New-York tribune., 1907-10-03
RELIEF FOR BROOKLYN
TO BUILD 4TH AVE. TUBE.
PWbhc Service Commission VIII
Seek Bids at Once.

BY vote of three to two the Public Service
Commission decided yesterday to go ahead with
the building OF the Fourth avenue and Coney
1sann subway, left as legacy from the Rapid
transit commission. Bids the plans and speci-
neht.ons prepared by the old board will be adver-
uSsu lor at once. II IS estimated that the work
HIi cost from S23.O0OC00 to s25.OOOoOo
bfookIyn people have been widely divided as to
the advisability of building subway the pur-
posed route since long before the Board OF Esti-
mate set aside the money necessary. Property
owners aSsociation5 and boards of trade have
agitated for the scheme, while accusations of real
estate deals" and declarations that this line would
not benefit Brooklyn so much as the transient Man
haitian visitors to Coney Island have been hurled
at its advocates
terday when Commissioner McCarroll chairman Of
the committee on Fourth Avenue subway, presented
a resolution calling for the immediate prosecution
Of the work Each of the five commissioners read
a memorandum setting forth the reasons for his
vote Commissioners Wilcox. McCarroH and
Eustce voted in favor of the scheme; Commission
ers Bassett and Maltbie against II.
Commissioner McCarroll favored construction of
the line because he believed New York City should
send some money to develop its suburbs in opposi-
tion to New Jersey; because this line part OF
a comprehensive system OF transit development:
because IT would divert traffic from the Brooklyn
Bridge and relieve 1t. and because the old Rapid
Transit Commission and the Board of Estimate
had approved this route.
Commissioner Bassett favored the building of
short section of the line. instead the entire
tenn. This. to Fatbush and Fouth avenues say,
would relieve all existing congestion and leave
from 100000 TO S25000000 TO build other subways
to relieve Manhattan and Brooklyn at large. He
thought II would be practically impossible TO fnd
an operator for the entire system. II built. Com
missioner Eustice favored the route because 1t was
part Of a tr-borough system Of transit develop
ment and while It might not pay immediately after
completion. it surely would soon as the Man
haitian and the Bronx subways were built 10 con-
meet with 1t.
Chairman Wilcox took the ground that the
Public Service Commission was bound definitely
and tightly by the actions Of its predecessor and
the Board of Estimate The commission had not
the power to appropriate money. and the question
whether the money already appropriated could not
be used more advantage in building another line
was thus not entirely relevant. Commissioner
Maltbie voted against the project on the ground
that the subway would not pay for consideraole
time; that an additional SIS 100000 probably would
have to be spent equipment and that lines could
be built which would serve the general interests
Of Brooklyn much better.
The Fourth avenue subway route extends from
Manhattan across the Manhattan Bridge under the
extension Of Flatbush avenue and the present Fiat
bush avenue to Fourth avenue. and on Fourth ave
nue. to 10th street. all this distance four-track
road. Thence there is to be two-track road east
New Utrecht avenue and on that avenue to
Coney Island Another two-track line goes straight
TO Fort Hamilton along Fourth avenue.
At the meeting Of the commission the appoint
nlent Of Edward 3. Whitney associate counsel
by Abel f. BlackInar counsel 10 the commission,
was approved. He will have charge of matters
connected with the so-cent gas law and litigation
growing out Of IT, II was announced that there
would be a hearing on the proposed Broadway loop
line subway. under Broadway and Lafayette ave
nue.. Brooklyn. on October Il. at P m
Commissioner Eustts presided At hearing on the
proposed order for % per cent increase In the
service on all subway ana elevated lines Of the
Interborough Rapid Transit Company for an hour
and half before and after the morning ana even
ing rush hours The testimony showed that the
increases voluntarily offered by the company Tailed
very closely in general with the Increase decided
on for the proposed order NIr Eustis declared the
hearing ended. but he announced that within a
veel, or two the commission would have the nspec-
ton OF the service made again.