Year: 1873




QUICK TRANSIT AT PUBLIC COST


THE REVISED BILL OF THE CITY RAILROAD
A PLAN FOR LINE TO BE CONSTRUCTED
AND MAINTAINED BY THE PE0PLE--FAVOR-
ABLE VIEW OF s. e. CHURCH.


The bill prepared for the present Legisa-
ure by the Rapid Transit Association OF this city, and
presented to the Senate by Mr. Temann and 20 the As
sembly by Mr. opdyke, was originally prepared.
published TIE TRIBUNE several weeks ago. but 1t has
since received material notifications In the first draft
a Board of Commissioner was named; the bill 1t
now stands il Il provided that the Mayor OF the City or
NewYork the President Of the Board Of Aldermen the
head II the Department OF Public Works Of said city.
eopeio together with six other freeholders and resi-
dents OF the City OF New-York, to be ap-
pointed by the Governor, by and with the ad-
vice and consent Of the Senate. and their sue
cessors are hereby constituted Board of Commits
sioners to construct cy railway for rapid transit in
said city, provided by this act They shall forthwith
organize themselves by the appointment OF president
secretary and treasurer and such other officers as shall
best facilitate their operations. The Governor shall nil
by appointment any vacancy occurring 10 said board by
death. resignation or otherwise. The said Commission
ers shall serve without compensation except the chief
executive officers thereof who shall be designated by the
board and shall receive such salaries as the Board may
prescribe, not exceeding 5000 each"


The second section provides that shall be the duty
Of said Commissioners and In behalf OF the Mayor
Aldermen and ConmonaIty OF the City OF York, TO
line Of railway for rapid transit In said city,
from the Battery the Harlem River the said railway
be Of less than four tracks adapted TO through
and way travel and to 90 constructed upon the best
plan, and by the best route. which the said Commits
soners with the ala Of their engineers hereinafter
provided shall be able TO devise; provided, that said
plan shall not exceed. in estimated cost sum the an
nual interest Of which, together with the est


mated running expenses of the road shall be covered by
estimated earnings OF the road at the rates OF fare
prescribed by this act, added to ITS earnings for
freight postal and all other service In the construction
OF said road the said Commissioners shall follow as far
as practicable the lines Of existing streets and avenues
in said CITY, and said road may be built in whole or in
part under upOp any Of such streets avenues
squares, and places, connecting such streets and
avenues but with little obstruction TO travel as Is
possible. Aud the said plan may embrace the enlarge
ment of any projected tunnel under said river so as to
admit OF two railway tracks through the same,
connecting said road with any other railroad north of
said river and may provide for suitable freight and
passenger depot within the Battery with access to the
water front at point and for other freight and pas
senger depots, with their proper switches ana turnou
along the line OF said road"


II is further provided that before any plan shall be
adopted board OF not less than five eminent and ski
fol engineers shall carefully examine the route through
which the road is to rum and after such exanlhaOn
they shall be OF opinion that such proposed public work
may be 60 constructed that the revenues thereof for
freight postal and other SERVICE OF the rates OF rare Ir
and expenses of said rosG and the interest on
bonds for its construction as provided by
upon the people Of said city, In consequence OF the con-
sructon Of said proposed public work they sha report
such conclusion Commissioners, together with
the general plans ana details OF said work as agreed
upon by taem %0ca az reRoa sha and % % & same n m e
proved by a majority OF said Commissioners the said
road shall become public work Of the CITY of NewYork
upon the general plan and details stated IN such report"


1t is next stipulated that the city shall issue public
stock be called the City Railway Fund.-, IN amount
nnta dinQf
not exceeding per cent ana De IN %
operation shall be turned over to the Department of
Public Works. ana shall theneeorth constitute sePar


te o Cv The DEPARTMENT OF Public
Works shall from time TO tme establish schedule OF


s T fate o1sf @ shy a Ss 81 'sS 5SS
exceed cents for each person and vt cents any
st.; and discriIninstions may be made in favor OF
teachers scholars In the public schools ana chlIdren
under 10 years Of age the sinking fund shall exceed
three per cent per snnum Of the principal Of said
sructon fnd the said fare shall be reduced from time
reach uniform rate OF three cents fo each person over
the whole any part OF said road II is provided that
votes OF majority OF the legal voters of this CITY


ma f y s Il assS 81 ae Ss
road oS was stricken Si 'S out before Albany and
by the and the Board Of Engineers Other
provisions which 1t thought would weight the bill
ing Of the Rapid Transit Association held on Monday
night the prospects of the bill spoken Of hopeful
ana determined to hold public meeting In Cooper
Institute within short time In order 10 present the
claims OF the project to the people. TRIBUNE re-
porter called yesterday, upon b. Il. Church. OF the
chief promoters Of the enterprise to ascertain his views
TO the probabilities OF its Mr. Church said
that he Albany last week In the interests OF the
bill The New-York City delegation a unit In its
favor. He thought that some OF the members OF the
Assembly hestaed TO learn the feelings OF the people
OF this city Mr. Opdyke had been requested TO present
tue bill 10 the Assembly and had oheerfully consented
70 do promising 10 support IL in half hearted
Mr.. Crary was earnest ln Its favor. Mr. Church had
some fears about the Committee on Railroads, Mr Mad
den, the Chairman OF which was champion OF the
Beach Pneumatic Tunael-a scheme that would
again come before the Legislature. Messrs Wagner
ana Baker were thoroughly in the Vanderbilt inter
esls The Committee had however, promised TO report
ON the Dl either favoraby unfavOraby at early
Hay Mr.. Church thought that nothing but the money
hnuence OF opposing rarpad interests could defeat
measure In either House. He had made computations
from the annual reports OF the State Engineer from
nncn he mad como 20 the conclusion that by the year
!ooo eoO0 passengers would need railway transporta


Oh Wthn the limits OF the island each day; for while
te increase OF population Ia only 13t per cent In
years tho increase OF passenger circulation Is about
80 per cent The proposed railroad would |
supply no more than tho increased demand for |
transportation With three a train. each car
holding 90 passengrs aud the trains running eyory two
minutes. not half the number OF persons cemandpg |
transportation the nckt few years could be accom-.
Ino0atod. Tie old roads would still nnd All the work
they can attend TO- Mr. Church estimated that In 1915
the earnings u the road fro passenger traiac aloe