The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-26
p. S. Commissioners Says He Is
Bona Eide Resident of
That Borough.
DID MUCH TO DEVELOP TT
Knows Nothing About Distribu-
ton Of 10000 Rail.
way Shares.

tflpolIltep W Nnt t"iNiN' N'''''S
sion last week, will probably be sworn In
to-day by Bronx Justice and take his
rlace as Commissioner in the regular
Tuesday meeting Of the board. lie issued
yesterday y long statement defending
his record as bona dde Bronx resi-
dent and street railway promoter against
a Newspaper attack.
Many important matters that have been
held up by the unsettled condition Of the
commission. due to the long delay IN the
appointment OF a successor TO John T.
I,us,is and the illness OF J. Sergeant Cram,
win he acted upon soon one OF them IL
the Interborough companys request that
is contract with ARENAS Ward. successor
10 Ward & Cow, for continuance OF ad-
v.rtlsing and newsstand privileges be APP
proved. The appointment Of ex-Fire
Commissioner Joseph johnson a. chief Of
the bureau of transportation at SO 900
year has also TO be voted upon.
Tells Of voting Residence.
In reply to the critical review Of his
career. which appeared in the World,
Mr. Wood first answered the accusation
that although he votes in The Bronx and
vas supposed TO have been appointed as
haitian and his voting residence is the
Grove Hotel In Albany avenue, where
ne never lived and which is now closed
He said:
IL have lived in The Bronx all my
life. have always voted there. have
never voted anywhere elise. have always
been identified with The Bronx. I am
member Of almost every prominent civic
organization in that borough. have
been Interested in building in that borough
ind I have always been interested and
active in tire development Of transporta-
don facilities in It. During the last
few winters, being a bachelor. l have
spent much Of the winter months with
nv mother. a lady of advancing years,
at her residence IN Thirty-sixth street.
Manhattan. but | am none the less a resi-
dent OF and Identified with the Borough
of The Bronx.
"The Grove Hotel was owned by me
for long time. During the last. three
years | rented it to two young men, who
were engaged principally in furnishing
supplies TO a firm OF contractors on the
new Catsklll aqueduct work. This lease
expired January 1 last"
Mr.. Wood next dwelt on his relatsns
With the New York city marlborough
Railway Company. for which. he got a
franchise from the Aldermen in 1909. Its
lines built ss feeders-for the IEterborough.
subway in The Bronx. were cOnstructcd
by the marlborough Rapid Transit Con-
struction Company, owned by the Inter-
borough company, and the whole system
D now operated by the Third Avenue
Railway Company. Mr. Wood said:
IAN OF the points addueed in the news
original organization and the validity OF
the franchise were reviewed by the Appel
iate Division OF the Supreme Court In tho
First Department and decided In favor OF
the railway company in December. 1904,
Justice Patterson writing the opinion,
which was concurred In by Presiding JUS
tice Van Brunt and Justice oBrien. Pur-
suant to that decision the Board OF Rail.
road Commissioners granted n certificate
OF public convenience and necessity with
respect 10 all OF the routes except two.
which the Appellate Division held the rail-
road board was Justified in refusing be-
cause they paraleied the lines OF the
Union Railway Company to a considerable
extent, and that company could AFFORD
all the facilities needed for the territory
which would be reached by those proposed
toutes
Expenses ont of stock.
= "Out Of the stock received by mo met
great variety OF expenses incurred dur
ing the fve years contest on tho franchise
Of the company its rights OF way. con-
cents OF property owners and a thousand
othcr details. including fees OF counsel
engineers, experts. &c. l represented a
Syndicate which was prepared TO construct
the railroad, when IL was determined "a
sell out 10 the Interborough Rapid Transit
Company, and the resultant profits after
meeting all the expenses referred to were
dfNi1sd mar ha off, na
cate
j know nothing about the distribution
OF an amount OF 10000 shares referred
70 In the article under consideration.
only know that received and retained no
larger amount than was legitimately en-
titled to.
After the contract with the Rapid
Transit subway Construction Company
was made the construction and equipment
OF the rsilroai was proceeded with. and
In May. 1908. filed Il petition with til,
Public Service Commission to compel tn,
Interborough Rapid Transit Company ant
the Rapid Transit subway CONSTRUCTION
Company 10 properly perform their con.
tract entered into by them. This led tc
the completion OF all the lines OF rail.
way In accordance with this agreement
The marlborough Rapid Transit Com
Dany sold its interest 10 the Third Avenu,
Railway Company, by which the lines ar,
now being operated I believe the opera
10 The Inhabitants OF The Bronx and tina
they furnish a much needed conyenienc,
to that borough
These lines are substantially the onl,
connections across the borough between
tho main north and south routes an,
their construction has more than Justine,
the foresight which led me 10 engage
upon the enterprise OF securing their con
struction. That enterprise was vigor
ously opposed by the representatives o
the Union Railway Company and tn
other then existing surface lines, and blu
for the work which did the borough o
"he Bronx would to-day be lacking faciIi
i.ss OF transportation which have greatl
raded 10 TIRE convenience OF the dweller
within II and TO the value OF it's proo
criY The population OF the borough hl
increased from about 200. 600 In 1909 4
now nearly 100000 ana this Increase /
in no small measure due to the improve
facilities furnished by these lines
Benent to BronH.
From the very beginning OF their on
grafton system OF universal transfer
sstwesn the lines OF this company AN
those Of tho Union Railway ComDanv I'm