New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-02
FOR REAL RAPID TRANSIT.
WEALTHY MEN READY TO BID FOR THE
UNDERGROUND FRANCHISE.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES CITIZENS HAVE
TOLD HIM THAT THEY WE'RE READY
TO BUILD THE RoAD-MANHArTAN

TOLD HIM THAT THEY WE'RE READY
TO BUILD THE RoAD-MANHArTAN
RECEIVES CHECK.
Another obstacle that may prove TO be insuN
mOuntable placed without any warning in the
way of the Manhattan Railway Company yester.
day. The obstacle was Of such a serious character
that it appears likely 10 make it impossible for
that great corporation to extend it's ugly structure
out over the upper part Of the city, as it is now
seeking to do. The obstacle was raised without
a moments warning, and was OF such nature
that the recent discussions and plans of the Rapid
Transit Commissioners in regard TO extensions
Of the Manhattan Railway may come to naught.
The surprise, which will he most agreeable ono
TO the citizens of Ncw-York was an announcement
that at last several substantial perfectly trust
worthy, earnest and wealthy bankers and capital.
lists stood ready to bid for the underground rapid
transit franchise.
John H. Starn surprised his associates on the
Rapid Transit Commission by making the
nounc"ment. Mr. Starin made the statement in
a perfectly serious manner, and added that the
gentlemen to whom he referred had informed him
and authorized him to say that they stood ready
to bid for the underground franchise il the pro-
posed Boulevard extension were not granted to
the Manhattan Railway Company. The names
of the men who want to bid for the franchise
were not made public, and as yet are known only
TO those Immediately interested. The aspect Of
the rapid transit problem is completely changed
by the announcement by so conservative a man
Mr.. Starin that the underground system at last
has a good chance Of being taken up by private
capital and hastened to completion.
Just what notifications or changes the capi-
tasts who want to bid for the franchise may
ask for are not known, but it is natural to sup
pose that the Rapid Transit Commission will
grant any reasonable concession in order 70 save
the streets Of the city from the invasion that
has been so carefully planned by the insatiate
Manhattan Railway Company.
The routine business transacted by the Rapid
Transit Commission at its meeting in Mr. Stein.
ways home, at No. 26 Gramercy Park, yesterday
afternoon was not Of great Importance and every
thing was dropped when Mr. Starin made his
announcement. After the meeting was called to
order Mr. Spencer offered an amendment to the
amendment offered by Mr.. Bushc on Friday pro.
vding for an extension Of the Manhattan Ele.
vated Railway above One-hundrcd- and ninth-st.
Mr. Spencer's amendment provided for elevated
structure all the way up the Boulevard above
Observation-Disclosures The amendment was
lost by a vote of three to two, Mr.. Spencer and
Mr. Inman voting for the amendment Mr.. Bogart,
tIlt engineer u tIe CoIliulsSiDH, eApidlH'u tWO
feasible routes for an underground extension
above One-hundred and .ninth-st. His eAplana-
tions were the result of the motion offered by Mr..
Starin Friday.
After Mr.. Bogart's explanations had been heard
and commented upon. and Mr.. Spenccrs amend
ment had been disposed Of Mr.. Starin arose
and made his announcement regarding the res
viva Of the underground rapid transit franchise,
He said
II have a matter which I would like to state
TO the commission, and / will submit it to you
TO see if you desire to delay action on the
resolutions and amendments before us. have
r,een approa,hed a good many times dIring
the last week by many wellknown capitalists
and bankers and other substantial men. Ihey
have asked for delay in the work OF the com"
mission in passing on the business imueuia'ey
before it, They want delay OF from threo
to five days, in order that they may nav"
,ime 70 look over the underground franchise
which we have Offered for sale and Tor "hicn
we failed to find bidder. These men. gentle
mon, have the ability. if they have the incn'ia-
zion and they say they have the incllnatloh'
They are substantial anu aouhuan''S "''
dertake the work
Parties have approached me for the same pu.'
roso y said Mr.. Inman, but they made no de''
n;te nroposal TO me that conld lay beiore VI"
commission Did these men OF whom you sp'a~
cav they would not take up the franchhe "'
Granted tht proposed Boulevard extension
.Tbev tell me- answered Mr. Starin, thao
tbcy will not take up the franchise II 'ne eN'"-
sion on the Boulevard Is granted l@sV evening
half a dozen gentlemen came 10 my ho"se W
me about this very matter. Every one ., ''
Gentlemen is substantially and aouhdai'N a','
n undertake alone the carrying out OF t'ic u'o'
ground railroad planned by this Commission.
Thcv came to talk with mo about TINS matter anu
70 ask for a short delay of not more 'hah ">'
DAYS. during which time they can prepare propo-
sition to Law before this Commission. lhey ueS'io
70 make few notifications in the original plans
DO YOU feel Mr.. Starin, that these sen'ie-
men are in earnest In What 'hcS h"'o '"i" ~
yon ." Mr. Bushe asked
.Id do Mfr. Starin answered They are not tho
kind of men who waste their time hy talking
about things for the fun Of it,
81 have thought a good deal about this subject
recently, said Mr.. Inman. Certain persons
have talked with me on this subject. Last night
after I had retired they called at my house ana
wanted TO talk with me about the underground
franchise They, to), are entirely responsible
and able to carry ont anything they undertaRes
but as yet they have made no definite proposition.
The pers0ns who have been 10 see MIR. Starin are
not the ones who have been to see me. We can
give them several days with the understanding
that if nothing comes of it Mr. Starn Will join
us in voting for the Boulevard extension
These men," said Mr.. Starin, want TO con.
struct a line over the entire underground road
laid out by us, and they say they will agree to
build in from five 10 six ysars"
John NJ. Bowers, counsel 10 the commission,
urged the commissioners not 10 take any further
action on the resolution before them providing
for extension OF the Manhattan road until tho
capitalists whom Mr.. Starin had spoken OF ap-
peared before the commission He said that he
regarded Mr.. Starn's statement as Of great i'm
portance, and added mfr. Starin says that
gentlemen of the highest responsibility stand ready
to bid for the underground franchise. Now il
il is fact that they want to bid for the franchise
can you afford to grant anything to the Manhattan
Railway when this is matter Of doubt?"
For your information" said Mr. Starin, Il will
say that one Of the gentlemen who called on