New-York tribune., 1905-01-13

They Demand That Subscoy Be
Butt IN F0urth-aUe.

The dignity which the term public hearing
conveys was lost, as applied to the Rapid Transit
Commissions proceedings yesterday. somewhere
between the first and fourth floors of No. 800
Broadway An invasion of citizens from every
borough in the city most of them smoulderng
with indignation over some particular point In
the plan of William Barclay Parsons, under dis
cussion. with badges suggestive of political
campaign the voices Of baseball coachers and
the manners of a football rush line, compelled
members of the commission TO fight their way
through the struggling. shouting E,@ss; inter
rupted the proceedings Of the board with cheers
and jeers, and compelled a threat of forcible
election of the obstreperous before anything re-
semblng order could be obtained
There must nave been a thousand who tried
to fight their way into the somewhat limited
quarters of the commission. list of ffty-fve
speakers had been prepared. but more than
twice that number thundered on the door. de-
manding admittance. A deluge of regrets and
protests descended on the secretary.
The Bronx there to protest against the
extension OF the railway through Bronx Park.
Brooklyn was there in defence OF the Hamilton
ave. plan for the subway TO Fort Hamilton in
most vociferous opposition to that plan. and in
favor OF the Fourth-ave plan. Again. there
were several individual plans advocated before
the meeting was over. Queens and Richmond
were there for anything in general, but subways
for them in particular. Manhattan was there
for more subways, quickly.
The Bronx withdrew Immediately after the
declaration the part of Mr.. Orr and the
promise of a separate hearing next Thursday.
Manhattan plans VIII be discussed on January
26 while the Eastern District of Brooklyn will
have a separate hearing it's wants Janu-
ary IS
The hearing yesterday was chiefly a pro-
louged protest against the plan suggested by
Mr. Parsons for reaching Fort Hamilton
through HamiIton-ave., instead Of Fourth-ave..
with some Slight defence of the Hamilton-ave.
project, and the introduction of two three
individual plans. Most Of the Brooklyn delega-
tion wore white badges reading Fourth avenue
Tunnel We Want" There were three or four
hundred of them inside the rooms. squeezed into
the hallway outside and struggling down the
stairway. Every point which appealed to them
was epplauded and commented on until Presi-
dent Orr pointing at one man. declared:
IF you don't stop that speaking out. I'll have
you elected. We going to control this meet
ing; the meeting is not going to control the
commission" At this the exuberance subsided
somewhat
Bird S. Coler opened the discussion by declar-
ing that II was beyond his comprehension how
anybody, particularly an able engineer like Mr..
Parsons couIo lay out 50 Aoohsn q AOuIe as IIiAI
through Hamilton-ave. South Brooklyn was un-
developed; years from now subway might be
advisable, but not now.
Fred C. Cocheu who acted master OF cere-
monies for the Brooklyn speakers. spoke for the
''jont committees of the Boards OF Trade and
civic organizations" To e man. he said they
were opposed 20 the Hamilton-ave. route. not
that that section ought not to have a subway.
but Fourth-ave. with its property interests.
should have its subway first.
Lawrence Abraham propounded plan which
he felt wouis eliminate the bridge crush and
serve the people OF Brooklyn with just what
they needed. He advocated the continuance of
the Interborough's local trains over to Brook
lyn as expresses up Westinghouse. Court-st.
and Atlantic-ave and down Fourth-ave. 10
Fort Hamilton with local route through