New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-14
no GET IT'S FRANCHISE
LONG FIGHT FOR GRANT.
Connecting Railroad Comes to Terms
zcith CitY at Last.

after about five years of negotiation with city
o47cials and with the Legislature at Albany, the
Nv York Connecting Railroad Company is to
rar It's franchise. \ meeting of the Joint COM
Tit-ee of the Rapid Transit Commission and the
77,ar7 of Estimate and Apportionment took
.lace Yesterday at the City Hall. President Orr
and George I. Rives represented the Rapid
transit Commission, President MCGOWAN of the
Poarz o. Aldermen and Controller Metz the city
end Yice-President Samuel Rea the applicant,
which is controlled by the Pennsylvania Rail-
-7ad Company. Mr.. Rives read a draft of the
,raposed certificate of franchise, calling atten-
ZION 10 the original draft and the changes de-
sired By the Mayor. The company will be COM
PEELED TO pay 10 per cent more than was at first
proposed for its franchise. and will have to build
bridges over streets either now on the map or
hereafter TO be opened on the route.
Mr.. Rea said that while the company would
use electricity for its passenger trains there was
10 Immediate prospect of using that sort of mo-
tive power for moving its freight over the con-
Meeting road. There vas a debate over the
rropositl0n 10 limit local passenger fares to five
cents Mr.. Rea said his company did not pro-
pose 10 carry any local traffic its connecting
road. and that there was no sense IN having such
g stipulation in the franchise. The Controller
and Mr. MCGOWAN insisted that It remain. The
certificate as agreed upon yesterday Will be
finally considered by the Rapid Transit Com
mission al the meeting to-day and by the Board
of Estimate tomorrow.
president Rea said that his company ex-
,ected TO begin work on the road at an early
lay. Il is 10 run from point on the Long
Island Railroad system in the Bushwick Section
Of Brooklyn across the low lying ground be
tween Bushwick and Flushing and thence
scrosz Hell Gate on a bridge which will span
Wards and RandaITs islands On the Man
haitian end there VIII be a grade connection
with the New Haven system. The company Will
take freight from the Pennsylvania pier at
Greenville. down the bay, across TO Bay Ridge.
and run II around old Brooklyn on the Long
Island Railroads tracks to the new part of
the road in old Bushwick. The bridge over the
East River will he a ponderous structure, 100
feet above high water.
BY the terms Of the franchise the company is
70 pay $4,000. This is to be paid within sixty
days after the property owners consents ara
obtained. This was the chief item Of difference
between the city and the company, and the
Mayor. after conferences with Mr. Rea and
others induced the company 10 pay $4,000
Controller Metz said soc 900 was asked at first
Besides this lump sum the company must pay
s-I-''ob a year for the first ten years for the
right 10 construct. maintain and operate the
road, and $4,000 a wear for the succeeding if
teen years. This is new agreement the COM
panE has submitted 10 since the Mayors con-
ference.
Another agreement the company has made IS
to pay for all alterations TO the sewerage and
drainage system and 10 any sub-surface struct-
ure made necessary by the work Of construc-
ton.
There is to be no advertising matter shown on
the exterior OF any structure belonging to the
This has been agreed to, but the
franchise IS TO contain a special provision TO
cover this. Interiors Of buildings may have
advertising and timetables may be displayed on
a $50 fine goes with this.
The company also consents to submit its plans
for bridges TO the Municipal Art Commission.
The possibility Of action against the Rapid
Transit Commission by the present Legislature
has been taken care OF. It is provided for by
the following clause:
IF at any time the powers of the board or any
other Of the authorities or court herein men
toned or intended 10 be mentioned shall be
transferred by iaw,tO any other board. author
fly. officer OF officers. court or courts, then and
n such cases. such other board authority officer
or officers, court or courts, shall have all the
powers. rights and duties herein reserved to
prescribed for the board other authorities. off,
Ger or officers. court or courts
The railroad company IS TO be admitted TO par
streets are opened across the routes or the
yards or terminals Of the railroad company"
and the city shall pay what awards the courts
make
The motive power Of the road is to be steam
with the right 10 substitute electricity in not
Jess than three years Mr.. Rea thought that
That Some uew power might be discovered and
Charlie Stewart Smith asked if the New Haven
road did not now use electricity for bout thirty
fve miles out from New York on fits cars.
Passenger cars only" said Mr. Pea.
Freight by electricity is rot in sight yet for rail-
roads"
Tie company Is 10 pay as rental for the use
~ Wards and RandaNs islands the reason
rhIe value" N the lands permanently occupied
nv the ahutmeuts piers and other supports Of
the bridge or elevated structure used. No money
terms are named, however. The annual amounts
n %. paid by The railroad company after twenty
five years are 20 Doe fixed at the end Of every
period of twenty-five years. and II any failure
20 make announce the terms should be made
the rate then iu force continues.
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