246 The Story of The Bronx 



April i, 1903, the Interborough Rapid Transit Company 

 was formed by the interests engaged in building the subway 

 for the purpose of controlling both the subway and the ele- 

 vated railway. As their interests have thus become identical, 

 the two roads issue transfers to each other at their crossing 

 at Third Avenue and 149th Street. The contracting company 

 had until September, 1904, to complete the construction of 

 the road, after which it leases the road from the city for a 

 period of fifty years at a fixed annual rental. At the expira- 

 tion of the lease, the road with its entire equipment of power- 

 houses, rolling stock, etc., becomes the property of the city 

 absolutely. What an opportunity that will be for the authori- 

 ties of the city to place their political henchmen! 



The subway, during its seven years of existence, has been 

 the most important factor in causing the enormous increase 

 in the population of the Borough. That it is totally inade- 

 quate for the demands made upon it is shown daily in the 

 overcrowded condition of its trains, producing scenes of 

 brutal indecency that I do not believe would be submitted to 

 by any other people in the world. The demand has been 

 unanimous for some years upon the city officials to extend 

 and enlarge the routes of underground travel ; but the rivalries 

 of the Interborough and the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com- 

 panies, the danger of going beyond the debt limit, and the 

 apparent impossibility of the Mayor, the Board of Estimate 

 and Apportionment, the Board of Aldermen, and the Public 

 Service Commission getting to a common basis of agreement 

 tied the matter up for years. At last, in the fall of 191 1, 

 contracts were let for the building of some of the proposed 

 lines. 



That in which the Borough is interested is the new route 

 up the east side of Manhattan, thus saving the time necessary 



