The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-08

The rate OF the Cullen bill, permitting
railroad trunk lines centrlng in the port
OF New York to own stock and secur
ties In a corporation to operate under a
lease marginal freight railway in
south Brooklyn which will be built and
owned by the city OF New York, will be
decided by Gov. Whitman soon. There
VIII he public hearing on the measure
before Mayor Mitchell to-day and IL
is foregone conclusion that the Mayor
will approve II. The bill is essentially
city administration measure and the
Governor will be urged to sign II in
order that the city may be in posi-
ton to carry out certain well defined
OF the port
Tho administration officials are being
supported in their stand by many trade
and civic organizations in Manhattan and
Brooklyn and by owners Of plants along
the line OF the proposed road. as we'll as
by railroad ana shipping interests. on
the other hand the Governor In being
importuned TO veto the bill by those
who declare that the measure is rail
road grab and land steal and by
those who believe that II the city Is
going to own a railroad II should run
1t itself.
The assertion that it is a land steal
Is based principally upon the fact that
former State Senator William II. Reyn-
Odds and certain of his friends owned
lands the city needs for the road and
terminal station which are being ac-
quired by condemnation proceedings.
Under an existing law the proposed
marginal railway could be operated
either by the city itself through the
Dock Department or by an individual
or by an existing corporation. including
a single railroad. under a lease. The Gull
len bill Is an enabling act that gives
the city the right to lease the road 10
a new operating company In which rail-
roads (there are ten of them) may hold
stock. and the form of the bill was de-
cided upon because the city's official
family concluded that municipal opera
ton wouldn't work satisfactorily. On
this point Dock Commissioner X. A. &.
Smith said to a Sun man yesterday:
"MontcipaI Operation Cnwise."
ANY one who will take the trouble
to study conditions under which the
enterprise must work VII admit that
municipal operation would be unwise.
The terminal must have contractual
relations with all the railroads and with
"A multitude of other companies. including
warehousemen, lighterage concerns ana
, similar agencies of commerce. II must
undertake its share of interstate COM
merce with all the legal entanglements
which necessarily follow. In fact munic-
ipal operation has never been seriously
tl.ttt hf14f
report upon the project OF marginal
freight road former Commissioner OF
i Docks Calvin Tomkins pointed out the
innpractiCabilty OF such operation ana
the danger of trying TO conduct munich
pally q business which meant continual
adjustment of relationships between
shippers and the various railroad ana
steamship companies involving acute
rtvalries and jealousies.
"The Cullen BILL" Mr.. Smith added.
"opens the way for an IDEAL solution
permitting the city to enlist the unani-
nous cooperation OF the trunk line
railroads through which the major part
OF the freight OF the district must be
routed"
The route OF the proposed marginal
road along the South Brooklyn water
front is virtually the same as that laid
out whom Calvin Tomkins, Dock Com
missioner Smiths immediate predeces-
sor. was in office. Mr.. Tomkins was
the first city official TO undertake the
consideration Of the marginal road idea
in Brooklyn. He also had plan for
similar road along West street,
Manhattan. Tho original South Brook
lyn layout, however. has been modified
In several important essentials ana
much OF tho opposition has arisea be-
cause of the changes which have been
worked out.
Tho plan as amended by the Board
OF Estimate and Apportionment calls
for a marginal road extending from
Fulton street at the Brooklyn Bridge
south to Sixty-sixth street. Bay Ridge.
The franchise and tracks OF the BUSH
| Terminal Company and the line or the
New York Dock Company Will be taken
over by the city in order that there may
| be a continuous route. The city origi-
nally secured options upon these prop
| critics, which have now expired on time
limitations, under which they could
| ave acquired the tracks and certain
yard spaces OF the New York Dock
Company for $1,s7S,l2o and the fran
chise and tracks of the Bush Terminal
! Company for s2,557977. The road when
completed will be nearly Ave and one
half miles long and II In the future It
is found to be desirable the line will
/ be extended further north to the Jay
street terminal and the Brooklyn navy
| yard.
BY means OF the marginal road
freight cars. landed at central trans
fer bridges, will be run to classification
wards and then to piers OF various
manufa curing and Industrial plants
without the necessity OF rehandling the
freight In this way the transferring
of freight from the point Of shipment
TO steamship piers or from the ships
to consignees along tho lines OF the
various trunk lines will be expedited
and the present expensive system OF
trucking will be eliminated.
what the City viii Build.
| The section OF the marginal road that
| ,ha ,ity viii build will he "A two track