New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-08

FOR THE CEDERGROCND oiS1 E"
We may. start. then. with the proposition tha'
rapid transit is really needed In the Guy Oh .."
York. The subject has bsen discussed BEFORE US as
In the comparative merits Of an underground sys-
tenn and one similar that in use BY me elevaieo
roads 1t is not the purpose OF TINS nsHsred
e .ns on on boh SIDES and they mani
fest adwan h ss in that after
ul examination O. the case wn En- 5nf Commits
a aoe.r ahe Ss Of p.ec
spirited citizens acting IN the ba osiv ADEQUATE
meod to satisfy the just expectations Of our Red
pie Was by the underground road i aTs is
Idle deny that prma ace there are S snsr
90 such scheme Trayees sy.sm which compeis
them To- down night Of steps, and to hide ss
;Ss xyen aF0R length hs Of ms fn
yeniences must be put up WITH n II tss Tsa
The G main attack upon the proposed plan Is tina!
Broadway should not be selected for an ~ Rrned
way is not only the important street OF TINS
city but probably Of any n G Of on 5T,s on the
surface Of that thoroughfare without dsturplng rne
IN sU or se Ths %a enc they
in the repaving of Broadway and the building Ing, OF
The cable sbs s0s slen sec sSy cam an
ton that for public ssa S Sar have
not overlooked the presented TO th Sas
against the Of Broadway but renec,Oh
Tsy s5e sfi I proposed Ss
RrORoTes s 10 ,be question Of damage to prop
erty.owners TO which shall presently adyer r
,Ss fT s OF the Sf TaSns pub
inconveniences to Minimum don Is left IN.
Sstnrbsd "a and that While the work OF tunnel:ng Is
IN prosras: the Part that's y ysGsc! as 10 partly
wholly to prevent serious oosructon 10 ira Ss
The Rapid Transit a haSs nGt nave duly
Weighted the objections based on the eSn
S SssS that Of sTsst Urea for
cuded that the en- n IN c Exceeded the
ssaesnx Oh In this we think they
right. rapid transit scheme must presehI TSo
locality through which the greatest lumber hs,n, OF meI
daily pass will Gs OhsS nns g osaos na
ton 10 the largest number OF persons
CONFLICTING TESTIMONY AS TO COST
The testimony adduced on the subject OF propaoie
cost has been confusing and conflicting 10 re-
markable degree. The chief engineer OF the roao
who may be presumed TO have given careiui a''en
ton to the questions involved in Its consideration Is
sstisded and has sworn that the cost OF the road
will not reach the estimated Of s5ooOoco he is
sustained in this opinion by other engineers. one o.
to prove his faith by his works. and TO become a.,
terested in q syndicate that would rnoertake we
on,pion Of this ensneer exMayor Hewitt testified
II can only say that Mr. Sooysmith is one OF the
and anything that he said or believed should be
Inclined to adopt as my own View On h he nro
Tnn We Who have given figures and arguments to
establish that &C % 70, e SSSa If your
Commission bound 70 pass upon ns em
titledsto the Chest degree Of confidence they mgh.
feel that they placed in a position or gree
suae io dsode what Is key TO be the
cavation the eXpedeney OF M sbSe an Ming
These matters belong to special art ana Wneh .iie
OF ha al ape No RRnowedse on the subject
may confess their incompetency. But in the view OF
yI Setbep lhe road can be built for :Ooo0 or
whether 1t will cost sMOO,WN 1t might be ther
take It's solution. if the question before them
whether or not the city OF New York should under
Z case a reasonable doubt to the probable expense
Of the enterprise II might be proper 10 deciae
sSrionsy a He the city finances but It viii re-
nembered that the risk of embarking IN me ou asd
Is to be constructed and operated by individuals SUI
Sss subject pss Tn from w and
will probably not venture their FUNDS INTO an enter
prise that fails to present reasonable prospect OF
It has been argued that the contractor may fail
to carry out his contract that he may forfeit ne
100000 which he is bound to deposit and that his
fnal abandonment of the work in an unfinished con
dition may result in loss TO the city This may ne
conceded but especially within the province
Of Board Of RaPd T Fra; sr pers
by such provisions and securities as may be con.
edered efectual. To quote the apt language OF
Re difeuty with most of these objections is
missioner in the subsequent prosecution Of their
work. viii fail in the doing Of the duty which has
Ssn p4o s BY FSe
shall require the SUCCESSFUL bidder to deposit WIN Tn
cash or approved securities. such amounts az the
Board shall deem & ,h to sr of sale Sy th
purchaser and by the corporation to be formed lor
s R sse of S@ahs ana And It
in the consideration of the action OF the Rapid iran
as will provide against any contingency OF faure.
WHAT TILE COMMISSIONERS MUST DFE DE.
The theory Of counsel that is function OF this
Commission absolutely whether the underground
railroad proposed by the Rapid Transit Commits
sioners can or cannot be built for s5O.0oo0o) Is in
consistent with these views and cannot be sustained.
We to decide whether. assuming that such a
road be built It ought to be built. 1t may be
said that 4 thing cannot DO done ii ought not TO
be undertaken. but your Commissioners are salts
fed that they should decide whether the road ought
TO be built in any corporation or individual
shall be willing to build 1t and shall be ready
a safe one for the city Upon this assumption we
are not compelled to indulge in what would be very
That it is possible TO build the proposed road is
beyond question 1t may not now be dsored that tina,
withstandng all the difficulties which under
genuity OF men is quite able safely 10 carry the
scheme 10 a practical end. This We believe TO be
sd be s Mo n" %o OF be- s e
to undertake the construction OF road on the de-
O8n submitted. your CommSSlO2, therefore, nave
come 10 the conclusion that the only safe and prac
tical way 10 determine matter as 10 which so
much conflicting evidence has been furnished is TO
give their approval TO the construction of the road
end leave the Board Of RAPID Transit Commission
ers to test In the only practical form the possibility
Of bringing the execution Of their plan within the
statutory limit Of amount. II they can find a con-
tractor Of sufficient responsibility and means in
properly guarded contract 20 undertake the
struct.on Of the road. they should have the oppor-
tunity TO do so. Until this test has been applied
the question must remain in doubt. Until then the
chief engineer. Mr.. Parsons. and those who agree
in opinion with him will continue to insist that
the road migat have been built for less than
tSooO1,eto. while their opponents will, with equal
good faith. demonstrate tina; 1t would be impossible
TO construct the roadbed for less than s9000O0 1t
would unfortunate for the OF rapid transit
II so important question were left unsettled. and
should continue TO be thesis for academic dis