New-York tribune., 1906-06-08
T6oSE ELEVATED EXPRESS TRACKS.

| THOSE ELEVATED EXPRESS TRAChS.
The so-called order given by the State Railroad
Commissioners 10 the Interborough company
TO Law and operate express tracks on the East
, Side elevated roads will not materially alter
the prospect of such contamination ORDERS
OF this kind are merely recommendations. They
do not become compulsory without formal pro-
ceedings provided for by the statutes. In the
present case no cOmpulsion is required, Tor une
state authorities have given their approval TO
, a project on which the Interborough company
set its heart long ago. Approval in anotheT
quarter. however. is essential TO its execution
Permission must be obtained from the munich
pality before any new railway service here can
be initiated. Inasmuch as the state commits
sfoners were fully aware of the fact, it is not
to he supposed that their action was intended
as an invasion of the city's prerogatves. They
knew. and the InterborOugh company knows
that the fate of the proposition in question Will
not be decided until a formal application has
been made to the Rapid Transit Commission
and has been passed upon by that body.
Having denied similar requests in the past
the Rapid Transit Commission will naturally
ask whether the considerations by which it was
guided before are less cogent now than they
We're then 1t is said. for instance-and we be-
lieve that a prominent Interborough official is
the authority for the statement-that II was
deemed bad policy TO grant the privileges which
Mr. Belmont sought lest the concession should
discourage possible rivals from bidding on the
new subways. The traction merger OF last fall
eliminates one particular set OF competitors, but
il would be rash TO assume that all competition
is precluded. The city itself may determine 10
build the new subways and lease them TO some
body besides Mr.. Belmont If so. would the rea-
soning OF the commission he less valid to-day
than ii was year or so agOf
Opposition TO the companys previous requests
has also been based TO some extent on the
hope that il would sooner or later be practica
BILE TO dispense with the elevated roads alto
getheT. That possibility was presented stimuli
taneOusly To many minds when the superiority
Of subway 10 elevated structures had once been
fully demonstrated. IL remember rightly,
Mr.. Orr, chairman OF the Rapid Transit Com
mission. was a conspicuous exponent of the
sentiment. and thousands of citizens sympa-
thized with him. Have any of them altered
their convictions, and would the laying of new
tracks on the East Side lines hasten the realza-
ton Of their dream?
If any concession whatsoever be made TO the
Interborough company it may be assumed that
the city Will demand q handsome compensa-
ton The day has gone by for giving valuable
franchises for nothing. Should Ii become nee
essary TO consider the details Of such bargain.
there would be no !mpropriety in recalling the
fact that the InterbOrOugh company has appar-
emily attempted to secure by stealth opportlni-
ties for which full legal sanction had not been
granted. 1t wOuld do no harm TO remember also
the peculiar attitude assumed by that corpora
ton when invited TO pay for its first years use
Of The subway Perhaps. after all there will be
no occasion for discussing terms. There is yet
no very obvious reason for suspecting that the
Rapid Transit Commission has changed its mind
in regard TO this matter.