New-York tribune., 1909-12-30
GRADE CROSSINGS
Continued from first page.

upon which no greater extension OF
trackage was possible without an ex-
penditure for the construction of retain
ing walls. AS the work is being done
the road occupies the entire width of the
company's right of way, and the abut-
ting ground is retained by walls built by
easement upon private property, making
the entire right of way available for
four tracks where only two formerly
existed
Formerly the Bay Ridge branch of the
Long Island Railway was one and two
track road, of little use, judged by pres
ent railway standards, because of the
existence of excessive grades and re-
stricted right of way that would not per-
nit grade reduction without the acquisi-
ton at points of adjoining property or
the construction of tunnels or retaining
walls. The road extended from the Bay
Ridge terminal across the Borough OF
Brooklyn to the boundary line of Queens,
north of Atlantic avenue, with branch
running from Manhattan Beach june
ton due south to Manhattan Beach, a
distance altogether of approximately
fourteen miles.
When the Improvement work is COM
pleted the railway will be a low grade
two and four track road, carried over
intersecting streets by steel bridges. At
the Bay Ridge end the work as planned
involves an increase in trackage facil-
tiles and very considerable reduction
In existing grades. At the present time
at in
cut, across which streets are carried by
adequate bridges.
The Interpretation placed upon the
grade crossing act by the Corporation
Counsel consents to the elimination of
grade crossings along this stretch,
though none exist. and the work of i'm
proVement as planned will necessitate
the replacing of the existing bridges
with new and larger structures to ac-
commodate additional trackage facilities
and secure a lower grade. For this
work, under the opinion of the Corpora
ton Counsel, the city will be compelled
TO pay one-haf the total cost
TUNNEL TO COST S1,0OO.OOO
AT the East New York end of the road.
south of the Queens line, it is planned to
construct a four track tunnel over a mile
IN length, at cost of something like
Slooo,OO0, in order to allow the railway
TO increase its trackage facilities and
operate at a low grade, instead of the
existing tracks being depressed only far
enough to eliminate grade crossings over
this stretch of road
The point of cleavage between the
Controller and the Corporation Counsel
Is with regard to the Interpretation Ia he
placed upon the wording and intent of
the act under authority of which these
improvements are being carried ont
Inc controller maintains that the Iau,
limits the city's share of the cost to worl,
absolutely necessary to eliminate grade
crossings Of existing and unopened
streets on the lines of railway as exis+
ing and operating at the time the law
was passed, and that the citv is amnI,,
protected by the inclusion in the law of
a provision excluding all bettermente
from being constituted a charge aeaipst
the city, whether provided for in tho act
or not
The contention of the Cornora +io,
Counsel is that the city is bound ,,pda.
The law to bear One-haIf the cost of The
entire Improvement scheme. even AZ
points where existing grades are IN bo
lowered and trackage facilities increa sed
although at these points no grade crosse
lngs existed at the time the Iau, v,.s, -
acted ~