New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-11-25
WILCOX TO SH0NTS
P4RLEY ON SUBW4YS.
Chairman Explains -iftitudc
of II. y. Com mission.

From correspondence which u ts passed
between Theodore y. Shorts, pI esident OF
she lrterh,raurh Repid T-ansit Company,
ana william r. WILCOX. chairman Of the
l,,,l,Isc service Commission. alzi which was
rnado public yesterday new sat is thrown
"a the commissions attitude toward the
extension OF rapid transit lines in this city.
AR Shonts writes that he is q the opin-
ion ttat tho commission ana the Inter
,,o,,,,ci, are fn accord as 10 the physical
features or the iat-er's proposition for tie
shlre-trackfng CT The elevated lines lie
slso agrees with the statement of Mr..
wiIIcox that n VII probably cost twsre as
milch 10 build s1bways n the present time
81 compared with The conditions under
which the present subway was lalnt
tie saws ne believes that in view of the
fact that the cost OF operation il at this
time corresDondingly higher t5an at the
time OF the opening Of tho pressnt subway
thc Intcrborougil's proposition 10 FURNISH
as own money TO build subWa ys and 10
operate them under the general terms ~
THE contracts reating 10 tho existing sub
WAYS should be satisfactory 10 the ciiy's
Interests.
Referring 10 tho Interborough's attitude
of insisting that its proposition should he
cox replies that the coramsssion has no
alternative but TO reject the proposal and
a. suggest that the company submit new
one or indicate It's willingness 10 modify
the terms % the proposal that has been
undcr consider. ton.
The subway extensions that the INTERIOR
oUgh has named an as follows:
Seventh avenue line, extending from
Times square down Seventh avenue. West
broadway and Greenwich street 60 the Bat
ferK. This line would hs "a four-track sub
way from Times SOUS re 20 Canal street.
Two tracks eNtendipg 10 the Battery, and
1wo VIA Canal street. Manhattan Bridge
snd Fiatisush avenue eNtensioal 20 con
nect with your line in Brooklyn.
Madison avenue line. extending from
Park avenue and Slgh street. I'D Madison
avenue, % connect with the present sub
way near 1871 street and win tho Jerome
svenue elevated line near l60th street.
Nestchesfer avenue line. 10 connect with
your present line al Southern Boulevard
aud Wesfchester avenue and 10 extend 10
Pelham Bay Park.
Mr.. Willcoz's understanding of tho terms
o. which the company VIII undertake the
construction and operation OF the proposed
extensions is eNpressaJ FL tho following
extract from his letter 20 Mr.. Shonts:
You have stated that these lines must
l. builf ~ extra work under CONTRACT
No. .. the original contract Tor the con-
sffuctiCn and operation Of the present sub
Nay from city Hall north, except that you
VIII obtain the money directly, INSTEAD of
Indirectly. by using the tfty'S credit the
.psl being amei1ized out of earnings as al
You also insist thar the city ,uust pro-
Aloc The right 81 Way and station sites
ana assume all liability Co ahurIing prop
sltN owners. except such lamage as may
tion work
This means thar the CITY must defray the
cost ~ al real estate taken for rights Of
way, stations, connect ions. etc. You fur
-er stale that YOU must % allowed an the
Favorable construction privileges contained
in lhe contract under which the present
TubWay was built.
Tho letter gees on 10 give the reasons a.,
which the commission stands in rejecting
tho proposal - The Iuterborough Briefly
th'y are a. follows.
T. Tho fundamental objection "a ,o,,r
proposition Is that n does NOT deal Win
We rapid transit problem in broad, met
. Under the guise of extensions II is mo-
p"seo mat this commission shall authoriz.,
4"l 10 construct. equip and operate what
~ virtually a new system ia Manhattan
npou terms that are much more IA vor. BE
80 you than tho commission has ailv au-
Jauy
Z Your proposition in certain respects
asks that you bc given terms less favora-
hc 10 TIE city than those contained iR
O. You also insist that such taxes AS snail
Ho LEVIED upon YOUR company I'm couuec-
ton with the new lines shall To- psid bv
THO cite.
:. The commission considers that II would
Tao ulw 50 TO give you franchise under
~,nch there would he no ehsriuE az profits
with tho city
Additional reasons FOR TIC commission s.
stttude are The lnterborough's refusal 10
give The Bronx Increased transit facilities
on the lines laid down by the commission
ana the comparys policy OF lo compro-
iH--o on the present proposal Mr.. Will
COZ also discusses at length the INTERIOR
ouEhs propositions relating 10 the third
tracking az its elevated lines. q matter
npon which the company and the commits
sion never have been able 70 agree.