The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-10
INTER- NET READY TO PAY CITY
TOE LICENSE TO OPERATE CARS
~ BELMONT TUNNEL,
nu, Ihrce tent Fare viii lie charged for
shuttle Trains IN Tube Request Tor
Permission 10 Hun Cars Likely 20
lake Franchise Fight cut OF Courts.

shuttle Trains In TuDe Request Tor
Formulation 10 HUN Cars Likely 90
lake Franchise Fight t'ut OF Courts.
A, the session yesterday Of tho investiga-
tion the Public Service Commission is max
irg Of the local railroad companies, u. r..
Bryan. vice-president Of the marlborough
cpmrany, said that IL was the intention
Of the company TO make an application
10 thr commission for the right to operate
the Belmont tunnel under the East River.
The statement made by Mr.. Bryan was the
Grsl Indication that the company recog-
nizel that it wa bound by any authority
other than that Of the State. The old
Steinway tunnel, which Mr.. Belmont has
finished, was begun many years z under
n charter granted by the State Legislature.
The rights belonging to the original COM
pany were bought by Mr.. Belmont. and on
the strength Of hat purchase he has spent
several millions Of dollars in completing
the tunnel.
The legal authorities Of the city from
time to time have tried to stop the work
chiefly on the ground that the charter
was dead. When that coptention failed
the plea was made by the city that the pro-
visions Of the charter ordered the COM
pletion Of the tunnel by January I, 1907,
and that inasmuch as that clause had not
lecn complied with the franchise had
died a natural death. That legal question
now is before the courts. 1t will be probably
he over a year before it is passed upon,
and in the meantime the tunnel has been
uIt through and will be ready for train
service in a few months.
The promise made yesterday that Mr..
belmont would make a formal application
for the right 20 run rains through the
tunnel is taken to mean that the fight be-
tween the city and the company will be
settled when this application comes up
for confederation. The only purpose the
municipality has had in fighting the on
tnuance Of the tunnel work was to enforce
the payment Of compensation to the city
for what was admitted TO be an enormously
valuable franchise. So far Mr.. Belmont
end those allied with him in the Inter-NIet
have refused to acknowledge the right Of
the city to demand compensation. 1t was
learned yesterday tina the company now
is willing to consent to paying a reason
uble yearly sum TO the city for the privilege
Of running trains through the tunnel.
While the compensation thus to be paid
Undoubtedly will he fixed at an adequate
figure 10y the Public Sc rvice Commission
it was made clear at yesterdays hearing
that the tunnel ia to be made an individual
suurce Of revenue TO the Inter-Met and that
travellers between this borough and Queens
will have TO go down into their pockets for
an extra fare of three cents il they wish TO
journey through the tunnel.
This contingency Is one that the residents
Of Long Island City have been fearing.
In the last three weeks several delegations
from Queens have waited on the Public
Service Commission and have appealed to
the members OF that board TO protect them
against the imposition of an extra fare for
travelling over what is nothing more than a
connecting line between the Manhattan
subway and the Queens trolley system,
both OF which are part Of the lnter-Met
system. Whether the commission can
give that protection is doubtful. W4en
Mr.. Bryan was on the stand yesterday he
said frankly that il was not the intention OF
the mpan to make physical connections
between the tunnel and the subway in this
borough or the trolley lines Of Queens. He
added that IL was proposed to use the tunnel
only for the running of shuttle trains and
that an extra fare of three cents would he
charged TO passengers using the tunnel
trains.
Il is the opinion OF some Of the Commits
sIoners that they are powerless for the
moment TO prevent the imposition Of the
extra fare. The Manhattan terminal of
the tunnel is below the grade OF the subway
End. moreover. the subway oars could not
lie operated through the tunnel because
the motive power is derived from overhead.
while the subway cars are moved by a third
iail along the added. The Queens trolley
cars use the overhead system. but they are
Of WOO and infammable and cannot there
fore be used safely for TUNE service.
The Commissioner admit hat the prob
lam lie hard. but they intend to go into IL fully
when the company makes its application
for permission to operate the tunnel rail
road.
When Mr.. Bryan was called to the stand
Yesterday William M. Twins sought to obtain
from him some information concerning
the transaction which led TO the acquisition
of the Steinway tunnel franchise by August
Belmont, Mr.. Bryan insisted hat he had
10 knowledge as to the direct parties In
the deal and said that he did no know
from whom MIR. Belmont bought the Stein
way charter. All he knew: Mr.. Bryan said,
vas that the Steinway tunnel now belonged
g. the marlborough company.
Mr.. WINS was continuing to push the
Fitness with questions along this line
when Paul ID. Cravath. counsel for the
marlborough. came to the rescue OF Mr..
Eryan and said that the company L. going
10 supply the commission with all the de-
tails Of the purchase OF the Steinway tunnel
il q few days. Mr.. WINS announced that
he was satisfied with that promise and
for the time being he would not pursue
further the line Of inquiry into the
''lhTNf'fItt VI " 'Nut "fICtV'y vat F'i
mont got hold Of the Steinway franchise.
Nlr. Twins went ON TO ask the witness II
marlborough officials had arrived at any
definite conclusion as to the particular
nSe 70 which the tunnel was to he put.
Mr., Bryan replied that 40 far as he knew
nothing definite had been decided upon
by the board.
y. Is II prepared at this time. Assuming the
''saiiy of is position. TO make any appica-
ton To this commission relative TO the use OF
80 tunnel 4. ! think IL IL the purpose at
liz proper time TO make such Application.
Tho work u going on for the completion OF
IN" road and its equipment. Whenever II.
:, operated II will not have immediate onnec-
u"n With IN" Queens county lines.
.. II will not have? 4. II will not have.
Tor tho reason that there is no physical con-
rn"tior bet Ween the properties on Van Alst
Avenue.
y. IL there no way of making a physical
Connection bet ween the properties in the
"Nfui Of an application being made TO this
commission for leave to extend some Of the
line. that you already own there. and that
grlhTDtinn heiny apnrnVed Ofp A Certainly