New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-23
MIR srrlNw>Y FULL on HOPE.

He THINKS WORK CAN BE BEGUN oN THE ROAD
sooN ANu THAT IT Will NOT COST ~
REALTY MORE THAN AZ IRoN sTRUcr-
IRE WHAT MIR HEWITT SAYS
The news Of the approval by Governor Flower ~
IN. Chamber Of Commerce Rapid Transit bill was
not received IN this city until about o'clock yes
terlay afternoon The stock Exchange had closed
and consequently the effect not noticeable In
the price OF Manhattan shares. There IS no doub;
tha, except In certain limited quarters. the meas
ure Is popular a. providing the most practical
means FOR securing rapid transit tn the city
william StcnVay. chairman Of The outgoing com
mission. but member Of the Incoming one. eS-
pressed to a Tribune reporter his pleasure az the
action Of the Governor. lie foresaw, h. said. the
realization Of his hopes 81 underground structure
extending from the Battery t. One-hundrel-ahd-
twcnty-nfth-st.. which Will carry passengers be
tween the two points within the space OF fifteen OF
twenty minutes
The cost OF underground railway he SAID
has been very much ovcresiimnted. viii give
Won an example The East River Gas Company
has lust finished "A tunnel feet by ten feet. under
Blackwelrs Island. from the foot Of SiNtJ>ninth-T
10 Long Island city. i IS 27Oo feet long, or a
little over half a mile. with two vertical shaits N
l5 feet each The entire distance IS through gneiss
rock which has an immense sustaining power. The
real cost was less than one-haf the hr't estimate
made several yenrs ago. believe that an under
ground tunnel driven from the Battery 10 Fify-
ninth-st. and along the Boulevard. when can pe
tackled from the surface. the street being i" yea,
wide Will not cost any more than "A substantial
iron and steel structure. with the enormous damages
10 abutiing property -owncrs; for with an under
ground road there will De no damages.
Mr. Stelnway says the new commission VIII re-
cclye large assistance from the work done By the
old commission, and that construction can begin
almost Immediately on the assurance that parties
are found who will advance their money Tor the
completion OF the enterprise. II the syndicate OF
capitalists cannot be found then" he says. the
referendum Will be applied and the people can de-
eide for themselves at the next election whether
the city shall undertake the work That OF course.
viii involve a delay Of half year although the
commission could undoubtedly complete all It's prep
arations pending a decision by the voters IT seems
10 me-" added Mr.. Steinway, that rapid transit IL
I'm sight for the near future.
Ex-Mayor Abram 5. Hewitt was naturally pleased
az the adoption OF what Is conceded 10 be his own
MAN provided the underground route is agreed 10.
He said last evening: THE next step ls now that
we have a new Rapid Transit Commission. for
them 10 prepare plan for execution as soon as
the people vote favorabiy upon Il. The sole object
OF the bin to insure the building OF the rohd
by private capital. II It can be done; but II not
then the city would take II and II would be gwen
TO corpora that could pay for term or years
an annual rental equal TO the interest upon the
bonds less than | per cent to be appropriated
10 a sinking fund for the redemption OF the bonds.