The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-16
CENTRAL WANTS AN ELEVATED
WILL FIGHT PLAN FOR SUBWAY
FOR IT'S WEST SIDE TRACKS.

Deadlock with the Rapid Transit Board
Next Move Likely 10 he n BiIl Per-
hitting the city TO BeGInC OndemnailOn
Proceedings Engineer Rlce's Plans.
The Rapid Transit Commission and the
New York Central Railroad Company nave
been unable to agree upon a scheme for the
removal Of the ~company's tracks from
Tenth and Eleventh venue The CO =
mission wants the tracks put in a subway
but the company insists on an elevated
railroad. If the deadlock continues the only
way the city can force the removal of the
tracks will he the passage OF an act per-
hitting the city to start condemnation
proceedings.
At the last session of the State Legislature
such a bill wa proposed, but a compromise
was reached on a bill providing for the con-
-truction by the company at its own ex-
pense of a subway either under the roadbed
of the present tracks or under parallel
streets. The effect Of the bill was TO give
TO the company n ICY franchise in exchange
for the franchise it now holds. and it was
left TO the city and the company 10 agree
upon terms.
Il was further provided that unless an
agreement between the city nd the COM
pany was reached within a year that period
will expire on March :6I the city should
apply for such legislation as was thought
necessary 10y the municipal authorities TO
compel the removal Of the tracks from the
streets.
Chief Engineer Rice of the commission
has had frequent conferences with the Ofi-
cials of the company. hut in n report he sub
United yesterday to the Rapid Transit Com
mission he explained that he had been un-
able to get tho railroads representatives TO
agree, 10 the subway proposition. II is
thought Ivy the members Of the commission
that the whole thing will remain in abeyance
until next year. Then " the Legislature
should pass "a bill authorizing the con-
demnation the likelihood is that the COM
pany will begin proceedings 10 test the con-
stitutionality of such IN act. The attitude
of the company was shown yesterday when
Mr.. Rice in his report. after describing his
failure TO reach an understanding with the
company, said.
They have expressed their opinion that the
best solution would be- 10 build an elevated
structure from Filty-ninth street south along
the river front to Franklin street. the lower
four blocks between West street. Washin gton
street, Laight street and Franklin street
being occupied by an elevated railroad yard.
The reason for this preference is obvious,
a., besides being cheaper TO build, such a
road would Offer opportunities for con-
venient connections TO the river piers. in
volving better facilities for taking care of
the river trafiic than any other way.
The plan the company is seeking to carry
out. as was explained yesterday 10y Mr..
Rice and Mr.. Rives, counsel to the com
mission. is to revive the scheme for the
building OF an elevated line along the dock
front of West street.
Failing to reach an agreement with the
NJ D.a- 49, -
pared a plan for the subway. That plan
he presented to the board yesterday. These
are the recommendations made by Mr.. Rice:
Alternative I. Lay out following approx
mately the same avenues and street $ as the
present tracks OF the New York Central until
the intersection OF Canal street and West
street, and from Canal street, instead OF going
rast on Canal street. continuing down West
street to Franklin street.
Alternative >. Beginnin = at about Sixty
fourth street. crossing the present railroad
yard in a sOuthwesterly direction to Twelfth
avenue and along Twelfth and Thirteenth
avenues and Marginal street and West street
TO Franklin street.
Alternative 1 is to my mind preferable to
alternative ?. on account of the lower cost of
construction. The New York Central officials,
however. have expressed the opinion that If a
subway is to be built at all a line along the
river front would be prefCra BILE. but I have
not yet received a nnal statement from them
TO that effect.
The estimated cost of the construction
of the first plan is s2g, 100000 and of the
second $33 $50, 900.
Although the company is averse to put
ting its tenth and Seventh tracks under
ground it is anxious TO build a crosstown
subway under Fifty-third street TO con-
meet it's Grand Central yard with the West
Side line. The act passed last spring pro-
vided that the proposed subway should be
used only for freight carrying purposes,
but the company insists upon the right TO
carry passenger traffic through the Fifty
third street spur. By such a spur it could
divert most of its suburban traffic from
the main line through Park avenue.
The report of Mr.. Rice was adopted by
the board and il was resolved to send a
copy of it to the company with an intiml-
ton thatit embodies the views of the COM
mission. The mex move will have TO be
made by the company.