New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-10-06
RIVAL FOR EDISON co.
Manhattan Transit to Furnish Light
and PO7Cer to City.

The Manhattan Transit Company. which,
told in yesterdays Tribune, has just passed
from the control Of Joseph H. Hoadley and his
friends TO the control Of John c. Sheehan and
capitalists allied with him. 1t announced
yesterday. is to become rival Of the New York
Edison Company in supplying electric light and
power in the city. Such a rivalry had been
made possible. II said. through the acquire
nent OF the Long Acre Electric Light and Power
Company by the Manhattan Transit Company.
In the Supreme Court Thursday Justi q
Bowling granted a peremptory writ Of man
damus directing the Electrical Subway Com
pany TO permit the Long Acre company TO place
its wires in the electrical conduits under 42d
street and under Seventh avenue. from No. 54S
West 42d street TO the Criterion Theatre, at
Seventh avenue and 44th street The Long Acre
company IS required by the decision 20 put UP
s. 900 and q bond OF $1,000 10 pay the rental
This is said TO be merely an entering wedge TO
enable the Long Acre company to force its way
into the city's electrical subway system.
On account Of the fight it has had TO make.
the Long Acre company has not been able to do
much in the way Of electrical lighting in the
city. although it has had its plant in West 42d
street IN operation for long time. Now that
It has court decision and the backing Of the
Manhattan Transit Company. It's friends say It
ton with the Edison concern in many parts Of
the city.
One Of the partners IN the Cleveland banking
firm Of Lamprecht Brothers. members Of the
New York Stock Exchange, who have been
Identified with the organization Of electric light
ing companies in Northern Ohio. was yesterday
elected chairman OF the board Of the Long Aero
Electric Light and Power Company.
Before the Appellate Division yesterday ex-
Judge Alton B Parker argued an appeal OF the
New York Electrical Lines Company. which has
been una BILE 10 obtain court orders to compel the
Commissioner Of Water Supply. Gas and Elec-
tricity 10 grant permits for opening the streets
of the city. The company. ex-Judge Parker
SAID had a franchise for laying electrical con-
duits under the streets obtained from the Board
Of Aldermen in 1888. but II had been prevented
by the refusal Of the city authorities. under ad-
vice of the Corporation Counsel to permit it to
open the streets. He added:
Any construction Of the subway acts which
gives to any company an exclusive right TO lay
conduits In the streets OF the city is contrary
TO the express declaration Of the legislative in
tent. II II IS held that the effect Of the sub
way acts IS TO compel the company to lease
spaces in the Empire company's subways, and
to take away its right to construct its own SUB
ways then such portion Of tho acts is an impair
rnent Of the cOmpanys contract with the city
! and void
Assistant Corporation Counsel Connolly said
IN opposition that the company had forfeited its
franchise by failure begin operations within
! year after the franchise was passed, and that
| later the laws made provision for the Board OF
Electrical Control to direct all electrical sub
wav plans The company, he said, had failed TO
/ comply with the terms imposed by the Board
of Electrical Control, and therefore had no rights
| under it's old franchise. To permit the company
| 10 tear I'D the streets for subWays. he said,
would be in the nature Of granting new fran
ch!se