The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-30
BELMONTWANTS ALLSUBWAYO
TELLS TRANSIT COMMITTEE so,
BUT WON'T GET EN-.

! moral Obligation" Argument Pans 10
Impress the Commissioners VINO Lay
Out the Routes-It IL Backed by an
InteTbOrOugh Single Fare Plea.
President August Belmont Of the Inter-
borough Rapid Transit Company appeared
before the Rapid Transit Commissions
committee on plans yesterday to urge that
bis company should be permitted. without
going into q competition, to build East and
West Side branches Of the present subway.
According to Comptroller Grout, who u
q member Of the committee, Mr.. Belmont's
attitude u that only his company should be
allowed to build subways In this city.
Mr.. Belmont made some strong demands
on the committee, and they were as strongly
opposed. The committees report VIII be
submitted to-day TO the Commission, and
IL can be stated that no change will be made
in It's decision to lay out the alternative
routes, described In yesterdays Sun, 90
that the Interborough and Metropolitan
interests can fight out between themselves
the contest for possession Of the new sub
ways To whichever company can offer
the larger inducements In cheap fares and
transfer facilities the contracts will go.
Mr.. Belmont was accompanied by FIVE
lawyers TO help him present his demands
to the committee, but the lawyers were not
needed, Mr. Grout said, because Mr.. Bel
mont, fguratively speaking, threw 'em
all out Of the window AID did all the talking
himself
THE propositions made to US to-day
said Mr.. Grout, simply mean that Mr..
Belmont does not want any competition
10 bidding for the new subway He In
sisted that bis company ought to be al
lowed to extend the existing subway by
building q branch southwark on the West
Side from Forty-seoond street TO the Bat
terry and northward on the East Side under
Lexington avenue from Forty-seoond street
to Harlem.
This plan Mr.. Belmont wants TO carry
out without being subjected to competi-
ton by other bidders or by the laying out
OF other routes by the commission. Hs
IL opposed 70 the building Of a subway
under Third avenue, because, he said. Il
would compete with the InterborouEb's
elevated railroad on that avenue. In short
Mr.. Belmont appeared TO be unwilling for
anything to 90 on the map that would in
terfere with his system or that Ia did not
wish to build himself
Were any Of the members Of the nm
mitt &c in sympathy with Mr. Belmont's
attitudef- the Comptroller was asked
NO; they were unanimously opposed
to 1t. The Commissioners think that IL Ii
for the best interests Of the CITY 70 have
competition. By that means better SER
vice and terms can be obtained for the
travelling public
Representatives. Of Mr.. Belmont dsscrfbed
nun as seekng az the meeting an oppor-
He commended that at the time he sCcsDtsd
the old contract II was admittedly for the
building Of an incomplete subway and
J that there was an understanding that the
marlborough company should have the
right 70 complete 1t 10 due time, whom the
| city should lie In a financial condition 10
60 ahead with the work.
bir, Belmont, according 10 those who
spoke for him, also pointed out that Ma
company ought to have what IL asked for
because It was willing to carry passengers
TO any part Of The Bronx Manhattan and
Brooklyn for one fare and was tbs
only company In position to do %, Mr.,
CIRCUITS retort 10 this was that the Tina
10 make that argument was when the com.
pany sent IN It's bid for the new franchise.
Mr.. Belmont also asked for the right 70
add two more tracks for express trains to
the Second avenue elevated. Representa-
| tives from several organizations In The
! Bronx attended TO urge the adoption OF
TINS pan buJ tne committees VIII report adj
versely upon II.
In his plans for Brooklyn Mr.. Belmont
has not mentioned a route 70 Fort Hamilton
| under Fourth avenue. Alarmed Leaf their
| section should not be included In the eT-
| tensions, the residents Of South BROOKLYN
| and Bay Ridge sent q large delegation 10
| yesterdays meeting. They were sent away
| with the assurance that Fourth avenue
route would appear on the map adopted
by the commission.
Max Schmidt, one Of the heads OF the
| syndicate which wishes 10 build a MOVING
| platform under Thirty-fourth street, ap-
| peared before the committee 10 pnotsst
against any change IN the original inten-
| tons Of the commission TO give the syn.
dictate a franchise for Thirty-fourth street.
Because part Of the Metropoltan's pro-
posed subway runs under that thorough
fare the committee has halted In its pro-
posal 10 give Thirty-fourth street 10 the
| moving platform,
II has been suggested that the syndioato
might 6nd Il Just as advantageous 10 take
! Tventy-third street, which, unlike Thirty
fourth, has ferries at both ends. Mr..
Schmidt stated, however, that his gyndicato
! would Hike 10 have Thirty-fourth street
because II would then be aba 70 tap the
new Pennsylvania station. No decision
! was reached by the committee, md II u
| probable that none will Be until Il Il seen
| whether the Metropolitan OF the Inter-
| borough win build the new subways.
Il ====@===