New-York tribune., 1908-06-05
METZ'S SUBWAY PLAN
SEES CH4IRM4N WILCOX.
Wants Tsco Double Track Roads
Fourth Are. Contracts Up To-day.

Controller Metz. at his conference with Chair
man Wilcox of the Public Service Commission yes
ferday, suggested the building Of two-track sub
way in Fourth avenue and a two-track subway
in Sixth avenue rather than a four-track subway
in Fourth avenue. laid down at this time The
Controller told Mr.. WILCOX about the financial con-
oiton Of the city. and requested him to send him
memorandum this morning covering the subway
building the commission will act in the next
two years.
Mr.. Wilcox told him that the commission was
disposed TO build the Fourth avenue, Brooklyn
and the Lexington avenue, Manhattan, lines
These will about soo.oo0ooo. The Controller
said that the city would have for al purposes IN
the next two years about s7ocoo,ooo The Steinway
tunnel brought up, and ii was agreed that the
tunnel ought be put to work.
The Fourth avenue contracts will come before
the Board of Estimate and ApportionTnent Tor maj
approval to-day. The Controller intimated last
night that he would vote against approving the
contracts. That does not mean that the board VIII
sct adversely. The chances are rather in favor Of
Affirmative action. A majority vote viii be SUM-
cent 10 authorize financing the new work. but fol-
lowing the usual method, the resolution probably
viii be referred 10 the Controller for report one
week from to-day.
What il has been thought might prove a forIi1loa-
bic weapon in the hands Of the board IN knocking
out the building OF the Fourth avenue subway was
removed yesterday when the Public Service COM
mission sent word the 1nterborough Rapid
Transit Company that its offer TO operate trains
from its present terminus in Brooklyn over the
Manhattan Bridge TO Manhattan could be accept
ed without interfering with the original plans for
the Fourth avenue subway.
After the commission had awarded the contracts
for the Fourth avenue subway. the 1nterborough
1t Will be remembered, made an offer TO build
rwo-track subway from the terminus at Atlantic
and Fgatbush avenues. to extend along Flatbush
avenue 20 the Manhattan Bridge terminal, for
$4,000
Sl-f-- 1r0v p1S gay q
commission that il would be wise to proceed at
once with the building Of the Fourth avenue sub
way. The route Of the subway which the
Interborough offered to build is practically the
came as that included in Section l and part of
Section 2 Of the Fourth avenue subway.
Mr. Wilcox said yesterday that even should the
Tnterborough offer be accepted it would not make
necessary the provision Of two more tracks, making
six in all. but that arrangements could be made.
even were q separate operator TO take the Fourth
avenue route run trains of both operating COM
panies over the section from Fulton and Flatbush
avenues TO the Manhattan terminal Of the bridge
The Broadway and Denox avenue branches OF the
present subway, he pointed out were now using
the same tracks from e5th street SOUTH and sim
iar arrangement could be made in the case of the
subway.
Controller Metz he's been investigating the popu-
iation figures Of the district contiguous the
posed Fourth avenue subway In the $50 acres
said the Controller yesterday. II find that there
are in round numbers 10000 people.
Assuming that q per cent Of this population are
wage earners. and that 30 per cent Of these wage
earners use the subway every day, there would be
G daily traffic Of 1850. II the subway IS made
available for shoppers, which the route laid out
does do. this figure might be doubled and thus
5000 persons would be accommodated daily. On
Scent fare basis, these 250eo residents, in going
and coming. would yield daily income TO the sub
way Of g 500. How far this would go toward pay
sns for maintenance charges alone without regard
10 interest or sinking fund charges, it is not nee
essary TO dwell upon. The Coney Island traffic
which would be in addition TO the regular daily
traffic would, OF have 10 be considered sep
srately.
AS general proposition trunk line subways in
BROOKLYN are open TO criticism. II four tracks are
needed between the Manhattan Bridge and Coney
Island better plan would he 10 have tracks
go via Fourth avenue and two tracks via Sixth
avenue. In other words. four tracks for Coney
Island on different streets half mile or more
apart would provide more facilities more people.
would be more profitable from operating point Of
view and would increase the value Of more prop
erty and consequently increase the OF the
city by taxation, than a four track line through
any avenue
The six tracks built in Flatbush avenue are
able handle $4,000 persons daily To parallel
them with four more tracks is unnecessary and
foolish"
IT strikes me" added the Controller, that we
might profitably copy from Boston in subway
struction In driving lines into sparsey settled
districts ought bring them of the ground
and run them the surface. and keep them there
until the population along the route justies in
putting them underground. If did this ii would
not cost US so tremendously for our subways
Where TO 20 for he s always a perplexinr
problem. The Resort Number Of The Tribun.
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