New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-08
A QUALIFIED VICTORY.
MERCHANTS YIN CONTEST
No Open Cutting an Broad0Cay-
Also No Tunnel.

The Broadway merchants seem 70 have won their
fight TO prevent the Rapid Transit Commission from
making surface excavation along the ctys busiest
fhoroughfare in future tunnel construction. but it
Jocks now as IL they had il at the cost Of not
having any tunnel az all under Broadway south OF
z2d street
The plans for tie proposed Seventh and Eighth
avenue tunnel from WoodlaWn 10 the Battery were
presented tc The Rapid Transit Commission at the
meeting yesterday. The general plan adopted IN
March. 1865. included Broadway from 42d street 70
Barclay street alternative feature Of the
Seventh and Eighth avenue plan The official
route. prepared for advertising and turned in yes
tefday, AVOIDS mention OF an alternative Broadway
route.
To get the Significance Of this elimination Of
Broadway brief review OF the situation is neces-
gary.
The Belmont interests desire another north and
south tunnel-one that viii carry its full capacity
OF traffic, running from the financial district on the
south into the undeveloped portions Of The Bronx.
The lower end of the Seventh and Eighth avenue
proposed system suits them. At tho same time ny
Belmont and his friends desire q tunnel up Lexjns-
ton avenue particularly north OF i2d street. The
Lexington avenue system, as laid down by the
Rapid Transit Commission. runs out Of Lexington
avenue al 4Sd street al 3ta street. Fifth
avenue and Broadway, with tracks under each OF
those streets and four tracks down Fifth avenue
below 23d street clear 20 Barclay street InGer the
Eisberg law the tenant cannot lease the next tun-
mel for more than twenty years. with option OF
1
people viii build only those tunnels which surely
VIII earn handsome return on the investnaent.
The Broadway merchants knowing what open
cutting N Broadway means TO business made
energetic protest against the clauses in the Lex
anSton avenue contract permitting open work and
threatening 10 take the fight 20 the courts. Vow
comes the new Seventh avenue and Eighth avenue
plan, with alternative features enabling the Ir ter
borough people 10 build from the Battery up past
the McAdo0 terminal at Cortlandt street TO West
IA Vas r-for m Vest
street, 10 Seventh avenue. Times Square. 10 cd
street. 10 Eighth avenue. and on 20 The Bronx
70 Is said In Wall Street that the Belmont interests
now viii bid only for the Lexington avenue tunnel
south far 42d street and Park avenue. and
Cor the Seventh and Eighth avenue tunnel north
only as Ear az ed street. Mr.. Belmont's company
IS building tunnel from Long Island City west
under s2d street to Eleventh There is liti-
cation over the franchise. but there Is no doubt
that the Belmont people win the tunnel. even
tf they have lease it from the city II was Bel
mont money that built IT, and if the courts say
that the company's franchise is not valid the
pany viii demand something for its equity. This
leaves tne situation that the Belmont people
can build through four-track tunnel up Seventh
avenue TO 42d street tapping the McAdoo and
Pennsylvania terminals. crossing through 42d
street 70 Lexington avenue. tapping the New York
Central, and taking care OF the Queens traffic that
Sc distributed by the new tunnel from Long Island
City.
This leaves Broadway below ed street narooned
Tor the present. While il is true that there is a
chance for any TO bid for the original Licking
ton avenue system the lower end OF which runs
under Broadway. it also is true that the Belmont
people have enormous advantage in their abil-
lily TO transfer TO the present subway.
The Broadway merchants have made IL perfectly
open cutting in Broadway in the shopping and
clear that they viii fight any plan that includes
theatre districts. Backed by plenty of money such
fight might retard the building of the next sub
way for years. BY putting the alternative clauses
in the contract the Rapid Transit Commission Is
y position 20 accept the bid of the Belmont people
IN case nothing better is offered.
Fest fSna ir9 Battery 3at Park aP Seventh and
ana onc-thlre Enlles long, and would approx
Harlem River and up Jerome avenue partly as an
elevated to Woodawn, would add five and one-half
miles 70 the system, and would cost additional
sl30000O0 If the Belmont people should get the
contract, it is probable that the tunnel would be
on the lines desired by those interests that is IN
Seventh avenue on the West Side and up Lexi1Sston
stated for the Seventh and Eighth avenues route
The commission yesterday fixed March . as the
cate tor a public hearing the form Of contract
Rapid transit Railroad commssfone Ie Ro9 Eli III
abssence the Fiee-president, John II. Starin pre-
Coa1trolIer Metz. by his late arrival held up the
hlsSsssIIhg ior TACK OF quorum
-, Miles Dawson y, on, spoke on the matter q depressing
5li5oSa ne SAG ne represented several civic
70 ask: ---'s'' 1p'eU nm
any such intention" N0'O- 4-au
I'VE We don't accuse you. Mr. Mayor" said Mr..
Continuing, Mr.; Dawson said that he was not
wing 70 grant the railroad company the rrivile1s
o. building an elevated road Ige said fhaf ne
company ought 10 build a subway or remove its
tracks He said that the New York Central sbo,ii5
~ nave The use OF the streets without giving the
.ssH kalue Tor the same. and that the penalty for
-siure % act should be imposed on the -cOnapaDT
amer Chldwicl was introduced as the Chairman
. cotnInittee OF fifty. He said that the question:
vs. one n which all were interested and the dan
81 70 Tee lives OF people should be removed FJa
wrought the cniy difficulty was south ~ 29 Il et,oa.
EnQ SAID that II condemnation must come ii ,Vero
btlteF IMAM 70 sacrifice lives He aid rot wish "a in
ssIlere VAIN any ones rights. but the people all
Io4S me avenue desired the removal of the tracks
IN Eleventh avenue The sDaerb VIC rree.oS ,,.;.,S
applause, ana the hearing ended -'