New-York tribune., 1919-01-14
Annual Report of Public
Service Commission Sets
Forth Facts and Figures
63 Miles of Track Added
1875, ,482,3lo Passengers
Paid S97,394,225 in
Fares During the Year


placed in operation, 1918 was the ban
ner year since the dual subway con-
tracts were entered into in 1918, ac-
cording to the twelfth annual report
of the Public Service Commission OF
the 1st District. embracing the City OF
New York, presented to the State Leg
islature last night.
The cost to construct these lines was
S103,0O0 900, exclusive of the cost of
the equipment used on them. Great
hope is expressed for the completion
of many lines during the year Of 1919.
All the work for the coming year, how
ever, is dependent upon the Board OF
Estimate and Apportionment, the re-
port points out.
Some of the new rapid transit lines
placed in operation in 1918 were; The
city-owned Broadway subway, from
Union Square to Times Square and
from Canal Street to Whitehall Street;
the city-owned Seventh Avenue sub
way. including the Battery and the
Wall and William street branches;
the city-owned Lexington Avenue sub
way, including the Jerome Avenue
branch and part of the Pelham Bay
Park branch.
Despite difficulties incurred by war
conditions the new dual subway sys-
tenn is practically rs per cent com
plete, says the report. New lines
opened during 1918 added sixty-three
track miles to the 217 track miles in
operation at the beginning of the
year.
$377 100000 Disbursed in 1918
Continuing, the report states tha-
''the City of New York and the two
operating companies (the Interborough
and the b. +. T.) had expended to the
end of 1915 the enormous sum of
S377 900 600 on account of the dual sys-
tenn of rapid transit. The city and the
two companies disbursed during the
year S4S.000 600 on account of construc-
tion and equipment of the new lines, the
city's portion of the expenditure being
for construction alone and amounting
to S19,000,000. For the year the eX-
penditures of the Interborough Rapid
Transit Company were $4,000, 600 ana
included contribution to cost of city
owned lines and payments toward the
construction of company owned lines
and equipment of all lines. The expen-
dltures of the New York Municipal
Railway Corporation (B. r. T.) for
sim similar liar purposes reached total of S.
100000 during 1913. improvements to
the first subway during 1918 cost the
City of New York S35S, ,58O.42"
1t is predicted that two new tunnel
lines between Brooklyn and Manhattan,
nearing completion, viii be opened dur
ing 1919. These are the Clark Street
tunnel and the Whitehall Montague
Street tunnel-the first q part of the
lnterborough system. and the second a
part of the b. K. T. system. The Clark
Street tunnel line forms a connection
between the William Street branch of
the West Side Subway and the existing
Peterborough lines in Brooklyn 1t is
hoped to get this line ready for use
late in the spring or early in the sum
mcr.
The Montague Street tunnel line,
Whlch VIII provide traffic connection
between the Fourth Avenue subway in
Brooklyn and the Broadway subway in
Manhattan, will probably be completed
during the summer or early fall, and
WI. be operated In great part by trains
OF the Brighton Beach line. which are
to be diverted from the Fulton Street
elevated structure. Operation of this
connection also includes the completion
OF the so-called Brighton Beach sub.
way connection from Fulton and St.
Feiix Streets to Malbone Street and
flatpush Avenue, which it is believed
VIII be ready about the same time.
IL has been estimated by the com
mission that If the Board of Estimate
VIII cooperate in the granting of the
necessary funds, more than $4,000, 900
OF the remaining $25 O0OOO worth of
ne" work yet TO be done can be let be
lore the end of the summer Of 1910
ohaer outstanding contracts there j.
upward OF S20,Cb0 900 worth of work
contract value. yet to be done to allow
9oo'Voo'oVo OF new lines to be placed in
operation. 80
Passenger Increase 56,670,0s7
An interesting item in the report re-
1ers to the increase in traffic nnon
rapid transit lines during 1918. The
s1oss gro oa- increase for the year was 56.
o:o.oo'' winch represents per CAPITA
, .",.e " new 1orkers of 1858, or five
more rides person than in 1917.
Inc total number Of fares Collected
Upon the street railroads, not including
sne steam transportation lines. was
11,oy,.-2'9oE;"l6 1o,- against 1.9lS.812,226 for
1SiI The daily average of rides was
o'sizz zS0, while the amount paid To thn
seVeral companies in passenger fares
soa mo 90 ,'p9s'zZo, an increase OF S2,843,-
@V3, or three per cent.
Elevated railroads and sunwavs bo1
q much greater traffic than frolles,
lines during 1918, the total for the
rapid transit lines being 1.l05. 300 $50
an increase Of 1862 054 over 1917
"hlle tne trolley or surface railroads
Nadrled Sal $40 ,666, an increase Of 10
voo'oo3- great increase in the mum
per OF passengers using the elevated
ana subway lines in BROOKLYN. a re-
.natsapie drop in the percentage Of
passengers riding on the elevated and
suoway hncs Of the Interborouph in
.aAhhattan and the E.onx, with big dc.
c.eaSes IN number of passengers car
[iee ne on surface cara in BrookIyn and
queens are some OF the outxtandira
1913. ''a''0''es 10
The largest single increase for the
year was upon the h. Il. T. elevated
ano SUBWAY lines, with a total traffic
o. Z1I ,Sol3l7, or an increase Of AZ
&s7.ooo. The Hudson and Manhattan
~ ,n1iasrRround y sId lines carried total OF
'o''So'Soo passengers. a growth for the
year Of 1891 ,399 The total traffic ON
fne Peterborough ~" lines way ag2.
ooo,bo1, an Increase Of 3.280,575, while
the total traffic on interborough sub.
yays waz 4l5,337 1866, the largest show
ing Tor any single system, but an in.
crease Of only 4l4SG G74. Surface rail
road lines in Brooklyn and Oueena
showed decrease OF 20 900 600 paa-
sengers during 1913, but tbis was off
BK iurrcaSso an