New-York tribune., 1919-02-03
Tunnel to Staten
Island Is Urged as
Aid to City's Credit
Richmond Citizens Contend
Increase i'm the Taxable
Values There Would Be
Help to Greater New York

Officers of the recently formed
United Citizens Committee of the Bor-
Qugh of Richmond will meet to- day to
start their campaign for solving the
transit problems of Staten Island. At
this meeting an executive committee
Will be appointed which will determine
definitely just what transportation link
Will be advocated to connect Staten
Island more closely with the transit
systems of Manhattan.
While officers of the committee de-
cline to express themselves until the
executive committee has announced its
decision, there is little doubt that the
route selected for approval will be a
direct subway from the Battery eX-
tending to Tottenvllc. This subway
route was formally approved by Staten
Islanders three years ago and the ma
Jorlty Of the committee are said to
favor 1T in preference to a bridge link
or other subway route.
Increase in taxable values resulting
from closer transit connection with
Manhattan and a consequent extension
of the greater city's credit will be one
of the principle aNuments brought
forward by the committee to secure the
new subway, it was said yesterday.
Debt Limit Near End
The greater city, memebers Of the
committee said, was facing a vanishing
debt limit, under the regulation which
permits the city to borrow only 10
per cent of its taxable values. The
only method Of avoiding this hanger,
Il 10 ~
and pointed out that such an increase
must follow the opening up Of ade-
| Uuate transit facilities to and through
Staten Island
Staten Island forms one fifth of the
city of Greater New York geographi-
cally," said William w. Mills, secretary
Of the committc. ''Yet it has but two
per cent of the taxable values of the
: city. The opening up of satisfactory
! transportation system woul increase
= both the clty's revenue and its borrow
! ing capacity.
Restore Centre of Population
"Therc also has been a tremendous
shrinkage of taxable values in lower
Manhattan. This has come because
subway and other transportation OK
tensions north, east and west have
shifted the centre of population north
ward. Inc only way to restore equili-
brium is to make a compensatinf
transportation extension to the south
These are some of the arguments W
will lay before the Board of Estimate
and Apportionment"
The resumption of full service b,
the Staten Island steam roads this
week, Mr.. Mills said, would not solve
the problem of transportation on the
island itself. The roads were per
mitted by the Public Service Commits
sion to cut down their train service
one-half for a time to save coal. "Tcr
per cent of Staten Island has no trans
portation link" Mr.. Mills said. "ant
the equipment of the trolley lines i.
unsatisfactory"
Committees will be named TODAY t.
arrange meetings at various places OF
the island to discuss the programme
Among the Staten Islanders who prob
ably .wil be named on the execlutiy,
committee are Louis L. Tribus, presi
dent of the Staten Island Chamber O.
Commerce; DR.. l.. A. Dreyfus, presiticn
Of the State Island Civic League: C. p
Dullca, who served on the subwa,
conference of 1915, l.. 6. Kaufman,
and Mr.. Mills.