New-York tribune., 1910-01-13
GRADE CROSSING REPORT.
Document Filed Six Years Ago Set
Forth CitY's Rights.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

Sir: ] have followed with. interest your
series of articles ON the elimination OF
grade crossings in Brooklyn. and Ths Trib-
une deserves the appreciation of the New
York taxpayers for the able and compre-
hensive manner in which this very impor-
tant project. involving the expenditure Of
some millions of dollars by the city ot New
York. has been set forth.
In the last article of the 10th instant Il is
stated that the Corporation Counsel of the
city was made familiar with the view OF
the engineers of the Finance Department in
these matters as early as June Il, 1905, and
as recently as August q. 1909. In this con-
nection 1 am sending you copy of a report
addressed to the then Controller on jan
uary IL. 1904. I forward this report because
1T is public document. having been for
warded by the Controller the following day
to the Grade Crossing Commission. and
shortly after that 1t was given 10 the Cor
poration Counsel
You VIII note I'm this report. from which
/ hope you will find space TO quote. that
six years ago some of the officials of the
city were keenly alive TO the plans of the
railroad companies and their intention 10
have the city bear half the expense OF
carrying on very important betterments Of
NiNh iASiSAL anu pelSStlSSE lines, d1u lue
railroad companies at that time had been
Working on the plans for two years. and
had started In with the arbitrary idea of
forcing the plans and the expense of carry
ing out the plans on the city. regardless OF
the specific provisions OF this grade cross
ing act or of the general railroad law.
The talent engaged in opposition 10 the
city's interest has been of the best, while
lack of cooperation in protecting the city's
interests Is abundantly set forth in your
able treatise of the matter, and now show
you that an attempt was made TO establish
the city's rights in the the matter some
two and half years previous to the date
you mention
MEMBER AMERICAN SOCIETY OF
CIVIL ENGINEERS.
Brooklyn. Jan. II, 1910.
The report accompanying the above letter
is dated January H. 1904, and is addressed
to Edward NJ Grout. as Controller, from
the engineers OF the Finance Department.
Il deals with the proposed work Of the
the plans of the Long Island Railroad
Company for the elimination OF grade
crossings g on its Bay, Ridge branch.
pany as far back as the time when this
report was written is stated to have been
that the graCes TO be adopted for the
plans fled, and that there is nothing in
the act authorizing the work to compel
the railway company. TO carry out work
not in conformity with those plans.
The engineers report on these plans
points out that SO far the west end
section of the railway is concerned there
are no grade crossings 10 remove, and
that the railway company's plans for that
section are widely at variance with what
the act requires to be done. The work
as planned, says the report. can be con-
sidered only as suggestions OF what is
desired by one of the parties interested.
and for this reason the whole problem
should be approached by the city's repre-
sentatives with a desire to economize in
carrying out the mandatory provisions of
the act for the removal of grade crossings
in far as such work is actually re-
Quired in the city's interests.
Changes in grade are asked for by the
railway company, says the report, that are
not required in the elimination of grade
crossings, and the declaration is made that
the city should not be asked TO pay any
part Of the cost OF such grade reduction.
The power Of the Grade Crossing Commits
sion and the Commissioner of Public
Works of Brooklyn. IL is declared. is so
absolute under the act that il is important
for the City's representatives to be fully
prepared to sustain the city's rights before
any definite action is taken by the COM
mission.