New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-11
CITY FREIGHT LINE
MAY SOON Be FACT
Report of Terminal Committee
Outlines Plan for Brooklyn
Marginal Railway.
MAY BEGIN THIS YEAR
Trunk Roads to Form Operating
Company-Entire Investment,
S11, 236,516 - Central
Docks Also Planned.

Inc terminal committee OF the Board
Of Estimate, in a report 10 that body.
makes recommendations for the proposed
municipal marginal freight railway from
the Brooklyn Bridge 20 6jth street. South
Brooklyn. il outlines plan by which
the railway may be organized before the
end Of the year. The trunk line railroads,
which have terminals in the port of New
York, have signihed a willingness to
form an operating company TO lease the
railway when completed.
Behind the plan for the railway is a
plan for the extensive development Of "A
comprehensive marine termiaal In which
the rail transportation facilities behind
the docks may he co-ordinated with the
docks and other marine terminal facli-
ties in one general terminal all ultimate
ly 10 be owned and controlled by the City
Of New York, and whose operation will
be regulated according to the policy
Of the port as formulated by the govern
ment of the city. This latter plan is
still to be developed
The report IS signed by John Purroy
Mitchell. II being his last official act az
president OF the Board OF Aldermen and
member Of the Board Of Estimate II
Is also signed by the other members Of
the terminal committee. including Con-
troller Prendergast Borough President
McAneny. Nelson p. Lewis. chief engi-
neer OF the board. and r. A. G. Smith,
Commissioner of Docks.
Entire investment. S11,236,516.
The entire investment that the commit
tee suggests IS 81. 236.5l6 Realizing that
the trunk line railroads would not be
willing to pay interest on the whole in
vestment. including the acquisition OF
property for yards. etc, the committee
has divided the cost. II Is estimated
that the right Of way for the main line
Of the railway. including the cost Of buy
ing the existing railways. if no consid-
cradle damages to pier properties are
claimed. would approximate S5ls.39l, and
that the cost Of real estate required for
yards and float bridge approaches would
approximate. al assessed valuations.
t3.7lsI25
The city under the plan would furnish
and construct the marginal railway. at
an estimated cost OF s.. 800 90. The trunk
line railroads have agreed To organize an
operating company 10 furnish the operat-
ing stock and perform all service and TO
guarantee the city an annual rental OF
50 per cent on the cost. not 10 exceed
$4,000 This would make this invest
mcnt self-supporting and exempt It from
the debt limit
The city wanted the roads to agree 20
pay an additional rental upon the real
estate for yard spaces and float bridge
approaches 10 start az small figure and
increase until II should equal the carry
ing charge on the investment The roads
would not agree TO pay any additional
rental until the original rental was
earned and an previous deficits paid up.
Three Parts to Railway.
The proposed marginal railway would
consist Of three parts. the railway now
owned by the New York Dock Company
that owned the Bush Terminal Company
and that which would Doe necessary 20
connect and supplement these systems
The franchise of the New York Dock
Company does not provide for any pay
meut on recapture. so all the city will
have 20 pay Is the actual value OF
the property This amounts 10 Sl676. l20
according 10 the report Of committee
Of engineers composed OF Charles Sooy-
smith. representing the city. j. V. Davies.
of the railroads. and John f. Wallace,
Of the New York Dock Company. A SINH
lar committee OF engineers was appointed
To appraise the property 10 be taken
from the Bush Terminal COMPANY The