New-York tribune., 1909-07-28
RAISE BRIDGE RENTALS
THE HUNDREDS DEMAND.
Finds Right to Cross Madison AUe-
nue. Bridge Is ALSO Su6iet.

Following up it's investigation Of the fees paid by
the various surface railroads for the privilege OF
crossing the Williamsburg Bridge. the Committee OF
One Hundred issued statement yesterday show
ing the amount Of revenue lost the city by
not charging the railroad companies higher rental
for the privilege of using the various bridges oult
with taxpayers money. For example. the New YORK
City Railway Company has contract with the city
whereby Il has to pay only five cents round trip
for cars on the Williamsburg Bridge. but subjects
the privilege the Dry Dock & East Broadway
Railroad for 10 cents round trip car.
The Committee of One Hundred shows that If the
city should charge the companies 10 cents round
trip on the River bridges the income from this
source on the Williamsburg Bridge would be in
creased by about $4,000 year and on the Brook
lyn Bridge by about $4,000 year. The Committee
of One Hundred also shows how the surface roads
benefit at the expense of the city by running cars
across the Madison avenue bridge over the Harlem
River. It's statement says
The surface of the BROOKLYN Rapid Transit
system and the Coney Island & Brooklyn RalIroad
the brooklyn Bridge for precisely the same amount
of money which is paid by the New YORK Cts ny
Williamsburg Bridge In both cases the city re-
esyes five Scb 40sss f sYf Fe
the Dry Dock company pays TO the EeW Vy,t or
burg Bridge Since the trackage rights on the the
Brooklyn Bridge certainly as valuable as i those
on the Williamsburg Bridge. the question arises
why the city Should not be able to get as good
terms those secured by the New York city ran
The COMMITTEES says the present contract Is re,
ocabie at years notice and remarks that only
the inertia Of city officials will prevent the qiesto
of the amount OF revenue TO be derived oy the 'iS
for the use Of this bridge by the raioad companies
from sging reopened" The statement continues:
The valuable rights to cross the new Manhattan
BTIdge 3on s RrtdRe should be let on
terms fair to the city well as TO the comPanes
The Investment cost TO the city Of the WIinams n1
Bridge so 32 42s The receipts from street ralT9ad
COMPANIES for the use of the Williamsburg Bridge
8ogent Iogn6 NO cost and the receipts fro the
source for the use Of the BrooKlyp 6Flose a"iouA'
So far as receipts from the surface lines are con.
ssne Terms ms were paid TO the city which have been
pad to tsTis the New york city Raway ComDa1y for
In the case Of the Brooklyn Bridge this % would In
crease the revenues of the city by about $50 i9
by about $1,000 year
The arrangement for the rental Of the Madison
bridge is critised thus:
The Williamsburg Bridge is not the only city
rights 10 cross With and subleased these rights
at a profit The Madison avenue bridge over IN, me
Harlem River Is another instance The New ioik
q Aarie 9be arIe River on this bridge and
M vs. therefor at the same rate fixed com
pensation for the use OF other tracks on US ms %
ceipts and the particular payment tor IN. use oa
6h5e 5hs STsss d sI rs tuo9 OF the % New 81 Yor Harlem system
Rights TO cross over the bridge have ben ] sun
leased hy the New 1oTk x Harlem tal'E =,
the Union Railway Company for reimbursement
Of half the original cost OF constructing the tracks
and an annual payment Of s1.4S0. The linton Rail
wav Company Is also required to keep the tracks
in repair and to perform such repairs 70 the bridge
as are required OF the New York Harlem COM
panv under its contract with the city. The New
York q Harlem company. besides deriving this
revenue from the Of the bridge by the Union
Railway Company. continues to use II Tor us own
-.
Being more careful OF It's rights than was the
CITY OF New York. the New York & Harlem loIIl-
pany put ir its contract with the Union Railway
Company provision under which the latter is pre-
vented from SuhleasinE its rights to cross the
bridge: and any other company desirous of crossing
this bridge with its must deal with the New
York e. Harlem company direct As a matter OF
fact II II were the habit of these companies 20
nav their franchise their Of the bridges
would actually be free OF any cost 10 themselves
The tax law provides that money PAID ~ the
shall be deducted from their franchise taxes
II IS clear from the facts thst the bridges. while
being treated public highways. could he made
more nearly self-supporting. By the intr'duction
Of better business methods, the city would tndouht-
edlv find possible 10 secure more such improve
ments without decreasing its available funds FOR
other purposes.