New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-05
Two Bodies Responsible for Construction Lack
Mutual Confidence and Team
Work

end Of the Brooklyn Bridge, with no
opportunity for ready access to trains
traversing Manhattan. Even this OPP
GRAFTON required the reconstruction and
third tracking OF the elevated to
Brooklyn Bridge. although that bridge
has limited capacity and must sooner
or later be reconstructed. The serious
objections to these methods and the de-
sire that the structure should be en-
tirely removed from the civic centre
Of Brooklyn led to the negotiation,
Place agreement, which was submitted
to the Board of Estimate in December,
1917. It calls for an investment Of
approximately $3,000.000.
CD Flushing Extension.
The Corona line terminates q little
over mile from Flushing 1t should
be extended to Main Street Flushing,
the commission thinks, and thus tap a
thriving community, capable of extern
slve development, particularly along
the radiating trolley lines. in addi-
ton, the /.lension would allow the
construction of the yard necessary to
meadows. whore it logically belongs.
This extension would cost approx
mately $4,000
60 Manhattan Beach Division.
In connection with the Nostrand
Avenue line it is desirable to acquire,
from the Long Island Railroad, track
age rights on its Manhattan Beach
DIVISION so that, after electritication
the marlborough could furnish service
from its entire system to Manhattan
and Brighton beaches. If this were
done the yard for the Nostrand Avenue
line could be supplied as an incident
No estimate of the cost can be made.
negotiations with the Long Island rail
road being necessary.
In considering whether to contem-
plate any expenditure beyond the
swollen amounts needed to complete
the dual system as first planned the
Board OF Estimate will, perforcc be
guided in the main By the condition
Of the clty's finances. That brings US
to look at
V-Ihe Question Of the Debt Limit
Under the constitution New York
City can borrow, for undertakings
which arc not self-supporting. up 20 10
per cent &C the assessed valuation of
real estate subject to taxation. Sub
way extensions now being made are
not sclf.suprorting. In the opinion Of
members of the Public Service Com
mission. the BROOKLYN and connected
parts Of tho dual system. operated ny
the New York Municipal Railway. will
Be entirely sef-supportinS in ten years.
Officers Of the operating company
think it may be sclf-supportng in
five years. Whenever it shall be self
supporting, that is, provide out OF ycv-
enuc, to the city. enough to pay the
annual charges on the bonds issued
against it, these bonds viii no longer
pe counted in estimating the total
debt against the city. Thus Will be
freed an enormous borrowing power
which tho city could use, for example,
III mode rnizing the port and furnishing
ample, facilities for the city's expand
ing commerce. Since the operating
company will share with the city any
net profits after both partners have
received the fixed returns on their in
&C stments, there is an incentive 70 he
operating company 10 be economical
ard efficient and win profit within,
possibly, i've years.
But the outlook on the parts oper-
atcd by the Interboroueh Company is
indeed gloomy. Not within twenty
five years. think commission members,
will the city receive from the revenues