New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
SAKE CRITICISES P. S. G.
OYER nth AVE. TRACKS.
Senator Tells Committee of Fifty 1t
Has Retarded Removal.

The Committee of Fifty which has in charge
she work of obtaining the removal of the New
York CentraTs Eleventh avenue tracks from
Grade met yesterday at the office OF Charles
De Hart Brewer at No. 10 Wall street, and pro-
tested against the suggestion of the Public Ser
vice Commission for the building by railroad
company of an elevated freight railroad along
the Hudson River piers to relieve the Eleventh
ez.nue situation The dozen members of the
committee present also recommended that the
CORPORATION Counsel begin proceedings imme-
dstely for the condemnation OF the Eleventh
avenue property Of the New York Central be-
csuse of the latter's failure to come TO terms
with the city for the removal of its tracks as
the SAKE law of 1906 required it to do within
year.
senator Martin SAKE. the father Of the bill,
Was present at the meeting and criticised the
Puhlic Service Commission for the recommen-
dsrion for an elevated structure. saying that his
hill nrovided against il. He said also that the
action Of the commission had done more to
,e.a-a the consummation of the Committee Of
Fffty's object than to strengthen it, and ended
tx declaring that the Public Service Commits
sion was harder TO get along with than the
old Rapid Transit Commission" He placed
much Of the blame William II. Wins. SEN
ator Sake said:
..rhe Public Service Commission Is mainly
we had things so well in hand that thought
she excavating would be going on in Eleventh
a,,enue by this time But after MIR. Wins and the
commissioners took up this proposition we
hersn 10 lose ground, and there has developed
q public opposition to US We can have per-
tens no better evidence Of the undesirability
n. an elevated road than the expressed opposi-
+,on 10 Il by the Chamber Of Commerce Such
G road would be 6 benefit only to the New
YORK Central, which carries only a small per-
csn,sge Of the freight. The idea Of a water
frout elevated IS altogether out Of the ques-
.iou We are left now no nearer to a remedy
,sa, We we're four years ago. The trains are
Grill running or Eleventh avenue and will be
%, sor,e time. The action of Mr.. WINS and the
other gentlemen delays US still more We
shof1d proceed With all possible haste with con-
dsnnation proceedings.
81 -esnect the intentions Of the commission.
hut must say that had less trouble with the
Bspid Transit Commission than we have had
with the Public Service commissioners. have
--;ed several times TO obtain maps from the COM
mission but without Success
The Rey John 2. Chidwick. chairman OF the /
Committee Of Fifty, presided at the meeting |
Some Of the other members present were Miles |
v Dawson L J Callahan. Charles De Hart
Freyer Mrs Blatch. Henry Schneider and Mr.. |
Coleman representing the West End Associa-
ZION The paragraph in the report of the Pub
fr Service Commission that called forth the pro-
fest Of the Committee Of Fifty follows:
/, the state Of the ciy's finances would allow it, it
would rrObablv lie wise for the city to build ana
oz-n ar elevated freight railroad along the Hudson
River piers This could be made accessible not only
10 the New York Central Railroad but to the
PENNSYLVANIA by incline from its tunnel ana 10 |
al the other railroads by fleets. It's earning ablnty
world constantly increase. and IL time II would
heroine valuable asset TO The city N hle. now
The need passenger rapid transit lines is |
the city erecting a municipal waterfront road for
freight The best available plan would seem 10 De
tbs New York Central If Il would Undertake the
work or more favorable terms than any one else
An arrangement might be made analogous TO that
the Ncidon tunnel route through Sixth avenue TO
"a street which substantially that the city
cauls bTv At its thon value At any time after
-pentv-fve years and in the mean time fair con-
sideration made payable 10 the city Tor the
franchise privileges
Comics Of the full report were mailed to all
the members Of the committee. Resolutions
we're adopted calling on the Corporation Counsel
10 prosecute proceedings vigorously for the rev.
ocstion cf the New York CentraFs franchises
on the west side Of the city and refusing TO have
further negotiations with the company any
terms less favorable than those specified in the
SAKE law and providing for d subway under
Eleventh avenue