The New York herald., 1922-01-14
200 Routes, $500 Vehicles;
Part of Plan for Gridiron-
ing Manhattan.
TO ASK FOR LEGISLATION
Appellate Division Hears Ar
guments on Transit Commits
sion's Suit for Funds.

program. Grover A. Whalen, Commits
sioner of Plant and Structures, for
mally requested s25.000 900 in corpo-
rate stock from the Board of Estimate
yesterday. A public hearing was or
dered for January 27.
The Commissioner figured that he
will need $500 buses to operate over
zoo routes, which, he expects, would
give to the city net revenue Of
$4,081, 900 year.
His letter to tie Mayor says that "a
comprehensive program has been
worked out for the entire elimination
in the borough Of Manhattan Of the
surface car tracks and the substi-
tuition therefor of bus system. In
the boroughs of Brooklyn, The Bronx
and Queens a bus system has been
worked out to augment the trolley
system now in operation"
The Board Of Estimate some time ago
appropriated $10.ooO.ooo for the estab-
lishment of Buses but an injunction OBJ
tained by a transit bondholder blocked
the movement. An injunction also took
buses from the streets of Brooklyn.
where they were being operated in COM
petition with the Brooklyn Rapid Tran
sit Company.
Hopeful of Legislation.
Although the initial appropriation
made for this purpose" wrote Commits
sioner Whalen, 'is not available for the
service of the people owing, to the in
junction obtained by a traction bond
holder, it is not to be seriously believed
that this impedment will remain indefi-
nitely. Whether by reversal Of the court
ruling or by Legislation the city will n,
doubt come into the enjoyment OF its
fundamental right. TO serve the trans
portation needs Of the people"
Therefore, he thought. 1t would be
well to set aside the corporate stock and
begin mapping the routes and working
out details.
This Is the way Commissioner Whalen
would spend his s25,00o.ooo:
Construction of $500 modern buses. $40, ESQ. 600
Purchase OF spare parts and ga
rage equipment. .............. 7OOOOO
Construction and equipment of
motor repair shop. ............ 100000
Construction and equipment OF
garages ....................... 3,Un.OoO
Contingencies ................... $50, 900
As to profits for the city, Mr.. Whalen
would average 2,24o.00o passengers a
day at five cents each, or S40,ss0.o00 a
year. Fixed charges. including interest
depreciation and liability insurance. he
estimated at ss,0ss.oo0; administration
and maintenance, s13,4s9.000; operating
costs, s23, $50. 900. or a total cost Of fixed
charges. plus operation. Of $36.s49.o0o.
George McAneny, chairman of the
Transit Commission. which Is vested
with the statutory authority to initiate
plans and routes for city passenger
transportation systems, nade this COM
mont after reading Commissioner
whalen's plans for supplanting surface
street cars with buses:
''The Transit Commission, as stated In
the outline OF its plan published in Sep
tember. anticipates the use of buses for
short haul service wherever they may be
appropriately employed. AS Commits
sioner Whalen is to complete his testi-
mony before the commission at one OF
the sessions next week we shall have
opportunity then to examine the plan he
has presented to the Board of Estimate
and to determine how far his suggestions
may be of use in the plan actually to be
worked out"
The fact was noted by the Transit Com
missioners that in Mr.. Whalens project
to eliminate all surface car lines in Man
haitian no provision Is made for the re-
tirement OF street railway corporate
franchises valued at many millions OF
dollars.
Against Elevated Roads.
The Board of Estimate recorded itself
yesterday in favor Of a policy for sub
ways rather than elevated railroads in
the further extension of the city's rapic
transit facilities. That also Is the de-
clared policy OF the Transit Commits
sion.
For once" said George McAneny.
chairman Of the commission. 1--WE are In
harmony The expression Of the boaro
with relation to future subway building
IL substantially in accord with the policy
of the Transit Commission frequently
stated. and is, therefore. wholly salts
factory to u.s.
The declaration by the Board of Esti-
mate, which followed n public hearing,
was made on motion OF Edward Rie
gelmann. Borough President OF Brook
lyn. II was to the effect that the
board favored no more construction OF
elevated railways and that all rapid
transit transportation lines hereafter
should be through subways.
At the suggestion of Mayor Hylan the
words land by buses on the surface"
were appended before the vote. Comp
troller Craig voted In the negative on
tho ground that. while he agreed sub
ways were necessary in the congestcd
districts, II might be different in tn.
outlying sections OF the city. lie sal
he thought tho resolution too broad to
be adopted at this time.
The vote was preceded by a pubic
hearing I'm which former Comptroller
Herman Metz and representatives OF
civic bodies in The Bronx. Queens and
Richmond boroughs spoke for the sub
ways Members of n delegation haiIing
from the Bushwick section of Brook
lyn-Mayor Hylan's own particular
bailiwick-declared they wanted the ex-
tension OF the Fourteenth street East
ern Brooklyn line made subway route
clear through to Tvergreens Cemetery.
but that the y. r. T. expected TO make
II an elevated road from Mcr<ibbon
street eastward and refused to change
the plans to a subway construction.
As was explained BIZ THE NEW YonK