New-York tribune., 1908-02-10
P. S. C. TO STEAM ROADS.
~HELP OUT CITY TR 4NSIT.
Tbeg Should Refiece Burden Of
Street Lines, Says Report.


The fun report Of the Public Service Commission
-o- -he six months ended December 81. printed
.o,,ss Of which were distributed yesterday con-
tsf7s the views o. the commission on seNerai M
rc-raut questions involved IN the extension oil f4pia
transit facilities
TIE commission, holds that the steam railroads
,.c.upvinc CRY streets should show some oispoS'-
,ir - -cornrloaate passengers between points N
d. ei-v al reasonable rate Of fare After refer
e-ce 10 tie high fares charged for snort Iioes %
these companies Tfr report says:
The steam railroads Ike the New York Central mira
- treIh ST i, m trets The CITY in the caseA 81
ffs long Island Railroad. has paid part oI 5 III
s.peuse Of constructing its Atlantic avenue tu.e
Ne1r YORK Central Railroad Fourth avenue VII.
view 1o csTrF1ng urban ;r$iie s 1919 ois Tey
nave no staining say that they VIII carry yi -
recognize that they have a duty use their lines
IS ps-r OF the rapid transit system OF the CITY
The commission thinks the need for transporta-
ton is SO great that extensions 10 the eleVatea
systems should not be entirely barred aithous-
there has been more less sentiment that 10
more elevated construction should be allowed ia
the city because OF the space il taxes ID 'iie
streets. the Disagreement Of the thorousIiares tD
Obstruction Of light and air in buildings on TINS
point the report says:
There is no reason why existing elevated Ia rali-
reads. which n the boroughs of Queens, Broeh.yh N
and The Bronx now teTmla{@ iT on s6Grt se g rop
Sas,s ~ meet This demand Some of the elevated
INES eog bv hsd sdng a one OF TWO additional tracks
Even If the city builds subTdys as ISst s ~ 80 -
AFFORD 10 do the elevated railroads VIII continue 70
De a necessity for long time. ana il does not
eeern right 10 cause generation of people great
Inconvenience in transportation WINE Na4LlS 49, ~
rlse time 70 when the suhWi4ys may euPel-
sede the elevated railroads We DC not reIsT ~ "a
This connection more the elevated raiiroadS; n
NanhaEran and The Bronx than 10 those leading
into the boroughs OF Brooklyn ana queens
Further along in the report, after speaking Of
The application cf the Behr Monoral Company for
8 franchise 10 operate ore-rail elevated road
from South Ferry. in Brooklyn. to Coney islano
which was made TO the cid Rapid Transit Comrlis-
sion. bur not pushed 70 any definite action the
commission gees far as TO say
TIE commission is PREPARED to consider favor.
stly any plan which will insure safe rapid transit
70 any oonsiderab bic portion OF the city which can
be built without overtaxing the resources OF the
city, and which is according to the statue, re-
25sn1 Ana,c.sI bacs and character to insure lis
being carried out in accordance with the terms OF
n. contract
Discussing the problem ot the removal OF the
r1,r<ace tracks Of the New York Central from
Eleventh avenue. the commission says that The
FRANCHISE condemnation award would impose Il
tesvy burden on the city. and that some means
of getting produce into the city on the West SIDE
u needed and outlines SIS suggestion for an ele-
1.sted freight line the so-callsd marginal way
tsrn,een the limits Of West street and the piers
.n The North River. The commission states the
advantages OF er elevated structure over 4 SID
rey in this section as follows:
a subway along the West SIDE would be useful
E7tc6es ana crossovers would make II difficult 70
operate fast PASSENGER trans On L3e sane ler
level there would be difficulties due 70 oeIth ana
gnrsr stations and the surface. On the other hand
n elevated structure along the Water1rcIt fElgnS
lersT an upper level might be added. The saving
7 cost of an elevated structure over SUBWAY OF
o1sI capa CITY would De very great. Nor can II pc
tsiJ +F1s5 the appearance Of the waterfront would
be greatly injured Artistic and hes'y cohsIruo<lon
could oe employed
objected TO by the Committee of Fifty for the re-
r1oyal Of tracks from Eleventh avenue and other
stTeets. The report goes on to say
The treatment Of the New York Central Rail
roads tracks north OF "a street sn2ud a. ne iaTgeg
. disbursement to the most beautiful waterfront
bat SsT @ eo5k ,sr ly =em and thy T HUDSON Rive
Riverside Park should be extended IN places over
Parts OF the roof might contain greenswarc Or
slruhbery and would thus oe valuable exteI-
cross Dycnnan street and the valley at 129th street
roo5ng OF the tracks at intervals would render
nessible the strip on the edge OF The river nov
owned by the city and which could readily be
6IIe6 in for playground
the New York Central Railroad CoTnrany de
sires TO obtain room for from two 70 four addi-
tional tracks. These. If allowed, should he oe-
tween the present tracks and the river. Some fair
arTangement should be made between tne city and
the railroad company SO thar the railroad COM
@ Dy a should pE Ga s % for de h gran amt Of zTa
tracEage rights or space
The commission says that the SAKE Law does
not authorize il TO 90 anything further than 70
begin condemnation Of the franchises Of the New
York Central IN Eleventh sTenne and that fur
ter LEGISLATION VIII be needed to get method
cr freight transportation for the West Side. but
that as the entire solution OF the problem is so
cioselv linked with rapid transit situation the
commission Will contin3e 70 work on g.