New-York tribune., 1911-09-21
BALKS AT THIRD TRACKING
Interborough Refuses to Extend
Lines on City'S Plans.
OFFER FOR BELMONT TUBE
Company Willing to Operate 1t
Under Independent Franchise,
Mr.. Shonts Says.

Renewing the conpany's refusal 20 sc-
cept the certificates for third tracking and
extending It's elevated lines, President
shonts Of the Interborough Rapid Transit
COMPANY. in a letter TO Chairman WILCOX
n The Public Service Commission, yester-
Sav offered 10 take UP consideration OF
ore~atine the Steinway tunnel under an in
dependent franchise IIe said on this
point
IN OILY letter Of June 1o. 1910. relating 70
elevated improvements and the belLno.iCS - :
tunnel IS well. we said; u p6Isua di .,s -
n. terms Of the act (act Of 1870 satis-
f7rtOrv franchise can be obtained from INC
CITY authorities for rs operation, we el,o5 plU5
nose, IN addition 20 the foregoing t-eN4ttoe
improvements 20 complete the construcllouL \
~ this tunnel belmont tunnel and opera 20
"a as q part OF the existing SUBWAY, WI
omen communication between the tunliel
sla,5 eIa r,e,,,Js1 Sp station" No terms have
ever been agreed upon between the Cll'
and ourselves with respect 10 inc t Iuurt
uendent operation of this tunnel aIlhodhi
tentative plans were proposed Tor the ore
alton Of the tunnel I'm connection wiz l'e
rAneral plan for elevated improvements,
We arc prepared, however, 70 proceed ID
accordance with the suggestion OF our Iel-
To- Of Juue IN and 10 take up with your
commission al your convenience. the mat
ter OF ope-aring the Belmont tunnel uhder
AT independent trancnise.
President shonts apoiogized for not m
forming the commission sooner thar mo
Manhattan Elevated Company would not
under any circumstances consider building
third tracks 10 It's lines. so long as taeE
would be subject % recapture hy the civ
- ne end OF ten years He had unoeI-
STOOD. he said that the Manhattan com
ranv would with reluctance concede ihe
e.n wear clause. but was informed on sep
+.mber that the directors Of that ooTnpah>
had rsconsldered their attitude I'm Europe
~ the course - the summer
But quite apart from this question,
President shorts said. the certificates IN
he to--, actually rendered. as we advised
vou were impossible Of socepran'f ~ VIC
Tnterborough company.
President Shouts said that certain PRO
,4siors uDor which the Public Service Com
mission seemed willing 70 compromise hsd
been retained and other burdensoue pro
virons added Fe objected 70 the require
rnent that the elevated lines be subject 10
an examination by engineers and any de-
se-red maintenance upon It's structure oe
tsker I'D out Of the income or surplus OF
the company. He also objected 70 the
provision that. If the property should De
taken over az the end Of ten wears, no al
Iovance would he made for the cost OF
financing the improvements.
Chairman Wilcox gave out a statement
Yesterday. I'm reply 20 the assertion OF
Nravo~ cavror IN his letter 20 Corporation
counsel Watson on Tuesday, that III is
now fulIv conceded that by Sections q ana
7R OF the present charter, the separate
sno-ova1 Of the Mayor Is required 10 every
contract IN the nature OF franchlse loI
street use. overhead surface or under
ground and that this has been SO Tor
generation"
chairman Wilcox said ernphaucaily that
the public Service Commission had never
made any such concession. He said tnat
.bsy 1sd been advised by counsel tnat l"e
Vavor,s present powers under the charte'
and the Rapid Transit act were as '''-
lows.
rtrvt-He has d separate right OF I., ap'
----r .,--a, urFiuerv charter franchises
.r1 as those for street surface rallFoaus
and ea- and electric mains ano wires. -
SaTou6-Ee has separate rl6Hss - Io-,,-i-
-.-- ~r -afuse 10 consent TO RAPID taLls-'
....--res gdo1ted rv the commission ouL .
TEird-He has absolutely no sepal a - "a
.aht of approval or dlsapWoNel over 'oP'o
transit franchises or contracts.
furthermore. Chairman Wilcox called
..-entior 10 tho fact that the part OF Sec
..5u "a OF the present charter relating 10
t.r 9pproval Of the Board Of Estimate anu
tre llavors separate approval NJ contracts
contained an express provso eAcepuh-
acases where franchises OF contracts shah
6c granted or authorized pursuant 10 l"s
Rapid Transit act