New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-13
DISCUSS 18th AVE, BILL
CENTRAL WILL FIGHT.
Belief That Mayor viii Sign lSaae-
Stanley Measure.

rrs A Place counsel for the New-York Central
Railroad at the hearing yesterday at the City
Eyau on the SAKE Stanley bill for taking steam
tracks of Eleventh avenue. told the Mayor ana
others that the company would not make the
changes required until after an adjudlcatlon on 'ho
oonstitutionality OF the bill
Two hundred men and women were in the coun-
I'll chamber Of the City Hall when the hearing
- s,.rte5 bv the orpostion to the bill. The
Mayor gave each side one hour. Mr. Place began
BY declaring the bill Unconstitutional but assert
ing the readiness OF the New-York Central 10 90
all that the bill requires II It can be done in legal
form by a contract between the city ana the raA-
road company that viii be binding.
Mr. Place referred 10 the varied interests con-
cerned in the maintenance OF some sort OF freight
system on the waterfront streets, and went on:
The act. as a whole, however is Of such doubtful
the railroad company could not and would not be
justified in eXpending the large sums OF money
changes even If it could reach satisfactory
ment with the Rapid Transit Commission.
Mr.. Place stated that the bill gave the city au-
ghorties no option but to compel the construction
Of subway. which would practically debar the
company from carrying freight. and would take
from the railroad the facilities under which 1t now
handles 100000 tons O. food stuffs annually
solution Of the problem could be found. he thought
bv the appointment OF an intelligent commission"
He described the sewer conditions. and said that TO
construct subway where the street surface Is only
ten feet above high water mark is practically I'M
possible without entirely deranging the western
sewer system IN other cities. he argued, the au-
thorties do what they to find terminal facilltes
for commerce, while the New-York authorities APP
pear to be trying to drive freight business TO other
ports He suggested elevated railway 10 tap
the dock system.
A representative Of the Gansevoort Marketmen' s
Association urged the Mayor TO remember that the
removal of the tracks for subway system would
paraIyze an industry in food stuffs which handles
$500, 900 900 worth Of grains and meats annually
over the Eleventh avenue tracks OF the New-York
Central system.
w W Hatch J. z. Walsh. George F. Secor and
r E Ingersoll. representing handlers Of perish
able freight TO the amount of several thousand
carloads daily also protested against the passage
Of the bill.
Senator SAKE was the first TO speak in favor OF
the bin. He began by contradicting the figures
Of the narketmen. and declared his ability to prove
that large proportion Of the produce to which
they referred came from Jersey. and not down Elev
enth avenue
n n. Dawson, OF the committee of fifty Of the
Social Reform Club, declared that, as an elevated
structure IS out Of the question the committee
was compelled TO favor a subway. AS a matter
OF fact. he believed the tracks should be removed
at once by condemnation proceedings, and the com
pany compelled to prove its right TO the franchise
under which it is operating
G. W. Alger, who drew the bill, said
The removal Of the tracks will improve property
values The surface system is sixty years behind
the times and elevated system would be forty
years behind. The right of life comes before the
rights Of property, and the personal interests or
the citizens have been outraged by this company
for half a century. The bill does is claimed
violate the theory of home rule. AS a matter Of
fact, it increases the power of the Rapid Transit
Commission at the expense of the State Railroad
Commission. The main purpose of this bill is to
take the tracks off the streets OF Manhattan.
Father Chadwick was the last speaker. He re-
peated the arguments he had advanced from time
10 time during the last three years at public meet
ings and elsewhere TO the loss Of life and limb
by the operation OF the railroad. The Mayor made
no comment he declared the hearing closed. II
is believed, however, that he will sign the bill. He
hold il all this week without action.