New-York tribune., 1907-11-15
DISCUSS BELMONT TUBE
DIFFER At HERRING.
Open Tunnel at Once, Say Some
Get Terms First, Say Others.

Acute differences of opinion regarding the
advisabiIity OF using the Belmont tunnel to
Queens Immediately were developed yesterday
at largely attended hearing before the Public
Service Commission. Queens people argued
that il should be put into use at once, regard
less Of the terms which the city could obtain
from Mr.. Belmont and regardless Of the rates
Of fare charged. Others from Queens main
tained just as violently that the city should
not knuclle under 10 Belmont. even if the tunnel
were never opened. and that it should not be
used until a scent fare from any point in
Queens into Manhattan was assured.
The consent of the Public Service Commission
must be obtained before Mr. Belmont can oper-
ate his tunnel, and il IS about foregone con-
clusion that the commission will insist on
scent fare and 2 comprehensive transfer sys-
TEN before giving its consent to the tunnels
operation. II is widely believed. also that the
influence of the commission would be thrown
against the city's purchasing the tunnel at any
such figure as Mr.. Belmont is understood to ask
for the tube. Chairman Wilcox made it plain
yesterday that UP to date application for
franchise or the right 10 operate the tunnel had
come from the Belmont people
II. Stewart Mcknight, president Of the Real
Estate Exchange of Long Island. the first
speaker at the hearing. maintained that the city
acquiring it without delay. John A. Leach, of
the Astoria Taxpayers and Business Mems As
>sociation, declared that the tunnel should be
opened only when scent fare TO the New
York terminal and transfers TO the surface
lines in Manhattan for extra three cents
were assured. Clarence Edwards, of Elmhurst,
counsel for the Civic Organizations of Queens.
said that this proposition was essential to the
development of Queens, as only this would put
It on footing with Tho Bronx, and even New
Rochelle and Hastings on Hudson, from which
points people could get to anywhere in Man
haitian for eight cents. John Adikes- represent
ing associations of Jamaica. asserted that at
present Queens was worse off in transit fac'l-
ties than Immediately after the consolidation
with the other boroughs.
Colonel William n Griffith of Jamaica, presl-
dent Of the Queens County Trust Company. wes
the first speaker to take the other side Of the
case He brought out a good round Of applause
when he shouted that the tunnel ought TO be
opened Immediately, scent fare or no scent
fare He had patience with the theory that
the city ought to be operated like business
concern. he said. with fine scorn. No money
ever was made for the city out of the school
system yet good transit facilities
necessary TO a city as good schools The tube
should certainly be operated before the tunnels
neighboring state would benefit 10 the detri-
nlent of Queens. John w. Weed. New York
lawyer living in Queens, said that a 5-cent
fare would pay Incorporating company even II
the cost of construction had been SS.00o,00o
But 1 cannot believe that the tunnel did cost
IS 900. .OOO" said he. "If it did, there must have
been some padding of the construction ac-
counts"
Lucen NJ. Knapp, Deputy Street Cleaning
Commissioner for Queens. spoke for the Queens
County Board of Trade He said that manu-
facturers' interests dictated that the tunnel be
opened at once. regardless of the terms. Will
lam Reichenstein. of the Long Island City Busi-
ness Mems Association, said that the future
could be left TO take care of the terms, the tun-
mel was needed Immediately John l.. Lindsay,
of Flushing, declared that if Mr.. Belmont had
any right to compensation it should be thrashed
out in the courts. but that the tunnel should be
IN use in the mean time.
c. II. Sheehan. of the 2sth Ward Board Of
Trade Of Brooklyn. declared that the opening
of the tunnel of little moment compared
with the safeguarding of the rights of city and
citizens. Beimonts lawyers practically had ad-
mitted. he said that the franchise for the tunnel
lapsed last January. In that case the tunnel re-
verted to the city and the city should take pos
session.
"Oh, you're from Brooklyn" shouted several
Queens men. Mr.. Sheehan admitted il, but said
that did not render him hostile to Queens.
All the views brought out will be studied by
the commission in deciding on its Belmont tun-
mel policy