New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-06
THE REPORT CONDEMNED.
RAPID TRANSIT COMMISSIONERS INSIST
on \ TUNNEL.
EXTENDING THE ELEVATED SYSTEM WOULD NOT
BE MUNICIPAL CONSTRUCTION - FIRMS

BE MUNICIPAL CONSTRUCTION - FIRMS
OFFER To Build THE ROAD.
The Rapid Transit Commission yesterday after
noon passed a resolution condemning the recon-
mendation OF the Committee OF Experts TO extend
the elevated roads and lay third tracks.
The meeting OF the Commissioners was lonR
one lasting nearly three hours. Most OF the Time
was taken up in executive session. then the doors
were opened and all who desired TO address the
commission were invited TO do Commissioner
Starin said there were representatives. OF two con
structng firms present who were ready TO make a
joint bid for constructing the road The resolution
against the elevated roads was offered by com
missioner Low and passed by all the com
missioners present. They were Commissioners In
man. Stenway. Low Starin and Orr. II read as
follows:
gested that the quickest way 10 obtain additional
rapid transit facilities IL through an extension o.
tinent 10 point out that the Law under which 1t
is acting IN connection With the popular vote o,
a road to he owned by the city and built at the
cost OF the city. IL,
also agree to the equipment and operation for a
term OF years upon the conditions 10 be lad do"i
which are specified In the law 1t Is clear than an
extension OF the elevated roads % the Manhattan
Company IL not municipal construction As con
,emplated by the RAPID Transit Law II Is also
clear that no important eniatsencnt OF ,h' e,y
can be made al the present time without endanser-
ING Tho possibility OF construction ~ a road be-
built by the city and to Doe owned 10y the cliy
The commission thinks that II ~ not confined. u
ls truc fo tho construction OF a road which shall
be- m" property Of the city 1t is at liberty ana i,
proposes To enlarge tho rapid transit facilities -,
conceive Itself to be ~ liberty 10 10 anything that
will cndangrr the ability to execute the mandate
II reSe,r w. IRON ,r of 20 90 for mnicipai con
struction Of a rapid transit road.
Commissioner Low also presented the following
resolution which unanimously adopted
Resolved That counsel be instructed to submit ~
the next meeting OF the comms-ion resolution
in form ;or final adoption ocnnrmins the routes
Resolved. Tha, this resolution shall call Tor i'm
mediate construction on n West Sdc .s Var as
TO the city limits within period hereafter To he
Resolved Tha, this resolution shall call for i'm
mediate construction on the East Side as far as
and the city limits within period hereafter to
ions for future construction OF line proposed BY
the hoard OF Experts. running from the northern
boundary Of Central Park through privat" prop
eriy near Slyth-aye. TO the Harlem River
Commissioner Low said the tunnel ought TO be
built under broadway instead OF Elm-st.. as The
counsel the commission reported that the street
would not be opened for tDo years. that II. the
new and wdened Elrn-st. The two firms who We're
ready TO bid jointly The contract t. build the
road wer. Drake & Stratton. Of this city. and the
Ryan 4 Mcdonnell Construction Company Of this
city and Baltimore.
Mr. Mcdonnell then addressed the Commissioners.
lie said the Joint firms could build road running
under broadway to FOurtecnth-si. and then mp on
the West side to the city limits and up on the East
side to Foriy-spcond-st. for less than tG"'l"9
That the firms were ready 10 put up N.'"Hr In
cash AMI give bonds for faithful performance OF
the contract He said the road he would bid on
would have be beneath the cable tracks, Few
feet beneath the surface. The surface would not
be disturbed except at Cana-st. which would have
10 be br1 lged during construction where 1t
sunk In streets off Broadway and the thoroughiare
reached by tunneng TO Broaiway ana then driv-
ing a heading In both directions. He thought me
road could be built within three years. He would
take all the pipes and put them with the sewer IN
n gallery running under the tunnel. He SAID mat
the tunnel would have to he from forty 10 for'y-
eight feet wide.
Just as the Commissioners were beginning 10 look
with favor what the contractor said. President
Orr cold water on his proposition by saying
that the law provided that the builder OF the road
he was In the operating business and the Com
missoners thought rapid transit as far on as
ever. when Commissioner Starin jumped into the
breach and said that At the next meeting he would
produce who would operate IT, They would
work with the construction firms and would jointly
build the road and operate II. THIS announcement
gave much satisfaction. Commissioner lnman sug-
ges,ed that day be set apart for the final adoption
Of routes but the suggestion not acted upon
President Orr said he was In favor Of the Commits
sion taking rapid action from this time forth 80
that rapid transit would be "A thing Of reality.