New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-19
THE UNDERGROUND PLAN.
r. T. WILSON & cos OFFER TO SECURE
RAPID TRANSIT

TWO-TTIlRDS OF THE COST. ITS BONDS
NOT TO EXCEED s3ocoooco-A CON
sTITUTIoNAr. AMENDMENT
NECESSARY.
The Rapid Transit Commission now has under
consideration two plans for rapid transit in this
city. They an underground plan presented
to the Commission yesterday by r. 7. Wilson
81 Co.. Of No. 80 Wall-st., and the Bushe plan
for an independent elevated railroad. The un-
dcrground plan offered Yesterday by X. r. Will
son d CO.. seemed TO meet the approval of the
Commission. but II has determined not To aban-
don it's elevated route until it is we'll satisfied
that an underground route would be possible.
Mr.. 1.auterbach appeared before the Commission
again yesterday and said that he would like
the commission to embody in the Bushe plan a
crosstown line. and that the syndicate he repre-
scented would be ready to bid for the franchise
as 1t was offered.
Fordham Morris appeared before the Commits
sion yesterday and protested against any syndi-
cate representing the East River Bridge Com
pany and the Brooklyn elevated railroad getting
control Of the rapid transit in this city. it
would be. he said. for Brooklyns interest and
not Eew-York's He warned them to beware of
Mr.. Lauterbach and his syndicate. but advised
them to go ahead with the Bushe plans. taking
notice Of the suggestion Of the hop-growers'
syndicate. Mr. Morris said he had doubts as to
the amount Of capital represented by the East
River Bridge Company and warned tho Com
mission not to be fooled by any so-caled syndi.
cate. Mr. Morris represented West Side prop
erty owners
MIR LAUTERBACHs COMMENT.
The commission was SO well pleased with the
offer made by r. T. Wilson & Co that it called
a al mo- Tuesday to slider
the plans. In the Wilson plans attention is
drawn 10 the fact that. In order to build the
road. the city will have to lend two-thirds of
the capital required To lend money 10 further
private enterprise constitutional aid will have
10 be secured and r. r. Wilson e. Co propose
20 place the matter before the Constitutional
Convention which meets in May. Evarts.
Choate & Beaman are counsel for r. T. Wilson
& Co Mr.. Choate is a member of the Con-
stitutOnal Convention Mr.. Lauterbach, coun-
sci for the East River Bridge Company. and
representing the syndicate which wants the
Bushe plan is also a member of the Consttu-
tonal Convention and he said yesterday that
there might he some interesting discussions when
Mr. Choate moved to amend the constitution so
as to permit this city to lend $50. 900 to the
promoters Of the underground scheme. r. T.
Wilson X CO. offer. an evidence OF good
faith, 10 deposit Sl,OOO.OOO at the time the con-
tract shall be drawn up.
All the Commissioners were present at the
meeting. John II. Starln informed Mr.. Stein
way after the meeting that he was opposed to
the Bushe plan for rapid transit, and that he
was in favor of an underground route.
THE PLAN FOR AN UNDERGROUND ROAD.
The communication addressed to the commits
sion was as follows:
To William steinway, Chairman Board Of Rapid
Transit Commissioners.
IIn4r M4 or 10 a UNDERGROUND
TEN OF rapid transit for the city Of New-York sub
stantillly on tn. route and generally on the plan
adopted by you IN your report 70 the Common Coun-
ell Of october -. 1891
A. Il guarantee OF our good faith in the matter
in good securities, 10 be approved by you. in
dtion that the same shall be forfeited the peo-
pie Of the city Of New-Yor< in the event that we
OF such road when the execution thereof shall be
authorized by the vote OF the people % this city, as
hereinafter suggested
We propose to commence the construction of said
road Immediately upon the contract being executed
tween the CITY Hall and Fourteenth-st within two
years from the time of the signing OF me contract;
ton between Fourteenth-st and Fifty ninth-s on
ond-st on the East side. within three years from
the time of the signing Of the contract and the
and between Forty -second-st and Harlem within
four years from the time OF the signing ~ the con-
tract In the event Of extraordinary contnge ncies
preventing the completion Of The work within the
time limit We suppose there should be some pro.
vision I'm the contract by which your board could
" propose 10 continue the work on the routes
indicated in your report Of October 20, 1891 or such
other routes may be determined more advisa-
bic, rs follows.
HOW EXTENSIONS WOULD BE MADE
So soon as the completed system hereinbefore pro-
vidcl for shall pay per cent its cost over and
above its operating and other expenses we
viii bulld an additional mile on each side OF the
ciiy and soon each additional mile pays a
4 nor cent Will build
another mile. untn the termin provided by you are
reached We think also that some arrangements
should lee made 10y which your board should nave
power - grant extensions or the railway IN otneT
directions. II You should deem 1t for the interest
the general plan OF construction We shall ask you
to change somewhat permitting the building or a
double d"ck,d tunnel instead OF four tracks ,' On
one lowell a. we feel on the report OF our ehsin,
e.rs. that II can be thus done more cheaply and
with less chance of injury To private owners.
i'he road wilI consist OF four tracks. with such
exceptions as YOU may approve. me method ot
provided for in your proposed terms OF sale OF the
unlererouud railway that Is. tunnelng to he done
located sufficiently far below the surface to avoid
ali existing pipes. but the method Of construction
may h.. de.lrtnd from. with your consent. IN Specl
localities where engineering d'ihcultles MAKE IL
n.crssary 10 do So. The motor power TO be the
Common council of October 20. 1891. to Wit cleo
ricty or some other power not relulrins COM COM
o b. cnpable Of a uniform speed for long distances
Of not less than Forty miles an h"ur exclusive ot
| I'll
There are several other details az TO the method
Of construction. to dealing with pipes, as 10 the
location Of stations. and the rignt oi tie coiP'is
tp condemn private property, when necessary l"I
stations or otherwise which will necessarily ne the
subject Of consultation and agreement between you
and ourselves II shall see ut To approve oi the
| plan which We shall now proceed 10 suggest. .
IN common believe. with the great majority 81
! III citizens of this city, and We nave Tor loiS
Tim. felt, that the only solution OF proper raid
transit to satisfy the needs of this cry was me
| underground system substantially on u' HH's l''i
down in your report above referred 10.
THE FINANCE QUESTION
bout o.. year ago wrote to y, OF ring TO bulid
such road If the city would loan 20 per cent OF the cost
bur were met with the provision OF the constitution
forbIddins sIch loan. Since that time we nave peen
! carefully considering the matter with associates
willing t. embark I'm the enterprise. ana We nave
| reluctantly reached ,he conclusion mat II u nor
within tnr limit of privd" means t. raise lh" 'ire
! sam nee, sr,rN - build This system.
We nr. willing however. to assume me RESPONSE
! huiv nf cNprudng our-thlrl Of the rhhrr 'oSt Ii
I'M. city viii loan ~ s bonds - IN" 'NtrHt 81 Two
thirds of the cost ard AZ" advised lhit mas
| much 49, a constitutional convention l'i u par
pose Of revising the Constitution or thr Hthtr nf
New YORK. II 10 meet this coming S"'i'n,, We