The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-20
CITY FIGHTS HARD
FOR MARGINAL ROAD
Opponents Bitterly Attack
Measure as WaStcful
Before Governor.
IT'S LEGALITY ASSAILED

ALBANY. April 1o---City and borough
officials of New York city appeared
to-day before the Governor and defended
the so-called marginal railway bilr'
against attacks made upon II by counsel
and representatives OF various taxpayers
associations. The question was warmly
debated for more than three hours. the
Governor following his custom OF giving
everybody a chance to be heard as long
as he desired.
The bill provides that n railroad, with
the consent of the Board Of Estimate,
corporation contracting with the city for
operating terminal facilities In Brook
Ign and Queens. which contract provides
for the handling over such terminal road
of freight moved by water. or partly
by rail and water. or wholly by rail.
with discrimination.
| Herbert II. Limburg made the chief
argument against the bill. presenting a
! lengthy brief to the Governor. IL Is the
third attmept. he said, to legallze an
I improper ana uHldWIui 'on'i"e INV
public policy of the State. he said. has
always been to prevent railroads from
acquiring waterfront property, and the
Cullen bill is directly opposed to this
policy.
And the city Needs Funds.
1T is proposed to secure" he said
FOR two or three millions the Bush
| Terminal property. assessed at s1so.OOO
then the franchises and other things
OF the Bush and the New York Dock
companies for 100000. which ar,
valued at $4,000, According to tn,
plan on foot. the city will make ar
Investment of sI9.000.000 and receive
return on about 100000 and this II
the face of the present financial situa
ton in the city"
some of the property involved. h,
said, belonged to ex-State Senator VIII
tam II. Reynolds. who secured an option
on 1t at Go cents a square foot TIT
city has an option on II. Mr.. Linburt
said for 81 80 a square foot. He spok
OF the three amendments to the NAL
of the proposed improvements and de
/ Clared that each was made largely 40
the benefit OF the two companies tn
Bush Terminal and the New York Dock
III this bill is signed" he declared
cit means nothing but turning over tn
terminals. waterfront and docks to tn
railroad companies"
Stewart Browne. president OF IN
United Real Estate owners Association
; of New York. declared that since 1870
, there have been continuous efforts 2
! unload the Brooklyn waterfront. desira
! bic as II IS. on the city OF New York
ntsx n
waterfront. but at prices which represen
It's real value and when II has tn
means TO pay for it," he added
= Pounds Defends Plan.
Borough President Pounds OF BrooE
lyn led those in favor of the bill. rep
resenting BROOKLYN and az a membe
, of the Board Of Estimate. He answere
: many Of Mr.. Lmburgs contentious. \
| to having an option on land at $3.50
.. foot he said the Comptroller's own az
praisal set the value at $l3s foot.
Y A statement that the city was tryin
= to get rid of the classification yards
\ he characterized as nothing Of tn
I kind" He further declared there
q. no $4,000 600 proposition before III
I Board Of Estimate nor il such proiS
= sition considered.
!. Senator Cullen. author of the Dill
= said:
: 1T is not a measure OF local benei
@ 10 Brooklyn alone. 1t means the n
{ establishment OF the supremacy OF u
commercial interests OF our port. IL
|, the yitalizer of Brooklyn and its vet
d would be to ruin her supremacy. The
n is a confusion OF figures here and mi
statement OF facts which we are SUI
will not confuse you. Governor
? Dock Commissioner II. a c. Smi'
made these points in favor of the bill
THE commercial supremacy Of Il
~ mort Of New York demands the col
struct!on Of the Brooklyn freight raj
road. The city has full legal power
y construct the road and Is already con
- United to tine plan 1t ~ unWlse Tor u
m CITY TO operate the road through its ID
u partment of Docks and Ferries or
hermit its operation by a single railroi
" or by an individual or corporation WI
~ private interests to serve: the roo
- should he operated by n company COZ
- posed of trunk line railroads reachii
tho mort OF New York holding ecu
,a financial interest in the enterprise I
to present statutes make IT Impossible
,o form an operating company IN viii
la the railroads may have an interest.
20, Judge Morgan J. oRrieu appeared
favor of the bill to explain the legal d
al poets.
nj. 'If we are going to elect Boa
al of Estimate, either trust them or no
declared Edward J. McGioldrick. Asst
ant Corporation Counsel, urging II
= public officials should he given pow
80 commensurate with their responsible
Other speakers against the bill w
~ pr. Abraham korn, Harlem Proper
owners Association; Thomas krekl
Tenth, Eleventh and Seventeenth wa
w. associations OF Manhattan Il, +. Doy
,a Real Estate Board OF New York Fra
10 Eherhard, Twelfth and Nlneteer
nr Ward associations. Manhattan; e,
m Werdt, Murray I'm Taxpayers As
ga citation: W. T.. Youker. Citizens Uni
ia Others in favor OF the bill were
u. Outerbridge, New York Chamber
its Commerce; g. II. 'allaghan, Mariti
IL Association of the Port Of New Yol
led Frank = Gardner. BOARD of Trade a
TRANSPORTATION William s. Cleary, I
. Ridge and Fort Hamilton Citizens
socation: Charles H. Fuller. Brook
civic club.
|