The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-29
NO SECOND AVE. EXPRESS LINE
n. T. COMMISSION WON'T ADOPT
INTERBOROUGH Plan.

Circuit and Two Others oppose Arguments
Heard For and Against the PROPOSE
tiOn-New Scheme for the West Side
subway 10 Include the =. u. II. station
Another public hearing was held yester-
day by the Rapid Transit Commission on
the proposal OF the PETERBOROUGH company
20 make an express road on the Second
avenue elevated line by adding second
deck TO the structure from Harlem to Third
street, the express tracks descending into
subway at that point and continuing to
Chambers street and then turning west to
n terminal near the Hudson River.
The commission after the bearing made
no announcement as to what action It might
take with regard 10 the application, but It
can be stated thGt three members Of the
board, including Comptroller Circuit, are
opposed TO the plan, and that in consequence
the requisite number Of votes TO pass It
will not be obtainable
The commission listened to arguments
from individuals and representatives Of
civic and property organizations both in
favor and in opposition TO the scheme.
The speakers who supported the project
were mostly from The Bronx. They dwelt
upon the fact that the new line could be
completed within eighteen months, thus
providing rapid transit for the East Side
more speedily than by the building Of sub
ways, although they apparently forgot
that the new service would be practically
useless until the subway part could be lullt
and that this section of the line would take
as long to complete as the new underground
roads now being considered by the commits
sion
In opposition it was urged that the build
ing Of another deck to the road would not
only injure property interests along Second
auenue but would be detrimental to the
health and comfort Of the residents Of that
thorouRhfare W. A. Clark OF the City
Club, referring to the promise OF the Inter-
borough company to take down the tracks
II directed TO doso by the city, at the end OF
twenty-five years, said:
Such language has a generous sound;
The very astute petitioner might with equal
propriety have promised TO take them
down in ten years. These tracks will be
Joined to a subway about mile and three
quarters long Its clientele will become
established. Tear the tracks down after
twenty-five years? OF what use would such
a detached subway be? It will be the old
story Of familiar evil The next genera
ton will not remember the promises Of
to-day, and il they do, the officials Of this
company may be depended upon TO seek
refuge again-the old familiar r6le-be-
hind the skirts Of so-Called public con-
venienoe'
IL is intended by the commission to
add vet another 10 to to the pans
for new subways, The line mapped
out for the West Side rms from the
Battery under various streets TO WASH
ington Square and thence under Fifth ave-
nue., Twenty-third street and Seventh
avenue to Fifty-ninth street. where IL turns
vest to Eighth avenue The commission
proposes to lay out an alternative route
from Greenwich avenue to SiXty-second
street to run under Eighth avenue. This
sylvania terminal
Next Thursday the commission will sit
rs a committee Of the whole TO pass finally
on the plans which have been prepared for
the new subways The decisions reached
commission at It's meeting on the following
Thursday.