New-York tribune., 1906-06-30
NO MORE THIRD TRACKS.

In DENYING permission TO the lnterDorough
company TO lay and operate addiuonal tracks
on the East Side elevated roads the haplu
Transit Commission has acted in accordance
with what we believe TO be the almost unanl-
| nous sentiment of the people of the city 80
| long as nothing better could be had, the ele-
waited roads were tolerated necessary evils.
Twenty months ago. when the subway was
opened. it was instantly perceived that facill-
ties which were distinctly superior TO those pre-
yiously enjoyed here were within the range or
possibility. 1t was found that neither unslghtly
structures nor a racket which impaired the
value of property along the route was essen
tial To TRANSFORMATION. In addition to avoiding
these nuisances ii was feasible TO carry pas
sengers more quickly and pleasantly than be
fore When these discoveries were made it
seemed extremely probable that in the future
the new practice would be preferred to the
old by the municipal authorities. The emphatic
but deliberate denial of the Interborough com
panys request now confirms that expectation.
Hereafter the public is likely to hear no more
about those third tracks, except as the use
of the one laid on the Third avenue line may
be prohibited by the courts.
No one denies that the present means of get
ting up and down town are inadequate to ex-
listing and future needs. 1t may be assumed
that the Rapid Transit Commission will devote
itself more energetically than ever TO the task
of providing them. a natural sequel TO dis
couraging one plan having that object in view
would be the active promotion of others which
will prove more serviceable and more popular
These, of course. are subways, at least one of
which should run nearly or quite the whole
length Of Manhattan Island on the East Side.
1t is 10 be hoped that bids for its construction
will be invited soon as the legal and
gineering preliminaries TO such action have
been attended to. These should require little
time now, for the general subject has received
much consideration already, and there is
practical assurance of approval by the various
tribunals whose sanction is essential
One project which has recently h "a discussed
contemplates the construction / q from
The Bronx TO Coney Island. L I been
made quite clear whether this wouij begin at
the Harlem River or at some point further
north. but at any rate it would come down as
far as the Manhattan Bridge, and then cross
TO Brooklyn. Such a subway, wide enough to
accommodate four tracks and following either
Third avenue or Lexington avenue, would be
of much service to persons coming to business
in the lower part of the city every day If the
Port Chester road which has at last secured
its franchise. should really be built. provision
should be made for the passengers that it will
bring from the region lying between Mount
Vernon and the Connecticut boundary An out
let for this traffic would be afforded if the East
Side subway began at the Harlem for that Is
where the Port Chester road will end. AS The
Tribune recently pointed out however the use
fulnesS Of the subway would be enhanced if
II were extended further north-say through
Jerome aEenue toward Woodawn. Residents
OF The Bronx have a peculiar claim on the svm-
pathy Of the city government
We see no reason for slIpDosing that Mr. Pol
mont will hesitate N +l,o
way when the chance is offered 10 him. No
booy realizes better than he that new trans
poTation lines create new business The re-
Iharkable patronage of the subway came partly
from people who had been accustomed to use
The elevated roads and partly from people who
eIther never rode at all before or else were
tempted into riding more frequently than be-
lore The facts are public property. however
ana II MT Belmont lets the chance of control
ing the new subway slip through his fingers
we believe that other capitalists will be ouicIz
10 snow their appreciation of the opportunity.