The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-06
RAPID TRANSIT PROBLEMS.
COMPTROLLER METZ HAS BELT
LINE TUNNEL SCHEME.
GsmEdSsiOn Fakes Up Removal OF Tracks
From Eleventh Acknowledgement
IA Wants to Drive Bronx Cars VT sub.
Is way POwer-Elsberg Bill Condemned.

M u blO tAdplQ lEdtLSlL SOIllIIlES5lOll' bGOlBb
q. Rives, counsel to the board, presented
q opinion that in view Of tho passage
81 the SAKE bill, which provided for doing
teway with the Central Railroads tracks on
Eleventh avenue by authorizing the oom-
mission to lay out a subway along that
route, steps ought to be taken at once to
comply with the act, Mr.. Rives su ggested
that Chief Engineer Rice should confer
With the officials of the New York Central
company with a view to making plans
which would be acceptable to that com
tpany.
Commissioner Charles Stewart Smith
k4sked II 1t was possible TO construct a sub
way 90 near to the water front which would
accommodate both freight and passenger
erafao. Mr.. Rice replied that it was posi-
bic. but that it would be extremely costly
because the tunnel would have to be of
large dimensions.
sAnd don't forget remarked President
5nrFI that the Encouragement Of the sewers
ia that part Of the city will be an extremely
NBxpensive work"
Mr.. Boardman inquired il there was any
lN9e in discussing the matter. He pointed
pout that the Central company had threat
tined to test the constitutionality OF the bill.
SIS there any advantage in going ahead
IA Un6 company Is BOulg 70 Slduu SJLl!
asked Mr.. Boardman.
well, we'll cross that bridge when we
come to it, and in the meantime we will
Proceed as far as we can, " Mr., Orr replied.
Il was then that Mr.. Metz spoke up;
We will nave to have a belt line subway
some time or other and it is a good time to
Think about it now he said. at is no
8hharder to build a tunnel u nder water than
I'D 10 under land, and besides, you wouldn't
have to tear up water, While you would have
% tear up the land"
Mr.. Metz's proposition seemed to puzzle
ehe Commissioners, but by a series Of ques-
Unions it was gained from him that his idea
was 10 build an underground railroad
around the city near the waterfront, with
branch lines stretching inland at various
Hf points.
"But such a road as that would have to
he one Of tubes and could only be built by
she shield process, which would cost an
amount Of money remarked
SMr. Rice.
Mr. Metz didn't seem to place any stock
10 the question Of price. To a question
pot by Commissioner Starin how he would
hope to provide for the deep draft of the
big ocean steamers which were being built
end would have to be locked Mr.. Metz
replied cheerfully;
Make the tunnel fifty feet deep If neces-
cary
The commission had a hard problem put
up to it by August Belmont, the president
0f the marlborough company. Mr.. Bal
mont wants to run his trolley lines in The
Bronx with electric power from the subway.
n The power belongs to him, but the conduits
through which it must be conveyed belong
30 the city. The question is Can he Use
these condults to carry electricity to operate
his surface lines? Counsel to the COM
mission think that he can't. Mr.. Belmont's
legal advisers say that be can. The courts
y will probably be asked to decide.
A communication from George L. Rives,
one of the commissions lawyers, was read at
yesterdays meeting Of the commission
stating that the marlborough company
was preparing to onnec its subway feed
wires with the surface system of the New
York City Interurban Company running a
system of crosstown trolley lines in The
Bronx and controlled by the Belmont COM
pany. When the company first began to
arrange for supplying power to the surface
cars from the subway wires Chief Engineer
II Rice of the Rapid Transit objected. The
company obeyed at the time and intimated
chat formal application would be made TO
the Rapid Trans CoInn!s ion.
It seems that an application was made,
but it was quickly Withdrawn, and the
stand was taken by the marlborough COM
lpany that it had the right to supply power
10 the Interurban system because the cars
,of that company were to be used entirely as
i9eeders for the subway In the contract
l@Warded to JOIN B. Mcdonald for the build
ing OF the subway no provision was made
zor the construction of condmts for the
marrying of feed wires. but he was after
ward authorized to build them in the side
walls. After the road began to be operated
NE Belmont company asked the city to pay
k3or these ducts on the ground that they
were part of the constructive work. EX-
Gomptroller Grout maintained that the con-
Fauits belonged to the equipment part Of
the contract, and as such would have to be
lpAtd for by the company. The case was
&aken to the courts, which finally held that
4. lShe conduit were part Of the subway con-
Rtruction proper and that the city would
have to pay for them. The bill amounted
10 about 81, 100000.
The power house for the generating of
The electricity TO run the road comes under
4 the head Of equipment and had to be paid
for by the marlborough company II is
capable Of producing vastly more power
q chan is required to run the subway trains.
x Albert B. Boardman, one of the boards
( Hounsel, told the commission yesterday
Chat the contract explicitly stated that the
u MuDWdy COlllu IlOJ D6 l-tI IOI any OLIl0T
I purpose han that for which it was desig-
mated in the act. He explained that the
question now pending in the courts as to
&he right of the company. to put slot
machines in the stations might cover the
4 question > but he advised the commission
chat the issue was of so much Importance
chat it would be more advisable to institute
o suit at once so that the courts may pass
upon it without delay. The board practi-
cally decided upon this course.
The Commissioner formally put them
selves on record az opposed 70 the manda-
tory features of the Elsberg bill for the
Separation of the construction and opera
ton contra cts of future subways, as we'll
as the provisions cutting down the periods
of operation. The board adopted a memo
Sandum which had been drawn by its coun-
nel outlining the clauses to which the board
was opposed: The MEMORANDUM was pre-
} scented by Albert B. Boardman. II stated
that the Elsberg bill as amended had been
Improved over the original measure, yet
Ahere were still serious defects in it which
+ swould probably result in preventing an
axtansiya building Of "a Did transit railroads