New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-30
CITY HesitateS at Route
for Subway Trains TO
Queens Borough.
FEAR OF DISASTER
HURTS BRIDGE CAUSE
Tunnel Likely to Win, Despite
Cost Long Controversy
10 End Soon.

VI N"oit D. N'HHti HNt tbHif4 A"l
these trains?
Shall 10 cut down the vchicular fscili-
nc Oh the span for subway operation
chat might imDerii structure already
overloaded with steel?
on shall 10 cXpend about S2.O00.000
more. now. and obtain an additional
artery OF travel TO Queens, which
must be built eventually?
There are more serious problems and
indeed. mysteries. involved IN these
questions than appear on the surface
The Board OF Estimate. the Bridge De
partmont and the Public Service Com
mission have been involved j.. quiet
discussion OF them for two years o.
more. Since August the discussion has
uccu acute Nov % has reached a
crisis. The question must be settled
soon. OF delay in the rapid transit plans
for Queens viii result.
Frankly. the members Of the cor
porate stock budget committee Of the
Board Of Estimate. which must settle
the matter in the last analysis. say IL
is altogether the toughest and most in
tricate and pulling problem they have
had 90 deal with IN years.
Tunnel Plan Favored.
The entire board will consider the
problem at special meeting on Mon
day. Indications seem to be that the
tunnel will win out in the end. Con
troller Prendergast and Borough Presi-
dent Connolly of Queens favor the tun-
mel. President McAneny and Bo ough
President MathewSon are leaning ~
that dire ,tior. The Mayor has not made
up his mind. President Pounds Of
Brooklyn is backing up the Bridgo De-
partment's plans for the bridge route.
As for the Public Service Commits
SIGN. the engineers are for the bridge
route. because they approved 1t ONE
time ago. Chairman Mccall il favor
ABLY inclined but not committed = the
tunnel. Commissioner Cram is unqual-
iiedly for it. Commissioner Maltbie is
making a strong fight for the bridge.
The estimates for reconstructing the
bridge and making other changes incl
dental 70 carrying he subway tracks
over the bridge are now fixed at S2,456,
600.
Plans now before the committee
would give the city a tunnel at this
time for Si,j00,000 net. II is figured
that in the end the changes on the
bridge would cost as much as the
tunnel.
Under the dual contracts. signed
three years ago. the sub way trains OF
The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
pauy's BrOadway-59th ST. line and the
marlborough Rapid Transit Company
Second Az. elevated line were routed TO
Queens over the bridge.
The elevated line will go over IN any
case, and for that alone 1t would not
be necessary TO spend penny of the
S2A56.00O. as the tracks, signals and
equipment will have TO be paid for by
the railroad company.
But If the plan for the tunnel. now
advocated as the best proposition, Is
adopted some legislation will be neces-
sary.. The b. K. T.. having the prom
Use 81 use of the bridge for nothing,
viii not consent 20 have the carrying
charges OF a tunnel taken out Of the
earnings Of the line. The city would
have to pay the interest and sinking
fund. To do this for a tube TO be
used for rapid transit purposes an
enabling act would be needed But
the city would have to pay the carry
ing charges on the bonds for recon
structiag the bridge.
Chance for City TO Save.
Another enabling act would be neces-
earv TO take advantage of the PROPOSE
ton Of the Degnon Contracting Com
psuv 20 cut 100000 Off their contract
FOR the subway connection between the
bridge and Seventh av. and 59th 81.
They will do this If the plans are so
changed as 10 run both tracks through
Goth st.. instead Of one through that
thoroughfare and the other through
59th So. This would be possible, deslr-
able and necessary If the tunnel i
built. The change in the contract
would make IL so nearly new docu-
mcnt that a special act would have TO
be obtained TO permit the Public SER
vice Commission 10 give IT 90 the Deg
non people without public letting.
Those who favor the proposition ne
Iieve this legislation could be obtained
without much difficulty.
Tho Degnon people offer 20 hniSh
the tunnel i'm two and hall years. IL
rrobablv could be started inside OF slN
months. The subway line up to the
bridge cannot be finished before then.
l. will take at least three years TO com
Dlcte the Times Square section. when
has not been started
Sixteen months would be required 70
,econstruct tho bridge. II that is not
to he done the elevated lines could be
cont over 10 I'm few months, as the
stringers for the tracks are OIL the
bridge already. The opening Of the
Steinwav tunnel also will give relief TO
Queens within a few months.
One Of the most vital questions IN
the problem Of bridge or tunnel IS
whether il would not be absolutely
dangerous 10 operate both elevated ana
subway trains over this bridge. Would
not a disaster be invited by system
OF train operation that az any time
might be so adjusted As 10 overstrain
the structure at its weakest points
This is asked by the advocates OF the
tunnel.
The Greensboro Bridge is the only
one of this type of caniilever construc-
ton i'm existence. There was one other
AZ Quebec. But that collapsed. due.
however. TO mistakes IN calculations.
In 1909 The Tribune in series OF ar
ticles revealed the fact that the bridge
had been heavily overweighted with
steel. This paper forced an eXamlns-
tiOn By experts.
Boiler & Hodge. consulting eng:n-
GERS. reported that, while under careful
management the bridge was safe. great
care would have 20 pc used IN handling
tho operation Of trains across II.
There l. distance Of SIX hundred
feet n the centre Of each Of the land
spans the spans between Blackwells
Island and the shore on either side
where IL would be unsafe TO have the
weight Of more than one train-ele-
waited or subway Al the same time.
Peril in Bridge Plan.
Now the plans for operating both
subway and elevated trains on &c
bridge provide for the subway tracks
on the upstream side Of the lo'er deck.
How would il be possible 20 provide
against having trains operated on two
tracks on each Of the different levels