The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-10
THIRD TRACKING URGED AGAIN
RICE TELLS PUBLIC SERVICE
BOARD ITS a NECESSITY.
Rapid Transit Engineer Outlines Problems
to BE Met-COmmittee Named TO Look
q Into Bridge Crush. but Commission
Power Is Llmited-Gas Inspection.

Power Is Lmited-Gas Inspection.
The most important matter to come be-
fore the Public Service Commission at its
public session yesterday was the re. 'rt
Of Chief Engineer Rice. in which he adVo-
Gated the third tracking of the Second and
Third avenue elevated railroads so that
something like immediate relief might be
provided for the oongested traffic Of The
Bronx from the Harlem River TO the Bat
terry.
The matter Of granting this privilege to
the marlborough Metropolitan Company
had been up many times before the old
Rapid Transit Commission. and there
seemed to be an overwhelming sentiment
in favor OF it on the part Of the residents Of
The Bronx. 1t was pointed out hat il would
take years to build new, subways even
under the most favorable circumstances,
and that the population of The Bronx was
increasing so rapidly that something must
be lone Immediately to relieve the con-
geetion. The Rapid Transit Commission
and the officials of the railroad company
could not agree on terms and the matter
has been held up ever since. In his report
Mr., Rice says:
One Of the most pressing necessities for
rapid transit In Greater New York prevails
now In connecting Manhattan with The
Bronx. Plans and specifications we're got
ten out and public hearings we're held for
the building of a four track system on the
east and west sides Of Manhattan. connecting
The Bronx early 10 this year. No bids were
received, but the board and city authorities
devoted themselves to finding some relief
for the extension OF some rapid transit sys-
tenn which would be included within the
debt limit Of the city. and the Fourth avenue.
Fort Hamilton and Coney Island section was
decided upon as an adequate increase to the
system.
It Is unfortunate that the city could not
get some relief at this time for Manhattan
and The Bronx. as the travel is increasing
to an alarming extent, as will be plainly
seen by reading that part Of the Engineers
annual report for the year 1905, to the board
relating to the increase Of travel and the
necessities for new work. lnasmuch ~
Manhattan. from Tenth street up to l0Sd
street. IL underlaid by rock which Is near
the surface. additional subway construction
for any north and south line will necessarily
take about four years to construct. The only
possible relief on that account is to put adj
ditional tracks on the elevated roads on
the east side Of the city. that is. on the Third
and Second avenue lines. which extend from
The Bronx to the lower end of Manhattan.
This addition to the elevated facilities
has been urged for a number of years and
the Rapid Transit Board at a recent meeting
sent communications TO the Interborough
Company notifying them that they were
willing to negotiate 10 reference to the af-
fording of additional ~failities BY means of
additional tracks under certain conditions.
This problem is the greatest problem which
the commission has at the present time. IL
means the granting Of privileges as sug-
gested. with provisions which will not only
compensate the city, but protect the city
In the granting of additional facilities for
the franchises given in perpetuity.
In the upper CART Of The Bronx the board
has laid out several lines of elevated connec-
tons. not only with the subway system. bnt
also with the elevated system. These are
necessities and are also urgent, on account
of a wonderful growth OF travel between the
Boroughs Of Manhattan and The Bronx.
Mr.. Rice also called the attention of the
commission TO the subway loop which is
now being constructed TO connect the
terminals OF the three lower East River
bridges. Five contracts have been let
for sections of this work. which ia now
under way. This line contemplated not
only a possible connection with the B. r. r.
and marlborough systems in Brooklyn
but alse in connection with a proposed
subway system into the northern n
eastern parts Of Brooklyn. besides affording
communication with the west side Of Man
haitian south Of Fourteenth street and
also making additional connections with the
southern part OF Manhattan below the City
Hall.
MIR. Rice also discussed the Behr monorail
system, which had been proposed 20 the
Rapid Transit board to start from tbs foot
OF Atlantic avenue in Brooklyn and extend
to q terminus near Surf avenue, Coney
leland. Mr.. Rico does not seem TO think
we'll Of the scheme and he saysthat the
Behr Monorail Company does not seem 10
haye ha6n ahla RI raiaa the gDS 0O0 which
the Rapid Transit board deemed necessary
TO protect the city against a failure.
Mr.. Rice called attention to the super
vision Of the McAdoo tunnels and other
tunnels by the Rapid Transit board, which
will be continued by the Public Service
Commission. This is particularly true of
the McAdoo unnel connection up Sixth
avenue from Christopher street TO Thirty
fourth street, one OF the conditions of the
charter being that the city in twenty-five
years may buy at cost this part Of the
MoAdoo railroad.
The construction OF the terminal at the
Grand Central Station, Mr., Rice said, did
not come under the jurisdiction of the
under the control of the Public Service
Commission. as does the Belmont tunnel
under the East River, which was started two
years ago under the Steinway fra nchise.
The commission took up in the open
session yesterday the matter Of relieving
as oou az possible the crush on the Brook
lyn Bridge Commissioner Bassett. Me
Carroll and Eustis we're appointed a COM
mittee TO report as early ss possible re-
garding the conditions Of travel over the
bridge and connecting railroads ard recon-
mend what may be done most speedily 10
improve the service.
After the session was over COMMISSIONS
Bassett explained that as the Brooklyn
Bridge and the tracks on IL we're the property
OF the city the commission had no power
TO order changes 10 be made there either in
the new terminal proposed or in the equip
ment of the bridge. The commission
nigh. recommend changes. he said, but
they would have 70 be passed upon by the
Board Of Estimate.
W merely have control over the public
service corporations and we have no power
70 order changes in the physical property
Of the city" he added THE terminal
viii be built under the diyection of the /
Department Of Bridges. and we could not
interfere with their plans even did we
desire to do so. but We could recommend
changes 10 the Board Of Est which
would ave probably the same weight
as the recommendations Of any other pri-
vate citizen"
Commissioners McCarroH Bassett and
Maltbie were appointed a committee to
49, - IL