New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03
MUST CONTROL LINE
Lonu Island Cannot Let City
Have Atlantic Avenue Route.
GATEWAY TO ROADS ZONE
marlborough Service on Di-
vision Would Seriously At
feet Regular Schedule.

The suggestion was recently made that
ire only practical and permanent solution
-, the rapid transit problem in Atlantic
ovenue is the taking over by the city of
,,e Atlantic avenue division OF the Long
rsiaDd Railroad and making a through
connection with the marlborough Rapid
rransi, Company. running subway trains
over the Long Island Railroad tracks to
Jamaica. Robert ". Hisbie, president OF
che Queens Chamber Of Commerce. sent
le,te~ on the subject TO Ralph Peters,
,-ssident Of the Ions Island Railroad.
asking Il such an arrangement would
arpeaI TO the Long Island Railroad, and
90 the Chamber Of Commerce Of Queens
could in any way assist to bring il about.
The following is Mr.. Peterss reply:
~ have your letter regarding the At
Iartic avenue division. I do not agree
with YOU in regard 70 the article being
,i-,ely. or as 10 stating tho conditions
fairly.
The Ions Island Railroad is a trunk
line steam railroad, engaged in handling
passenger. mail express. baggage and
freight business. Il has made very large
expenditures for the necessary facilities
@or the handling Of each class OF traffic.
T is not a rapid transit passenger line,
and has made no effort 70 compete with
ire CITY railroads. except where it mas
hem forced 10 do So. providing such
,-sfr rr~,-F
the city line could be completed and take
care Of the traffic that belongs to the city
lines
THE entrance 70 New York and Brook
lyn b. Atlantic avenue is necessary FOX
the people who reside on Long Island east
Of Jamaica, as well a. those Of Jamaica,
AMI We are obliged to preserve that gate
wav for this borough traffic.
The extension OF the Kings County
elevated road out Liberty avenue TO ia
naica. and the extension Of the Fulton
avenue elevated line cut through Rich
mond Hill TO Jamaica viii al tend TO take
away this rapid transit business.
The completion Of these lines will take
away a large amount of the local trafhc
TOW handled or the Atlantic avenue divi-
sion We Will be glad 90 see this loca.
traffic go. as ii will enable us TO give bet
ter service 10 our through traffic, and VIII
also give us the facilities necessary for
handling the freight traffic that must be
taken into that territory
Suggestions have been made in regard
70 the city acquiring trackage rights over
part Of our Manhattan Beach division, for
a. extension OF the Interborough service
u Coney Island. Another suggestion has
been made that trackage rights be OBJ
tanned from Us FOR an extension Of the In
terborough-Corona line % Whitestone and
Havside Il would ne impossible 10 handle
this rapid transit business on our tracks
and al the same time permit the running
% our regular passenger trains and our
treiCh, and express service.
The trunk line railroads. giving eX-
press and freight facilities. ere just as
necessary % the community az the city
owned ~arid transit lines; they are both
essential TO the wellbeing Of the com
munity. Let the city go ahead and pro-
vide its rapid transit lines. independently
Of the Long Island Railroad This com
ranv has It's obligations under IT'S charter
and il viii be necessary 70 discharge those
obligations
In all OF our Improvement work We
have been looking into the future IN pro-
v.ding freight houses and freight YARD
facilities throughout the borouEhs OF
Queens and Brooklyn. We have recon-
structed and improved our roads with
view Of doing the general business Of
railroad. rather than combining ourselves
10 the rapid transit traffic knowing that
that class Of traffic belonged 10 the city
line. and not 10 the railroad. ] think
We would have been derelict in our duty
had we not built upon the lines OF caring
for the general traffic OF q steam rail-
road. The rapid transit traffic Is detri-
rce-t 70 our through traffic, and We do not
care 70 handle any more Of II tnan IL
absolutely necessary 70 take care OF me
territory that we have been building up
until such time as the city Will proVlne
is own intecurban rapid transit lines
For this reason we have endeavoTed 10
Cooperate and 70 aid the city in solving
the question Of these rapid transit Ines
and have welcomed their Introduction
but Il will be absolutely out OF the ques-
ton for us 10 surrender any portion OF
our lines to the exclusive use Of the CITY
as part Of these rapid transit develop
ments
y am sure. on further consideration OF
the matter. you will realize that our POSI-
ton IL correct. and that your Chamber
Of Commerce will approve OF ii. Time VIII
show that We are right