The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-23
ELEVATED THIRD TRACK AGAIN
n. r. BOARD REOPENS QUESTION,
PENDING SUBWAY EXTENSION.
AZ the same Time Urging the Board of
Estimate to Act on Routes Long Be
fore Them for sl7S. OGO. 900 worth Of
New subways, One I'm Third Avenue.

New subways, One IN Third Avenue.
The Rapid Transit Commission. through
its COMMITTEES on plans, decided yesterday
to revive the question Of the advisability
Of adding a third track, for express service,
railroad systems.
The committee took this step a lit
tie while after, at the same meeting. it
had deplored the delay OF the Board OF
Estimate in passing on the new subway
routes and had urged Comptroller Metz
to appeal to the board at its meeting to-day
to approve Of the proposed routes. Mr..
Metz said he would. Under the Elsherg
act the Board Of Estimate has coordinate
powers with the commission in the laying
ont Of routes. Chief Engineer Rice said
that if the board would approve the routes
at once the commission could advertise on
January ~ the specifications for the LeXing-
ton venue extension of the present sub
way, the new West Sid route from the
Battery to Harlem, and the route running
from Pelham Day Park, through The Bronx,
down Third avenue across Manhattan
Bridge and thence by way Of Fourth avenue,
Brooklyn, to Coney Island, with another
branch running to Bay Ridge: These
plans provide in all for more than Fifty
miles of new subways, which 1t is estimated
will cost about SIPS 900 900.
Mr.. Metz suggested a public hearing on
the elevated third tracks. President Orr
declared that the board had already twice
voted against the plan.
But Mr.. Metz carried his point, and a
public hearing was ordered by the COM
mittee, which means that the whole ques-
ton will be reopened. Ii is stated that the
~syndicates prepared to bid on the new
subways have Informed the city authori-
ties that they would not bid il there was any
intention displayed on the part OF the munic-
ipal government and OF the Rapid Transit
Commission to grant any more elevated
railroad franchises, and especially that a
syndicate which is ready TO bid for the
proposed Third avenu route had let it be
known that it will not bid II Mr.. Belmont is
allowed to third track the Third avenue
elevated structure.
Comptroller Metz is said TO believe that
the city has not funds sufficient TO embark
on building the proposed subways. The
Mayor holds the opposite view. .
President Peters Of the Long Island
Railroad applied TO the committee yeeter-
day for franchises for two short branches
from Glendale over its own property for
about a mile and a half in the direction OF
Long Island City. He suggested a nominal
lump sum as a proper price for the fran
chise. Mr.. Orr objected, saying that the
franchise might he very valuable some
day. 1t was only a little while ago, he
said, that a single share of the New River
Water Company, which has a charter
granted 20 il in the. time Of Charles |. to
supply water 10 the city of London, was
sold for Gl2s,OOO, it's par value being fl00.
The company agreed to confer on the
question OF terms and 10 bear the expense
of street openings, with the exception that
the city should pay for the regulation,
paving and grading of the streets.