The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-22
CROSSTOWN LINE
EXTENSION ARGUED
Board Of Estimate to Consider
seth Street Problem i'm
Two Weeks,
LEGAL KNOT TO UNITE

ror Two lours Yesterday the franchise
committee Of the Board OF Estimate lis
tened to arguments for and against grant
irg I" the New YORK Railways Company
Permission TO construct a surface line
through West EiShty-siNth street from
who OPPOSED such a concession we're resi-
dents and property owners In the affected
thorougnfarc and immediate neiChl-or-
hood. while those In favor Ncr" RESIDENT.
al Yorkvi,lc. the section lying east OF
Central Park.
Henry DO Forces: BALDWIN and Charles
l.. Craig. chairman Of a special com
mite" ~, l.oIn,cd 10y the West End Asso-
citation. bore tho bruut Of the argunrn;
in behalf of those opposed. Mr.. Baldwin
admitted that so,nethiig ought to be
lone for the relief Of Norkvil.c residents.
hn now have to tako two car lines in
y,.ttiuc from their uciChhorhood to
broadway hu, he commended that s. ,00o.-
n0O worth ri property ought not to be
destroyed in extending accommodations
70, about four blocks. lie said hat one.
half of the assessed value Of tho prop
er,y ia W.at Eighty -siNth street. about
$4,000. 600. represents improvements
made In confidence that tho character Of
the street would not l." changed. but
would rcrnllU under IN" jurisdiction 81
IN. D.pal tn.cnt of Parks ana would OIL
tiuuc to- lr regarded ~ a parV of ths
public park system. Hc declared thai
,w uers whose property Is assessed at
sl2. 00O,0 600 are opposed To- the proposed
surface line.
IL was also SGT forth in behalf OF the
ow ncrs Of BRETON Hail. at Eroadw ay
and Eighty-siNth street. that this hotel.
assessed At sI.50o. 600. had tren erected
on tn" understanding that the character
of the street would not be changed.
For tho most part tho argument ~
Mr., Craig was based on legal ronsii-ra-
lions. Nc maintained that under the
statutes no franchise rould hr granted
to the New York Railways Company for
an extension Of the Eighty-siNth street
surface line. which now terminates At
EIehty-siNih street and Central Park
Nest. His legal point Was that only
'hc owner Of a line may obtain leave 10
extend Il. The present line is owned by
the city and IL operated by the railway
company under lcas" rights He made
tho further point that the railway ON
pauy must Obtain consent from une-half
me properly wv l'lE il''iE '" 'Ali' W
obtain n certificate of 'onN"niencc and
necessity from the supreme Court before
tho BOARD nf ES'imat" could approve 90
a franchise,
Arthur q. Peacock. attorney for the
railway company, said that the company
expected hut it'll" revenue from the pro-
pos,-i line and that the petition for a
franchise had lscn laid hef"r" the BOARD
Of Esiimat" ~ the suggestion of the
Public ServiV" Commission.
Frank Ehcrllard appearing Tor York
VIII, residents, said that S0n,ooo resi-
dents of tht, section wanted the line
extended. Henry Block, counsel Tor the
Yorkvill, Association. said that present
transit facilities are wholly INADEQUATE
and tina, the ending Of the line at
Eighty-sixth street and Central PARK
West forced persons coming from York;
willie to walk west War to broadway. 10
the Smith avenue elevated line. or to the
Columbus and amsterdam avenue sur
face lines. aud hat in addition to the
inconvenience they were compelled To
pay another fare. lie said the Public
Service Commission. after the fullest
investigation, had found that there was
almost conclusive evidence % the public
necessity % the proposed extension.
Each side was allowed an hour Tor