The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-28
BAD BRONX TRANSIT
BLAMED UPON CITY
Grand Jury Reports Poor Ser
vice, Largely Due to Lack
of Terminal.

Responsibility for inadequate transit
service furnished residents OF The Bronx
by the marlborough Rapid Transit Com
pany was placed ~5sauarely upon-@the
shoulders Of the city authorities yester-
day by a Grand Jury which returned
presentment to Justice Giegerich In
the Bronx Supreme Court asserting that.
while the railroad company has entirely
fulfilled its part of existing contracts,
the city had failed in its obligations.
The presentment calls upon the Board
Of Estimate for immediate action upon
tentative plans now before 1t for the
| construction OF a terminal yard in The
Bronx. Construction Of this yard was
decided upon by the Public Service Com
mission as long ago as November. 1915.
and the commission set aside as the site
! for It part Of the old Jerome Park reser-
| voir, which was to be used as a storage
terminal for Jerome avenue subway
! trains. That property is city owned.
but the terminal has not been con-
! structed, and the railroad company has
been using the centre rails of the Jerome
avenue line for storage purposes.
Company Trying to Better Service.
The Grand Jury found that continued
| complaints have reached the Grand Jury
in reference to the inadequate service
rendered the public by the Interborough
| Rapid Transit Company on its line
| throughout The Bronx.
sFV|s. Il
I under consideration and upon investiga-
| ton learned that the trouble was due
principally to the abnormal conditions
existing through the country. and that
apparently strenuous efforts were being
made by the railway companys officers
| to overcome this unfortunate state OF
affairs
THE opening and placing In service Of
| the new subway lines accumulated tn.
difficulty. The railway company full
| filled the terms and conditions OF 1t.
contract with the city, under which 4
| operates rapid transit lines in the Cit!
| of New York. On the other hand. thu
city has not for some reason performed
the terms and conditions OF the sait
contract on its part to be performed.
THE question of adequate termina
facilities for the proper and effioien
1
way company is important. That provi
sion was part Of the burden assumed b.
the city under the said contract whic
up to the present time has remained in
complete and without a speedy compile
ton OF this vital link in the transporta
ton chain the resulting annoyance. In
convenience and delay to the travellin
public undoubtedly will continue.
THE Grand Jury, after carefu
weighing OF the evidence, would EN-
phas!ze the immediate necessity OF az
ton by the Board of Estimate and Ar
portlonment with reference to the com
pletion OF the plans now tentatively be
fore that body covering the constructlo
of a railway terminus yard. which "
understand Is proposed to be constructe
upon part of the site OF the old Jerom
Park Reservoir, and a Anal complianc
on the part of the city with the cor
tracts
Suggests Immediate Action.
The presentment also suggests tina
the Board OF Estimate be requested In
mediately to appropriate money needle
for the construction OF the terminal, an
/, that the section OF the contract requirin
approval by the Municipal Art Commits
sion be waived for the period OF the wa
| so tnat construction Oh tne yaTu may "
, gin without delay.
The Grand Jury found. however. this
Z the railroad company was to blame Il
E congested conditions attending the opel
, alton OF a shuttle line between King
I bridge road and WOODLANDS, and II
presentment made suggestions which tt
Jurors believe will relieve that situation
, This body Is also Of the opinion" y
presentment concludes. that the raj
road company should improve the ger
eral conditions OF travel and better ser'
the interests OF the travelling public b
extending the present terminus OF u
= through trains running on the Jeron
avenue line from Its present location
Kingsbrldge road to 200th street"