New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-19
TUNNEL UNDER 34TH-ST
NEW ROUTE TO L. I. CITY,
Commissions Action Opens Com
petition for Queens Traffic.

PCCeSCOfo IOI A/NCCHc Il IUIJGCs
The Rapid Transit Commission yesterday
added TO the subway routes a new tunnel under
34th-st. to Long Island City thereby throwing
open the door to the Metropolitan as a COM
petitoT of the Belmont system for Queens
traffic, While this step was taken independent
ly by the Rapid Transit Commission, in rail-
road circles 1t is interpreted as a move toward
a merger OF the Metropolitan and Interborough
interests. a possible amalgamation that has fur
nished gossip for Wall Street for a year at least
The laying down of the new route was a sur
prise to all not members of the Rapid Transit
Commission. and possibly John B. Mcdonald.
Of the Metropolitan company. Mr.. Mcdonald
and Paul D. Cravath were present at the meet
ing yesterday and seemed greatly pleased when
Mr.. Rives announced that there had been added
to the routes already laid down tunnel
under the East River to run from 11th-ave. and
34th-st,, to Borden-ave. and Front-st.. Long
Island City, with station adjoining the Long
Island Railroad tracks, coming to grade at
Jackson-ave. and 5th-st.
1t is regarded as certain that with this tunnel
connecting with the 3d-ave by a depressed
double track between Sd and I'd ave, the Penn
syivania Railroad will be able to turn over its
strictly local inward bound Long Island traffic
to the Metropolitan. and in exchange take from
train for distant points. In railway circles It is
admitted that the Metropolitan, which seems to
be working in harmony with the Pennsylvania
interests, is elbowing its way into a strong
strategic position, and that the time is close at
hand when there will be q community OF in
terests" arrangement which will control the
operation of both the Interborough and Metro
poltan systems
The authorization Of this new tunnel route by
the commission makes of secondary consequence
the old steinway tunnel franchise obtained by
August Belmont years ago. and which he and
his friends tried to utilize by special legislation
at Albany last winter The Tribune explained
how half dozen maverick" bills taken to-
gether aimed to give the Belmont interests a
desirable subway route between 42d-st and
Long Island City, with connection with the sur
face roads in Long Island City. In trying to
get these bills through the Legislature surrepti-
tiously, the Belmont interests went "over the
heads Of the Rapid Transit Commission whose
action yesterday is almost act OF reprisaL In
fact, it is intended as such. The only way that
Mr.. Belmont and his friends can now outgeneraI
the Metropolitan is to make bid for Sd-ave
30 advantageous as to get the contract when IT
Is let This the metropolitan is determined shall
not happen.
Another thing practically settled by the laying
down of the new route yesterday is that there
viii be no moving platform in 94th-st. If there
Is TO be a foUr-track subway in that thorough
fare running from 11th-ave. to Long Island City
1t goes without saying that there Will be no
room for moving platform The friends of
the moving platform say that the action Of the
commission in shutting them out is summary
and unwarranted.
When John B. Mcdonald was seen Yesterday
in connection with the new tunnel route to
Long Island City, he said:
It strikes us interesting route and we
certainly shall bid for 1t. 1t will give a direct
tWo-track connection with the four-track sub
way to be down 3d-ave A connection of
that kind in 34th-st. would be great thing for
people living IN Long Island City.
Controller Grout, who last week was instru-
mental in keeping the 34th-st. question open
for competition between both the older COM
panies and the moving platform people, was out
Of town yesterday. Deputy Commissioner Ste
venson attended in his place. When motion
was put on the advisability Of further consider
ing the moving platform as feasible means of
transportation in 34th-st., Mr.. Stevenson was
the only one who RETAINED from voting against
the moving platform.
August Belmont in letter asked for an execu-
tive session to consider the granting of permits
sion to add an additional track to the Sd and
I'd ave. elevated lroads
Mr.: Orr announced that the committee had
decided TO appoint George s. Rice permanent
chleI engineer or the board at salary Of $1,000
a year President Cassatt of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company sent a letter to the board
IN which he said that four-track subway in
o4th-st, with a junction at 7th-ave would
cause delay in transportation George l. Rives
said that an alternative equipment of either cleo
trlc cars or a moving platform within the
scope Of the boards authority TO leave omen for
blds on the contract. Letters from George IT
Wlckersham and Edward NJ Shepard on the
same subject were read, and II was after dis
GUESSING them that the commission put itself on
record against allowing the moving platform in
34th-st. 80
Inc NeW-Hork Connecting Railroad COMPANY
rejected the proposed amendments made nv tha
Board or Aldermen before that body would grant
Its franchise The Belmont proposition 10 ALLOW
on the 3d-ave- elevated tracks when the nav
extension under the Harlem River is finished was
approved tentatively. VEG