New-York tribune., 1909-12-17
NAY RETAIN ROAD
sTH AVENUE'S STEP.
Strong Opposition TO Lea5ing
Metropolitan.

n was iutimated yesterday by those In
terested that the application OF the di-
rectors of the New York & Harlem Rail-
road 10 the United States court for n
cancellation OF tho lease Of its property
known as the Fourth and Madison avenue
line 10 the Metropolitan Street Railway
Company was more or less Of formal
prooeeding. IL was considered 20 he a
necessary step 10 prevent the sale OF the
property by the city for failure 10 pay
franchise taxes. which are in arrears al
most sl.oO.0o0.
The line is considered part OF the hack
han- % TIE Metropolitan system. occupy
ing almost as important a position as
the broadway line: wherefore II is argued
that It's separation from the Metropolitan
would mean the disintegration of that
system. For THAI reason there are many
interests that viii fight such a separation.
and II is safe 20 say that IL will not occur
uutil every possible effort 20 prevent IL
has failed
In the first place the bondhoiders Of
the Metropolitan viii oppose IL. While IL
may have beer a beneHt 10 those interests
20 get rid q some of the subsidiary prop
critics held under lease because they showed
a tremsHlous loss. they would not look
with equauimity on the loss Of the Madi-
son avenue Tine. Il has always been one
81 The best paying properties In th- sys-
TEN. although the managers of the Metro
politan say its net earnings have not
been more than se0eao. while the annual
rentals paid 20 the New York q Harlem
have been ss00vba But with an improve
ment Of the property and the Introduction
% 'pay-as-y -you-cnter" cars the receipts
have steadily increased.
Those who operate the Metropolitan sys-
TEN are opposed 10 giving up the Fourth
and Madison avenue line for n is a most
important part Of its general scheme OF
transportation. Again, judge I.aCombe
throughout the various proceedings result
ant from the passing Of the Metropolitan
system into the hands of a receiver has
constantly dwslt on the necessity. so far
a. II might De- possible of keeping the
system intact
Then araii- the Public Service Commits
sion, representing the people. viii not per
NIT the separation II the Madison avenue
lIue with the resultant aholishU'nt ~
many transfer points, II il can do anything
20 prevent b.. Primarily, of course, the mat
ter is IN the hands OF the United States
court. hut the Public Service Commission
has the power 10 pass on any scheme q
reorganization. and in that way has a
means OF exercising influence
u was pointed out yesterday Iy interests
close 20 the Metropolitan receivers that the
New York a. Harlem company now
owned no surface cars. that II had no
electric power and that the Metropolitan
had spent large amounts of money I'm lay
ing new tracks. on the other hand. 4
was said that the New York & Harlem
would probably have no trouble IN getting
power from the New York Central with
which interests ~ is closely allied The
terms q the sgs-year lease of the Fourth
and Madison avenue line 10 the Metropol.-
tan company call for the turning back OF
The property or SIS equivalent al the eN-
piration of tne lease or when Il is given up.
Since the Metropolitan went into the
hands Of receiyers the latter have purchased
two hundred "pay-as-you-eu cars for
the Madison avenue line al a cost of
about Sfer1 each. a director of the New
York q Harlem yesterday expressed him
sell confident thar Il they should take hack
thc property they would he able 70 make
. arrangement for cans and would have no
trouble about adjusting the differences over
TIE cost 0f layiu- Ihe n,w tracks
If The Fourth and Madison avenue line
should he opcrated separately IL would
probably mean tn, a5olishmeut of the
transfers tlat are now issued between this
Iinc and other lines of the Metropolitan sys-
tsm. The principal points aro at sth street.
lsth street. sd street satin street and al
Ast0r Plac, and BrOalWaN.