New-York tribune., 1909-03-10
A BELT LINE RAPID
TRANSIT PROPOSAL
PRIVATE CAPITAL SEEKS
FRANCHISE FROM CITY.
amsterdam Corporation Outlines
Combined SHb1cay and EleUated
Route Skirting Rirers.


other with bewildering rapdity these days. The
newest proposition came yesterday from the
Amsterdam corporation. which wants permis-
sion TO construct with private capital inter
terminal belt line. passenger and freight road.
part elevated and part subway, sSrting the
river front of Manhattan Island from J9th street
and the North River and around the Battery.
up the East River waterfront to 18th street and
crosstown in the latter street. thus forming a
complete circuit Connections are also provided
in the plans with the Grand Central Station and
the Pennsylvania terminal
W. J. WiIgus. president OF the Amsterdam
corporation filed the plans with the Public Ser
vice Commission with request for franchise
Associated with him IN the project are Gustav
H. Schwab. c. D. Halsey & Co. ]. G. White 8
Co. Incorporated; P. A. 5 Franklin. Hodenpyl,
Walbridge & Co. and c. c. Cuyler- Large ship
ping interests and considerable foreign capital
are back Of the application it IS understood No
statement was made as to the approximate cost
of the proposed lines. but S4OO00O00 is believed
TO be a conservative estimate
THE ROUTE AS PROPOSED.
We are aware that. under the laws now in
force such a franchise as desire cannot be
granted" the application sa.s. and our request
IS predicated upon the Legislature enact1ng
such laws as Will make it possible to grant the
/
scribed in detail follows:
A four-track elevated railroad from the ter
minus Of the New York Central Railroad Com
pany's West Side tracks at or near 6Oth street
and the North River sOutherly along the water
front 10 the Battery, thence a twO-tra eleyat-
ed railroad along near the waterfront OF the
| East River to a suitable point south or 42d
street. thence by subway through First avenue
and 42d or 43d street, connecting with the Grand
Central Station, 10 Seventh or Eighth avenue;
| thence through Seventh or Eighth avenue. con-
| Meeting with the Pennsylvania Railroad terminal
| TO Goth street; thence by subway ana eIeVated
/ structure through Goth street 10 a connection
| with the main line at the North River also oy
/ subway from a connection with the elevated
structure at the North River. through 59th or
| 6Oth street to connections with the Blackwells
/ Island bridge over the East River and with the
| East Side section: thence sOutherly in First or
! Second avenue to connection with the line az
| or near 49d street or AID street Where feasible.
| the privilege IS desired Of charging portions oS
| said railroad by adding one or more tracks Inc
| above described right Of way 10 be furnished
| free Of cost in far as the same relates 70 any
property owned controlled by the city or state,
| or property which the city or state contenplaIes
| acquiring
Referring to the need for a rapid transit
route for freight and passengers like the one
proposed the application says:
| The necessity for quick conveyance Of an
| enormous population 10 and from the different
! resident and business districts OF the city has
| brought the whole attention OF the autnorites
| and OF investors in the past 10 tnterborough
/ passenger transportation, Dut We oeleVe IhaI
there exists necessity for an interterrninaI oeiI
/ line road which Will make direct communication
I between all Of the steamship and railroad ter
| mfnaIs as we'll as the ferries. upon Manhattan
| island below 60th street. We believe that such q
| line will not only prove a great convenience %
an immense number OF people out mat " VII VII
| nrobIen and develop sections Of the city. espe-
/ cialIv on the East Side which now entirely lack
| proper transportation facilities
! FRANCHISE PROVISIONS DESIRED
7, Is our desire to establish a public utility
upon the following basis;
| Firs+-It shall transport passengers over its
/ lines for full scent fare .
| ssecond-Tts securities shall be so safeguarded
| that the investor. will be made as secure, as 20
return of interest and principal as IS CONSISTENT
/ " and conservatively possible and the autnor-
/ lied issue of bonds and stock snail De on terms
| that will be reasonab bly, attractive TO investors
and to those who initiate and establish the
| project - 49,, -..6. ,o-
/ onaratfng expenses, interest on bonds and de-
| nreciatiOn the city shall, IN lieu OF al state
| city county and franchise taxes. and al otner
| taxes except taxes on real estate, share with
| the company in the net profits
| Fourth-At the end Of the franchise period
the city is to have the right TO purchase the
! nrODertv at a fair valuation OF the franchise 70
! be extended for further period
| Tho v-hoIe plan. as suggested. IS one OF khe
most radical and comprehensive that has yet
| come before the Public Service Commission in
| ANYTHING like tangible form Perhaps the noes
| t,,r4ant feature OF the scheme Is that II rres
| ,5as . solution OF the Eleventh or Death"
| o,.anue track problem. which has been bug
| b,.r 70 the commission ever since its inception
| I, q vrav the new proposal is merely a mOdif-
| oo+ton ~ the original Wilgus freight subway
| ,,ar presented to the commission last summer
| but II IS far more comprehensive The original
| feature Of small street subways, under the side
| LIS and connecting with business houses. 70
| left out Of the new plan
II is proposed that the books Of the company
LII he omen at all times 10 the inspection OF
| municipal and state authorities; that the Mayor
,l. controller OF the city shall be directors OF
the company and that a complete statement OK
~. aratrs. accounts and transactions Of ths
-a-,ranv ~ shall be compiled once each year by
mi, accountants this statement 70 be fled
With the municipal authorities
| = +ba event OF the enactment OF legislation
.ha+ viii make feasible the granting OF a fran
- % the nature outlined. the company -
- - negotiate with the commission to
49, +e-ros and details Of the rights which It de-
sires 20 acquire
MERIT OF THE PLAN OUTLINED.
The application takes up In detail the freight
and passenger transportation problem on Man
haitian Island and closes with the following con-
cIusions
rrb, need for rapid transit along the water
| eront where an elevated structure would be
| unObfectionableS the benefit that the public
| ,-ouId reap from some convenient means OF in
| tarrhange between the termini Of the great trunk
Iine ALWAYS and steamship lines; the outlet fol
| the uultitudes 10 outlying boroughs that VIII oe
| afforded by a rapid transit route connecting witt
| atba bridges and tunnels across the East and
S--.h -{varS- the relief 70 citizens and COM