New-York tribune., 1909-01-16
P.S. C. WILL ASK POWER
Law FOR ELEVENTH AVE.
Has Gone as Far as 1t Can to Re
more Tracks.


The Public Service Commission for the 1st Dis
trct viii ask the Legislature this winter TO pass
bill giving the commission authority to remove the
tracks of the New York Central & Hudson River
Railroad Company from the surface of Eleventh
avenue In Its annual report to the Legislature the
commission reviews the steps taken unsuccessfuAy
TO bring about the removal of these tracks.
Although this commission has further duty
under the SAKE law says the. report, and al
though it has exercised all authority given to 1t
TO effect the removal of the tracks Of the New
York Central Railroad from the surface of the
streets. the commission has not been content to
stop here. Believing that some solution must be
found, that practical plan can be evolved ana
that the city would be greatly benefited by such
a plan the commission is making careful survey
OF conditions upon the West Side and hopes TO
be able in the future TO report a plan and
to suggest appropriate legislation to the prof.
a actUality.
POWER IN ELEVENTH AVENUE.
On the question of the authority OF the commits
sion to act for an overhead underground freight
line in Eleventh avenue. the report says:
AT present all the funds the city can raise, be-
cause OF the approach Of the Indebtedness, OF
the city TO the constitutional uepl limit aIT
anv project for freight distribution must there
sion can lay out rapid transit line for the trans
portation OF passengers and freight 10 be SI CON
York. but it has power to grant franchise for
an overhead or underground freight line TO an in
dependent private company.
The commission has power with the approval Of
the Board Of Estimate and Apportonment' to
grant a franchise 10 an existing railroad to con-
sruct freight railroad above or below the surface
but the term of such franchise is limited to twenty,
nor Sr nh p+iVilesT ] oi III me agrecate No
existing company has asked FOR a franchise on
The commission therefore has 10 power to pro, 2
Elevated or unGerpro,I0d fTeieht railroad that
would accomplish the purpose that the West Slae
to be accomplished some legislation must be had
ELEVENTH AVENUE SOLUTION.
The commission believes that the real solution of
the Eleventh avenue track question will come only
with the adoption Of a compromise plan for the
general betterment of freight distribution in the
Borough Of Manhattan. on this subject the re-
port says:
Merely to build expensive railroad TO per
form the same work that is now performed by
Of freight handing. The plan that will permit
adoption should lessen the cost Of handling freight
one of the drawbacks to the commercial pros
eR dR OF The se SHEETS sg is The n are not
ing larger. but the amount OF freight trucking Is
because Of the time taken and expense Incurred
IN reoeiying goods from snd ,,es delivering 'e u
The enormous use OF the streets for freight pur-
portation Surface cars some Of the streets
cannot transport the number Of passenseI5 5 n 5S
moving trucks. On the other hand, the undlliiIt,
ished of trucks appears to he inevitable untii
some substitute is found that. like the trucks re
Quires only a single handling from the through
freight cars TO the warehouse.
Pending the removal OF the tracks in Eleventh
avenue the commission is determined that the
operation OF the trains shall be conducted with
care and made as safe as possible. During the
year a number o; questions relative TO the op-
Grafton Of trains on the West Side tracks OF the
New York Central have come up on formal pro
/ ceedings. The report says:
In one case the commission issued an order FOR
bidding the emission Of black smoke ana tne , use
/ of aCff rg4f in
the commission directed the company 20 place flag
nue. between 3Ith and 59th streets who the cross
ings most used were required to be maint al al
hours OF the day and night, and at the CROSSINGS
less used from a m 10 10 p. m. and In some
In a third proceeding the commission required the
railroad company "a suspend altogether the opera a.
avenue in the hours OF the day when the street
D.! crossings are most used and accidents are most
SIS TO q m % a m to 70 !2SS 35 p p f H go N 70 ''
FREIGHT DISTRIBUTION PLAN.
! The commission received various suggestions
from individuals and organizations relative TO a
general freight distribution plan The report meI-
tons three OF these suggestions as follows:
The Amsterdam eoTporation has presenfsd 4l RS
for improved freight distribution tnrougout f @
electrically operated subways underneath the SIDE
being So arranged the waterfront is paraleled
and access planned 10 all the main freight handIlhg
Rpop6 ta connected with the trunk lines terminal
! New York. and also tnrOuSN tOEiiel oI tH,i
neIs under the Hudson River with ali or the mann
| railroad Ires terminating in New Jersey:
| Charles n Fowler filed pan BY whlcn deeI
| freight srbways might DE operated by an ar cur
| rent or electricity. TIE Merchants Associate q
| presented a plan for elevated freight ralIroSu
| and suggestions made by various orSaIllzt-
| tions such as the Reform Club and the City CIub
In its review of the work done in the beginning
., condemnation proc aedinRs under the Sake law
which required the Board Of Rapid Transit Com
n,issIoners TO enter into agreement II possible
with the New York Central Railroad Company foT
| the construction OF a freight subway under the
roadbed Of the present tracks or under sueh streets
as might be agreed upon. the commission SAYS the
old hoard to whose duties # succeeded, 'faiied to
take the hrst steps directeE by the legislature
The rroper steps not having teen taken. the re-
mort SAYS the PEE e4~lsites 10 the Issue Vi
| neremptorv rnandamus are wanting.
! The SAKE law provided that If the oid boaid
! failed 10 agree with the railroad company "ithli
one wear 3. -hould direct the condemnation Oh the
franchises Of the company within the streets lhis
be,ng the case the report says that when the
commission succeeded the board II went 10 the eA
| tent Of its powers under the act
w E. KIssELBURGH, JR., ACQUITTED