New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-03-11
Mr.. SHONTS'S OFFER.

OF Mr.. Shonts's offer we have no hesitation
IN saving that it would not be seriously con
sidered if the city had the borrowing capacity
to 90 ahead and build the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
avenue line Indeed, If the city had beeh III
that position it is doubtful whether MI ShohS
would have made his present proposal, so Cd
viousIv inferior is it to what the city could do
for itself We have come TO look upon SUBWAY
rs four-track road. Mr.. Shonts offers to con
struct a two-track road-half a subway NlrI-
uaIIy he will increase by only 30 per cent the
carving capacity of the present subway II Is
doubtful whether this can be regarded as itue-
ouatp 1t certainly would not be regarded as
adequate if the city were IN an independent
position and could build a subway on lls own
credit Considering the way the city Ifdlhc II
growing il seems probable that by the tlihe
these new two-traCk extensions could be COM
Melted the additional facilities would DE as
hadly overtaxed as is the existing subway III
stead of subway relief. it is question "heInel
this proposal Is not calculated indefinitely l"
nrotract the present profitable subway conges-
ton.
And in more WAYS than one is this true. By
s,,cb 9 measure of half relief as this the inter
borOuch would take to itself the cream OF TIC
fra t4ic and make it impossible to obtain com
petitor whether a line should he puht WIN Tue
use of city credit not. If the InIerporoue"
buiIds the proposed extensions no Such r"du a.
the Observation-Disclosures avenue line "ouid pe
profitable for several years 10 come. MoreoEer'
tbo turning over to the Interborough of the
northern end of the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ave
mo route would shut a possible competitor OUT
Of the best line that could he planned LeXing-
+o, avenue like the extension of FlatbuSh ave
mo in BROOKLYN. is recognized as one OF the
kavs 10 the transit situation In this city. The
marlborough wants to occupy a part OF each
of these streets. so as to be IN command OF
both.
Now the considerat ton that the Interhorough
asks for making this inadequate subway pro
vision is a perpetual franchise for third tracks
on both the Second and Third avenue elevated
roads-practically q perpetual franchise LOT =
new elevated road in Manhattan. We leave II
70 the advocates of the policy of trusting
wholly to private capital for traction taclL'-
+ies If This is handsome vindicatiOn for them.
Yas We can have new subways from private
capital" If the city is ready 10 throw in as an
inducement a perpetual franchise for one track
of elevated road for every track or subway
,o,s+rrcted We have no doubt that if the city
Is nrepared to offer such terms as these prl-
yatp capitaI' stands ready to provide some al
di+ions 70 subway facilities whenever they are
sufficiently ovPrCrOwded. We have at last the
much mooted terms of private capitar'- forty
sion. additions to the system so inadequate rs
IN assure their being overcrowded from the day
they Omen and to boot perpetual FRANCHISE
for the equivalent of a new elevated road Moth
ing could nrove more conclusiyely than this the
citv's need of adequate borrowing capacity to
Drotpct its own interests. Such is the proposal.
II is inadequate and its acceptance would stand
in the way OF making q provision that would
he adequate Its advantage is that it Is some
thing. while nothing else is surely in sight. Per
hans It should be accepted If nothing better
can be done Fortunately, however, no decision
need be reached Immediately. for the offer can
not he even entertained until the law is amend
ed It will probably be as difficult to get the
law amended TO the extent the lnterhorough
requires as il would be to have the consttu-
tioDaI amendment resolution repassed. At any
rate bv the time the amendment to the law
can he acted upon the situation regarding the
constitutional amendment will be so far cleared
M that the city will know where it stands and
whether or not it can do anything for its own
relief