New-York tribune., 1910-12-21

animation as TO whether the S53.000.Nc
Of the city is going into the genera
construction or is 80 be devoted Z
srecifsc extensions and the S1S. .0f,o 600 o
the Interhorough ia other extensions.
possible substitution OF Madison for Lex
fneton avenue for the East Side exten
sto1 of the present subway, and the de
fails of changing the Eastern Parkwa,
from a two track to q four track route
and of getting consents for certain
routes not already laid out, short lines
to connect the system as proposed by
the Interhorcugh at various points.
Would Kill the Triboroush.
The acceptance OF the Interborougn
proposition would practically mean the
abandonment Of the triborough route as
MANNED by the commission and of the
mans drawn for it The commission is
at present holding from S4O1Oup 10
100000 put up as bonds by the con-
tractors who bid for the contracts 10
build the various sections OF the tri-
borough. IT is q question as TO no" iohs
they can hold this money while work
ing toward the final abandonment OF the
proposition
Aver Controller Prendergast had READ
the communication OF Chairman WILCOX
he made the following statement;
The Public Service Commission says that
81 is prepared 10 accept the proposiuon @ oL
the Interborough Rapid Transit Sompsns
provided certain features not now saGs-
factory can properly be ac1usteo- IlIs
means that the commission prefers e1ten-
Sions TO the present system. puiit isI se.s
with CITY money. rather than an inoePeh-
dent city built and controlled system. am
surprised the attitude now assumed ps
the Public Service Commission, as nave
been led 10 believe that the COMMISSION
favored an independent SUBWAY ,s,ant syase,n Of
essential to the further deVelopiiehN VI
our transit facilities.
For a long time, including a sooo pa, paI.
OF TINS year me cof1nhss1on mn s,dsnsndent AM
system. It has expended q large sum OF
money, estimated to be H.ooo."oa. upon these
plans. Are we now TO understand that the
labor and expense involved in preparing
these plans was simply a part of tactical
move TO force concessions from the Inter
Borough? If SO. / consider il expensive
gam Hing Was there no sincerity, no real
principle behind the tri-horough movement
ct sll7 If there was. how can the com
mission now abandon that movement with
only the Interborough proposition as lis
excuse
Refers to Previous Negotiations.
have been Informed that negotiations
were pending with the Interborough com
lines with its own money. and that these
extensions were contemplated entirely at
SIS expense, NTH the knowledge that
IN independent system would be con-
etrucr-d- There must have been some pow
eTful reason for its abandonment Of the
negotiations il was then carrying on.
The Klsbsre Law and other remedial lsfis-
istion was enacted with g view to render
ing the city independent of the existing
subway system. The Constitutional amend
uaent exeuaprng self-sustaining rapid tran
debt limit was also passed With view to
enabling The CITY 10 construct Its oTn sys-
TEN
Ct the people uaen they voted IN favor Of
ttle amendment that they we're making
TtiaE % the extensions Of the lines CON
trollst hy the marlborough company.
an not in favor Of contributing any
part Of the $50 .0oh now available for sub
~av construction for any purpose other
than the construction Of an Independent
7gr rgzteHa- This is the issue Let 1t b settled
Chairman willcox wrote 10 the Board
ot Estimate and Appotionrent that the
1nterborough made its lates. subway
proposition conditional on acceptance Of
sts proposition Of June 10 for third
tracking and building additions to the
Second, Third and Ninth aveAue ele-
waited railroads, and for completing and
operating the Steinway tunnel
II is understood that this condition was
made privately to the commission, as il
did not appear in the formal proposition,
rs given out. The elevated proposition
has been drawn >up IN contract fern, On
which a public hearing is 70 be held on
December 23
Why Plan Is Favored.
In sub.tan1A-he reasons given by the
cornmissinnf- believing that the ac-
ceptence Of the marlborough PROPOSE
1ion for subways is for the best inter
ests Of the city. ere follows:
First-The Interborough agrees to oper-
ete future extensions. Under the present
contract the commission could not force the
20 t3 d SheR have 1be Ts to
take over the extensions after a period
Of ten years. By adding a few connecting
links the CITY could havs an entirely DIS
xinct and comprehensive system.
Third-The Intsrborough is to begin con
some Of the lines nav BE put in operation
in connection with the present lines IN q
short time, thus affordins the quickest
Fourth-Arraneenent can be made under
1hs proposition for the levelling of th.
subway terms. so that the entire system
will revert to the city al the same time.
Fifth-For the expenditure of s53, ,o0c, COO.
owner Of additional subway facilities en-
Lracing 81 4 miles Of straight single track,
the total estimated cost Of which for con-
Strucfion and equipments is s12s, ,ope coo
SIr-h-Thc proposition involves a single
scent fare end free transfers and the sub
way extensions embrace practically all Of
1he trieorough system with the exception
Of the portion of the Lexington avenue
route south of 42d street, for which the
west side line down Seventh avenue may be
deemed q substitution; the Canal street
route. for which an under river crossing ie
substituted, and the Broadway route in
: BROOKLYN
Seventh-The Pennsylvania Railroad sta
non will be connected with the main tran
sit system in the city
Z Eighrh-The June proposition provides
TWO important connections with the Bor-
ough Of Queens. namely the extension OF
! the Second avenue elevated line over the
Queensboro Bridge and the operation Of the
tSteinUay tunnel
The letter goes on to recite the history
OF the negotiations of the commission for
subway extensions. Because of its con-
troll of the subway and elevated lines, il
70 said. the Interborough company was
IN & position by needed additional con-
struction TO give the maximum relief
and the commission cid its utmost to in
luce that company to submit PROPOSE
= ton IN keeping with the large returns It
was receiving from the present subway.