The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-05-15

ore ration. In this, cur plan for new
and extended rapid transit lines differs
fundamentally from that OF the Transit
Commission.
Ending All Evils.
"The city will not put its resources
behind the scheme for the financial bene-
mt of private operators. The city IL
through with such disastrou partner
ship arrangements. All future trans
portation improvements in this city must
be on the basis of city operation as well
as city ownership. This will end once
and for all the evils, explorations. indie
cencies and inadeQuacies of service that
attend private operation. In analysing
the State Transit Commissions plans,
therefore. they should be subjected to
three questions:
81. Are these lines laid out solely
10 At in with the State Transit Com
missions scheme OF private operation?
%. Are these lines laid out solely
to provide new sources OF profit to the
private operators under the so-called
'unification' of all the city's trans
portation lines on a basis prophetic OF
and necessitating an increased fare?
%. To what extent. in so far as it
may be sound, can the state Transit
Commissions suggestion be changed
to conform to and be Incorporated
with the city's program of public OPP
GRAFTON as well as public ownership
of rapid transit and other transporta-
ton facilities?
THE Board OF Estimate and myself
will consider the State Transit Commits
sion's suggestions solely from the view
point of the city and the public. We
xt-in fr,. -
advancing the State Commissions uni
fication' higher fare plan or to further
the financial interests OF private opera
tors. The State Commissions sugges-
tons have value only in so far as they
ct in with the city's program.
Recnpturing Present Lines.
'Under the dual subway contracts,
even with their improvident provisions.
the city will be able to recapture vari-
Gus sections of the existing subway lines
within a few years. The city. will be able
to recapture the Greensboro lines and
the Steinway Tunnel. beginning June.
1925. 1t will be able to recapture the
entire Fourth avenue (Brooklyn) and
Broadway-Seventh avenue (Manhattan)
lines in 1926. The city can recapture
either the Lexington avenue or Seventh
avenue marlborough lines in 1927, and
it will be BILE to retake other existing
lines within a few years thereafter.
Having these facts In mind, with the
cty's determination to ultimately oper-
ate all the subway lines. and having in
mind. also. that the city has moro than
$500. 100000 invested in rapid transit
lines. 1t is obvious that we cannot per-
NIT the city TO be hampered in the de-
velopment OF transportation lines. either
nr
Commission. Only such new construc-
ton as will link up with city ownership
and city operation Of the recaptured
lines will be considered for adoption.
I'VE do not intend that the people OF
this city shall be harassed further
through the operation Of barometer"
funds or through the medium OF other
devices that will inhict higher fares un-
der any subterfuge. We do not propose
that the private operating companies
shall have further opportunity or motive
to propaganda the city through a
friendly traction press or exert their
subtle and sinister influence in Albany
TO Illustrate the will Of the people In this
city. Our people have had their I'll OF
traction chicanery and traction manpr
laton. and the Board OF Estimate in
tends to continue its efforts to eliminate
both from city transit lines and city af-
LARS III tHe huluTc.
The Cost to the City.
1T have made. inquiry with regard to
the cost of recapturing some of these
subway lines. 1 find that the city has
so much already invested in these lines
that the, interest of private operating
companies Is small in comparison. For
example, in the Fourth avenue Crook
lynn, Broadway-Seventh avenue (Man-
hattan) lines the citys expenditures ag-
gregate about 100000 900. while the ex-
pendture of the company is about S22.-
100000. The contracts provides. / be-
lieve. that tthe city Is obligated to pay
10 per cent. above the amount invested
by the operating companies II It acquires
their interest the first year of recapture
This bonus Is reduced yearly IL re-
capture Is postponed. Even with the
full bonus, the city could retakc the
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