The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-30
the WILSON TUNNEL PLAN
The Cor,nission Proposes 60 Submit tn
Question 10 the People.

The people may have a chance TO vote on the
rapid transit problem. 1t is contem plated Of
fering to them two plans. by one OF which the
city will lend its credit TO r. T. Wilson h Co. to
the extent OF $50 00o. 900. being two-thirds OF
the estimated cost Of the underground rond
planned by the Commission. and by the other
the city itself will undertake the work Of
building the underground road. The Com
mission will meet to- day and they will vote on
p report on the Wilson plan. which they will
send to the Board OF Aldermen. and through
that Board to the Mayor.
As was printed in THE SuN few days ago.
the Rapid Transit Commission. while appar-
entity enthusiastic for the Wilson plan in open
meeting. was in private very much divided on
the feasibility OF that plan. At least one Com
missioner argued that II II would be good pol
Icy for the city to lend its credit for almost the
total cost OF the road. It would be a better plan
for the city to build the road itself and own it.
II the city should lend its credit, IL might not
lose ANYTHING directly; but neither would it
gain anything. for the road in the end would
be owned by the private capitalists, who would
pocket all the profits.
It was also asserted that the real reason tbs
Manhattan Railway Company refused the prof
fers Of the Commission last summer was that
It could not see its way clear 10 pay the prop.
erty damage that would he incurred, Tho
building OF o new line through upper Broad
way and the boulevard and the streets which
the Com mission picked out. would have In.
volved property damages much in excess Of
the cost OF the road itselI. Therefore. some OF
the Commissioners said tho building OF any
more elevated railroads was out OF the uueB-
ton. and they condemned the Bushe plan for
The arguments OF those Commissioners
brought about what is termed a compromise
that John NJ. Bowers, the counsel Of the Board
was at WORK drawing upthls plan. Mr. lowers
he Is said to be- dfswne 10 rst strong srSu
mcnt in favor OF tho underground road. based
on the supposed imprsScticability 81 building
the Wilson loan Of city credit plan. and finally
II will recommend that two bills be presented
which shall depend upon the action OF the Con-
stitutional Convention and the subsequent
4 Tecomme ndntion ia to he made to the Con-
stltutionh Convention that 1t shall provide an
amendment that will give TO the people Of the
city the right to say whether they favor lend
ing the city's credit to the extent OF 100000
900, and. second whether they favor the city's
One OF the bills to lie presented to the Legis-
lature enacts tho laws necessary to build in
people. and the second bill enncts the laws
necessary for the building by the city. Each
bill contains clause that 1t shan be dead
ment The second bill provides that the road
shall be built by the present Rapid Transit
Commission or Its successor: From what could
be learned yesterday there ia little doubt that
this report when presented to the Com mission
will be adopted unanImOusy.
Mayor Gilroy never Will talk on any public
business that will at some future time come
before him for approval but 1t il known that
no is greatly opposed to tho plan OF lending
the citys credit. Yesterday afternoon Mr. Il.
r. Wilson and his son and Rapid Transit Com
missioner Bushe called on tho Mayor and
talked with him for nearly nm hour. After
they had gone the Mayor said the talk had
been informal and that there was nothing to
be given out about II. Neither MIR. Bushe nor
Mr.. Wilson would talk.
II this report on the underground road is
adopted. II Is said that the Commission Ia not
unlikely TO take up again the question OF Man
haitian extension. and 1t may be willing to let
the Manhattan make tho three and four track
improvements without lacking on conditions
and new lines that would embarrass the COM