New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-05
NEW DEMANDS BY SHONTS
Wants Franchises to Endure as
Long as Elevated Lease.
FURTHER DELAY is LIKELY
Pennsylvania Wants Quick De
cision on Lower West Side
Subway Plans.

Demands of President Shonts Of the In
terborough Rapid Transit Company for
franchises co-terminous with the lease
Il the Manhattan Elevated Railway Com
pany TO the Interior ougll, which is for a99
Years. have caused a hitch between the In
1erborough and the Public Service Commits
sicn in the negotiations for additions and
extensions to the elevated system
President Shonts says he wants 70 take
advantage of the section Of the rapid tran
sit act which provides that additions to the
existing elevated railroads shall be except
I'd from the provisions requiring the fran
chise 70 pass 10 the city at the end Of q
liked period. As for the extensions he says
hey would be subject 10 the right Of the
city at any time after the expiration Of ten
years from the date when operation shall
actually bectp 20 terminate the franchise
and take the plant and property upon pay
ing cost therefor. plus IS per cent.
This provision and the requirement that
the amount TO be paid to the city shall be
Gxed for only twenty-five years and subject
60 reimbursement every twenty years after =
writes President Shonts. seem TO make il
important that the grant be for the period
hGrein suggested
The Interborcugh company also suggests
now that the city buy the Steinway tunnel
by the payment Of about oDe-half of its
cost, which IS at variance with the an
uoUrce3 intention Of the company when il
persuaded the Legislature 10 pass the
Steirway tunnel bill allowing IL to apply 10
the commission FOR a franchise 10 operate
the tunnel.
II would appear from the representations
now made TO the Public Service Commits
sion that the InJerborough company Is
anxious TO get permission for the extern
sions and additions to the elevated lines
and is willing TO wait for action on
the Steinway tunnel But the commission
does not intend TO permit anything Of the
sort. Il believes there is a complicated
problem 10 be worked out. in which the In
terboroush should play its full part and 1t
does not propose 10 give the company any
more rights until it is willing TO undertake
q somewhat complete scheme OF transit
betterment
Mayor Gaynor said yesterday that he
thought there were no serious differences
IF opinion between the transit committee
Inc Board Of Estimate and the Public
ervce Commission and that an agreement
= q been reached on many OF the features
o. the forms OF contract He said he thought
Il= forms q contract would be ready for
advertisement next month. But this means
e much longer delay than had been eX-
gecteG. and well informed persons say they
would be SURPRISED if bids were asked for
much fcfCre October.
Samuel Rea. second vice-presiGert OF the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company. wrote 10
Mayor Ga1nor and the Public Service Com
mission Yesterday urging speedy action
tending 10 provide some means OF rapid
transit 70 serve the new Pennsylvania
terminal He advocates the plan Of the In
1erboroueh for the extension of the present
subway north from Madison avenue and
&c street and south from Broadway and
s2d st.eet He says, IN part:
do not doubt that the plans submitted,
which are not confined 10 the extensions
of the present subway. to which l refer,
NAV contain some features which prevent
unanimous approval and adoption OF the
entire proposition, but a failure to proceed
al the earliest possible moment with that
part Of the plans about when there Il no
III question. and thereby also tan 10 pToNiuS
rapid transit facilities for the city 70 ana
from the Pennsylvania station and Turner's,
which represent such a large sNlefldlIuft :.
Of private capital and command universal
public approval as by far the most llpoI-
1ar7t addition 10 TRANSPORTATION for the CITY
of New York since the opening of the pres
ent subway, would be obviously calamltous
TO the future interests Of the city.
On q final review l feel IL VIII be con
coded that the construction of separate
subway parallsling the existing one on the
east side OF Manhattan south 81 42d street
would not appear TO be JUSTIFIED at the
present time when the same. or even less,
money can be applied to provide q new
four-track subway on the West Side below
ed street serving new section Of IN"
CITY as well as the imperative needs Of the
Of -