New-York tribune., 1909-04-13
SHONTS CALLS ON PUBLIC.
Asks Syport for Proposed Inter
borough Extensions.

In an advertisement entitled What Chokes the
Subway" appearing on another page or Inc lIio
une this morning, Theodore p Shonts president u
the Interborough Rapid Transit Company. makes
:, direct appeaI to the New York public to support
the Interborouchs subway and elevated extension
plans. These plans. already announced proFlue
for the third tracking of the Second avenue anu
Third avenue elevated lines and for the extension
of the present subway south from Times Square TO
the Battery and north from the Grand Central
Station to The Bronx with two-track tubes
Mr. Shonts says that the plans for the Inter
borough's proposed 100000 extensions are ready
that the companys proposal is before the proper
authorities (the Public Service Commission. and
closes with the terse statement, we are ready 10
act"
He refterates his former statements that 1t VIII
take three or four years build the new subWays
and at least eighteen months to third track the
Second avenue and Third avenue elevated lines.
To obtain immediate relief, he says, the company
is doing its utmost by planning TO enlarge t''e
subway station platforms and 10 put into opera
ton cars with centre side doors on all the express
trains These improvements he repeats will in
crease the capacity of the present subway at least
p per cent.
Mr. Shonts calls attention to the fact that the
subway was built to carry 4O0O 900 passengers day,
but is carrying at present 100000 every Weekud1'
1t was expected, he points out. that the subway
would relieve the congestion the elevated IiieS'
but these lines present carrying 90 per cent
more people than they did five years ago
No aliuSOn is made IN tl6 lHteIDol'uSI4 H4'N'
tisement to the fact that the companys proposed
extension and development work IS all dependent
on changes in the present rapid transit law IN
deed in a recent statement. President Shonts
said eDophaticaIy that the InterbOrOugh would nave
NJ, propositions whatever in regard 10 subway or
elevated extensions if the Legislature did not amend
the EIsberg law.
William r. Wilcox chairman of the Public Ser
vice Commission, is at present in Hot springs
Commissioner William MCCarroll. when told last
night of the Interborough's advertisements SAID:
No definite proposal has Yet been made 10 the
Public, Service Compassion by the Interooroush
Rapid Transit Company In regard to IT'S propPSeu
,,,,ansions Furthermore We got 10 have a
nov, law before we have the power to grant what
rho Tnterborough wants. The members of the Pun
lie Service Commission have prepared bill amend
inc the present rapid transit law, and that olIi IS
a. nresent before the Legislature. A number ot
the commissioners are going TO Albany to-morro"
to speak in behalf of this bill at puohc hrdlll's'
After this bill IS passed will be In Il posluoh
10 discuss and pass upon the proposals OF the III
,erborough as we'll as those or other companies
Commissioner John f. Eustis took the same We"
as that taken by his confrere. After reading t''e
Interborough advertisement, he said:
The application Of the Interborough Kappa
Transit t,onpsnv to extend its subway and i
lines was filed with the Public Service Commission
over three weeks ago but the commission has not
the mower to give he Interborough permission to
extend its subway or third track the Second avenue
and Third avenue elevated lines on the terms the
conlnany seeks until the present rapid transit law Is