Aldermen of further
power to do this very thing the transit
facilities Of the city will for an indefinite
period be at the mercy OF the citys present
tenant, who will thus be enabled, with the
n assistance of the Board of Aldermen, to
stave Off competition for few months
longer, or until public indignation is aroused
to the point it has reached in Philadelphia
over the gas MONOPOLY.