New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-24
RAPID TRANSIT TALK.
COMMISSIONERS DISCUSS THE WILSON
PLAN.
A REPORT TO THE MAYOR sudGEsTED-soAH
OF THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED

A REPORT TO THE MAYOR suGGEsTED-soNE
OF THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED.
The Rapid Transit Commissioners were all
promptly on time at yesterdays session. %
also were r. T. Wilson and his counsel Charies
r. Reaman both nrepared to answer any ques-
tons that might be asked respecting the details
of what has como 10 be known as the Wilson
plan for the construction Of an underground
rapid transit road. On invitation Of Chairman
Steinwav. Mr.. Beaman explained that Mr.. wilson
was not annealinC to the Commission to ADOPT
his plan. but desired simply TO present IL LOT
the recommendation by the Board to the peo-
ple He pointed to the fact that nothlhs couiu
he done until the sanction Of the people OF the
entire state was obtained by ratihcatoh Vi d
constitutional amendment changing the cohSu-
tuition of 1874 which provided certain saiesu"'u'
by means of prohibition against the '"NeH'
ment of city funds in private corpora''o"S' II"
asmuch as the Constitution Convention uoe'
not assemble until May, and the results oi thei'
lahore cannot no ratified before November II Is
nlai, that the plan even If adopted. cannot be-
come available in the elementary stages OIL con-
struction for nearly year. Mr. Beanah Sa'u'
however that much In the way OF preliminary
work could be accomplished In the mean ume' 50
that If public approval were secured al the Po''S
an advance IN that proportion would nave oeeh
made. -. 1,ro,;
II was evident from remarks made by Presi-
dent Steinway that the question OF assure1 ue
lay troubled him. But the plan now oiie e,h
is n practical one, and is supported so SUP
stantially that a disposition was manllesteu 10
submit it, pending anything else mat might uril'
into the current for consideration. Coiillhis
sioner Porter moved an adjournment 10 eNeCu-
tive session. where the Commissioners might pre-
pare a report with Recommendations 10 w,
Mayor In the spirit of the Wilson plan. EDWARD
,G,,rx tvfA
waited route. took part in the discussion 20 .ne
extent of giving his approval TO the SUGGESTION
that the Commission should submit reip'' Y"
the Wilson plan 10 the Mayor -,
The Wilson plan provides that the city snaH
advance two-thirds of the cost OF construction
while Mr.. Wilson and his friends are 10 pro.
vide for the other one-third ana are 10 uepTfre
81 900 900 as a guarantee OF good falth. Inc
CITY IS 10 loan not TO exceed s2.50O.OOO mile on
the line below Forty-second-st" or S2,WooVo
mile above that point, no matter what may DE
the actual cost Of construction. rms Is on Il
basis OF a possible average cost or s5Ooo.oVo
mile for distance Of fifteen miles when Is 'he
limit contemplated by the present prospectus OF
the route The bonds are to run hfty years
and bear per cent interest. II is maintained
that an advantage will accrue To the pupnc ny
this arrangement In that the BONDS VIII pe
free from taxation II held by the city 80 strong
is the confidence in the outcome OF an enterprise
Of this sort and In the results Of patronage
when the line Is once In operation. that me
capital is ready to be supplied The POSSIBLE
ties of traffic returns In connection with rapid
transit lines Manhattan Island have not
been measured II Is said. There VIII be n
sinking fund feature associated with the plan
which will enable the city 10 become the actual
possessor Of the line at the close Of nifty years
II Is not easy TO learn accurately the views
Of the individual commissioners on the wilson
plan. The board adjourned its public session
yesterday until Tuesday OF next week. at
o'clock Originally. the commissioners were
much attached to the idea of an underground
route Then came into existence what is
known as the Bushc plan for an elevated
structure Apprasements Of real estate values
have been made In the interests OF this plan. and
the sum total is Sl42.2l9.025. while the property
belonging 10 the city along this proposed route
has an appraised value Of S6i,0o0.OO0.