New-York tribune., 1908-07-02
TO ENFORCE SERVICE
SUMMONS TRANSIT MEN.
L. S. &. Finds Dissolution of Lease
LedUes 18th Street Line HELPLESS.

IL n
| Vreeland, president; D. B. Hasbrouck, vice
president; Charles E Warren, secretary, and
Oren Root. one of the directors, in an effort by
the Public Service Commission to enforce the
continuance of adequate service on the lines CT
the Central Park, North & East River Rail-
road Company after the New York City Railway
Companys lease is dissolved on July 10, in ac-
cordance with Judge Lacombe's recent decision
hearing has been set by Chairman Wilcox
for Friday at IL a. m, when this question will
be thrashed out. Since it involves the continu-
ance of operation of the 59th street crosstown
line, with its thousands of passengers daily and
the Belt Line, serving the ferries along West
and South streets, it is considered by the
mission of the utmost Importance to the trav-
elling public.
Under Judge Lacombe's decision the New
York City Railway Company may continue to
operate these lines until July 10, when the
directors of the leased company will hold a
meeting and may make arrangements to
tnue operation temporary leases after that
date if the receivers see fit. But in any case,
the cancellation of the existing lease in accord
ance with the courts decision. the road is thrown
back on the hands of the lessor, and it is to the
officers OF this company that the commission is
turning for a continuation of adequate accom-
modations.
North & East River Railroad Company will
have to show why service corresponding to
that now existing should not be furnished by
their company. That company has no
cars, horses. power plant or other equip
n,ent The commissions order, in the opinion
of many in touch with the traction situation,
will probably result in the establishment of
temporary working arrangement with the New
York City Railway Company. The only feasible
solution of the problem. these people believe. is
in continuation of operation by the big COM
panv as now but on a reduced rental basis
which would be in keeping with the present
financial straits Of the transit corporations
AS to what the commission may attempt 70
do Chairman Wilcox said: What we are going
to do is first to find the facts We want to
know just what is going to be done to insure
adequate service and if it is necessary for the
commission issue any orders to achieve that
resul. it will take such action. But until we
have all pertinent facts before l cannot, of
c,,urse undertake to outline the course which
we are likely to take.
Il will say this, however: We shall certainly
not order anything which is impossible, or any
thing which would exceed our powers under the
law But we do intend to see to it that ade
ouate service is provided, if that is in any way
possible"
Suggestions have been made that the lease be
cancelled and the crosstown lines be segregated
and left to their own resources That would
mean. probably, a horsecar equipment on the
Central Park North and East River Railroad.
since that roads lines are only partly equipped
for electricity. This the 18th street line
would be considerable hardship for the public,
as cor7nared with the existing service. With
the lease of the New York City Railway Com
panv cancelled the Belt Line would have no
especal resources and no ability to carry out
any order which the commission might make as
to service. Yet receivership hardly would be
in prospect, since Judge Lacombe on Monday
refused the application of the Farmers Loan
and Trust Company for a receivership. In view
of all these things the general opinion in Wall
Street is that the New York City company will
renew the lease and continue operation of the
present service on terms much more favorable
to itself
There was a brief session yesterday of the
board Of architects appointed some time ago to
pass on the claim of the Rapid Transit Subway
constructon Company against the city for
sc o25 600 for alleged extra work in the orig
inal subway from the City Hall north, under
contract No l. The three arbitrators, Charles
f Rushmore. ex-Justice Morgan j. OBrien
and Frank Brainard We're present After a
brief discussion of the status of the controversy
the hearing was adjourned to September 10.
counsel for both sides acquescing. In the mean
time the engineers of the company and OF the
commission will continue the work of preparing
an agreed statement of 4 1ysical facts SO far
as such an agreement can be reached.
Steam trains stopped running into the Grand
Central Station yesterday, electric trains hav-
ing taken their place. Steam trains still are
being operated the West Side between
Snuvten Duyvil and st. Johns Park. the Cen
trails freight station but that division, too. will
he electrified soon. The five year period allowed
RI the road to complete electrifcation expired
Yesterday but under law passed at the last
session of the Legislature this period was ex-
tended TO January l, 1910 Despite the great
enlargement of the scope of work as originally
MANNED the railroad company has pracucally
complied with its original agreement