New-York tribune., 1909-06-09
ON QUEENSBORO BRIDGE
HOLDS UP CAR FRANCHISE
p. S. c. Thinks South Shore Con-
tract Unfair to the City.

-rba 4rancbfsa recently granted by the Board Of
Estimate and Apportonment TO the South Shore
Traction Company 20 build a trolley line throleh
Queens and over the Queensboro Bridge was
eisapproved yesterday 10y the Public Service Com
mission.
The commissions chief objection lies in the fact
that under the terms Of the franchise the South
Shore Traction Company receives pracucally mo
ropolstic control Of Thompson avenue and Hon
man Boulevard. which TO Queens Borough "lldt
Fulton stree: Is 10 Brooklyn. While the franchlse
is not an exclusive one on Its face It foroioS during
the ffty-year period Of the grant any use OF theSe
streets by any other street railroad COMPANY ~
cept under what the commission calls "eXtraordl-
nary conditions
The route granted l,v the franchise covers dis
tanoe OF thirteen miles il. Queens Borough and one
and a half miles The greensboro Bridge. II
exten6s from the city line at Nassau touii'S
through Jamaica to Long Island City. traVerslhe
the heart Of Queens Borough and running primer
vailv in Hoffman Boulevard and Thompson avenue
According to ex-senator Clarence LeNoW ana AT
thur c Hume. counsel for the company uhe Hou''i
Shore Traction Company has valuable franchises
covering route from Islip TO the New York Il'H
line ON certain portions Of the route construction
work has already begun. 1t is understood thaI
Cleveland capital is interested in the company
Commissioner Bassett who wrote the commls-
Eicn's opinion. points out that part OF inc IoU'
granted in the franchise lies the ne~ Nlauucl
across tne Sunnyside yards Of the Long lsiahu
Railroad Company which Is the only passage
way oyer such yards leading directly to the queens
boro Bridge" He also points out that the con'IaS
IS not compelled 10 use the Queensboro Briuse Ioi
a longer period than years and It IS poSslb'e
that The conrauy might refuse 10 operate over the
bridge after that. with the result that The peoPie
OF Queens would have no better facilities tah 'tS
have to-day for reaching Manhattan on Snnsie
fare. He says;
Uuder the franchise contract granted by the Iocal
suthorites the applicant COMPANY Is pnI n d & 20
sition Of control for street railway purposes over
tsSna t1lS - stlG =! a l t Which This company
can be compelled build the extensions neces-
sary for the full development Of the territory de
pendent upon this thorouShfare as the need ma!
The South shore Company binds Itself TO permit
any other company duly authorized by the city
70 use the south Shore Company's tracks upon the
payment Of initial sum and an annual rentai.
Il is the scheme for determining me amount OF
those psymenIs which Is the chief objection to the
company's franchise. The plan prescribed would
measure the value Of the South Shore Company
franchise exclusive grant 10 The only aNaliti-
Die route for immense territory with unlimited
promise as 10 iu1ure deNelopment Tor IeslueiIce
IS 10 the amount q the initial payment The mat
yer Is 10 he referred 20 tlTee e9teu ILs
and the third be chosen by those two. The city,
which is one OF the principals in this contrast.
In the APPRAISAL If the South Shore Traction Com
pany desired to prevent another company from
ooTning in, il could bring about deadlock by
seeing il that third appraiser not entirely
satisfactory il could be agreed upon
Inc otler company would have difficulty in en-
the city and the South Shore Traction Company
are parties. Even il some way could be found ulti-
matelE 70 break the deadlock and complete the
appraisal the delay and difficulties which the
South Shore Company could impose if il
disposed would he serious hindranCe 70 anv new
company which would have depend on the city
Tor any affirmative litigation TO force the matter
through.
inasmUch as the city Is a party 10 this contract
sd represents the public interest. which should he
pa amount N any matter affecting the future de-
VeioPnleHt of the transit system. simple solI-
non OF tie appraisal urohlem in case Of this
slld would he "a give the appointment OF the third
renresentiag the state -
The duty OF the commission ~ aisaoD-ove arises
Fhen provisions inserted that arc s1J-a ~ en-,
3aITeSS ne future and impair the objects Of the
funlc service commissions law. II should not
t lhe am or such franchise obtain the great
81 81 posslnle PAYMENTS n the cit- or impose the
20 these things Is usually to prevent the cor,,.r
ilpIn r,e1ldeTl7E Trooer service the reonIe
e Ihe case Of fhe franchise now before ,,z
.--E Ia me nnancial burdens imposed 1Jpon tho
IilIiz1N naiSht well he mitiEated ard the rend-io,
of good service together with tho c,-s.,.s
-ee-7U extensions. made more readily obtainabla