New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-14
HOPES FOR RAPID TRANSIT.
FAVORABLE ACTION EXPECTED BY THE
APPELLATE DIVISION

VIEWS or PRESIDENT ORR OF THE RAPID TRAN
| SIT COMMEMORATIVE OPPOSITION FROM
BROOKLYN TO THE UNDERGROUND
| PLAN WITHOUT wEIGHT-DELAYs
WILL BIZ AVOIDED RI
AWARDING THE CON
TRACT THIS YEAR
| Alexander f. Orr. president of the Board Of
Rapid Transit Commissioners when seen al his
Office in the Produce Exchange Building on Thurs
day by representative OF The Tribune. expressed
himself az much pleased with the report OF the
court commission In favor Of the construction OF
the proposed roads and declared his commence III
the carrying out Of the project to when nc ana
his associates have given large amount OF time
and study. He also said that he earnestly hopcc
for favorable action by the Judges Of the Appellate
Division the report and expected that the Board
would be In position to award the contract before
the end of the year.
When asked II there was any special reason Tor
haste IN letting the contract before the taxing
effect OF the act consolidating the cities. Mr.. Orr
replied:
No there IS not 80 far am aware. though
there will be obvious advantages In having the
matter completed while the present city ofhcisF,
who are familiar with the entire subject are sti'
IN office. When the new officers come IN AT ''e
beginning OF next year, 1t might he possible tor de-
lays to occur while they were famarzins them-
selves with matters that are we'll known 10 Inc
men now In charge Of the city's affairs. Other
wise do not see that the fact of uniting the cities
will have any bearing the question or under
ground roads. The present city OF New-fork mas
been committed to this plan for several years. ana
there Is no doubt about the strength OF popular
feeling in favor Of underground rapid transit IL Is
the only solution OF the transit problem for this
- 4 bn pitp an
TO greater or less extent to all the other parts
THE OBJECTION RAISED IN BROOKLYN.
what do you think OF the objections which have
been raised IT, Brooklyn the carrying out o.
the plan. n the ground that to spend a large sum
for the benefit OF Manhattan and the Bronx VIII
deprive the other boroughs OF their share Ill the
money to be devoted TO public improvements?
THAT Is a singular and may say narrow view
10 take of the subject since the present city OF
Now.York definitely declared itself In favor OF the
scheme some time ago. and plans have been stead'y
perfected for underground roads without the sigh-
est attempt at eoncealment. II seems 10 me also
that the author OF the articles in The Brooklyn
Eagle Is either totally misnformed or else Is trying
to misead his readers Evidently he Is NOT familiar
with the testimony which mas been taken on tne
subject. He intnates. for instance. mat mere ~
something Ike tr!ckery In the fac, that the present
estimate OF the cost Of the roads Is so much less
hsn The estimate made whey the neP Plans n Te %sn,
that II par TO put up twenty-story building ana
f sudrs fns%s stole ' high there s viii be
portionste reduction In the cost OF the underakns
have done We fet sure that il road was now
proposed the original cost would not be accept,
H nap The road now proposed vii cost much less
on many accounts For one thing, in the other plan
is good deal. There good deal more double
rack road provided for IN the SrSn2 Plan n:G
will result IT. large reduction OF cost especiaiy II
hat bef
practically be virgin SOIL for III TO DO with as We
choose -. -. =, 49,
roads the result OF careful estimates
THEY the result Of as careful estimates as we
not allowed to go fully into the detailed plans un,l
We h c. Of I s se f q be sd the and
other materials accurate estimates have been made
gus a anTr OF rock and Garth rom what now
suppose 10 be the case However: our proh!e has
been aa ," " one Our engineer is Very
able man and he has done bis work with the utmost
care"
HOPEFUL OF FAVORABLE ACTION BY THE
COURT.
You are hoping OF course. FOR favorable action
by the Appellate Division on the report OF the spe-
cal commission!
Yes the testimony In favor OF the underground
plan was 80 o erwheming that we do not see now
the Cour, can fail 10 approve the report. The re-
port may say, IL a most valuable document ne
N no mos. ~ ,horough manner and their exhaustive
OF the entire subject cannot tali 70 p
%as 1sfy Fad % ha, they decided to 90 Boston
and Or ID hS soT ma air cam e in
subway where there Is no compuston $500. .o,
o. s ;. Tf d isS f TO
1897; 20? s tn, commissioner ,,a., immediately A.
required hy law the motion for the conhrhhloh OF
~ rsnor, will bo made on the ED. or course we
DO not k1Ow how T soon oon he The
Is what hope tor We shall be reaay 10 o ,brec
Weeks and We are Hopeful Of receiving at least one
"Have YOU reason 10 ehp"'t '"d' '"''' VIZ ~
eve hope so. but we cannot te wiener ne sneH ~
who have been making inquiries with the view TS Sa
putttng in bids will carry out their intention Inc me
Commission has Even all the aid possible 20 rn or
engineer have been placed freely at iher disposal;
and suggestion, have been invited WIN me oea IN
this way we have obtained large amount Of vaiu
"t 20 YOU think that the construction OF under
ground roads in New-York has any drect nea', ,h
on the oues,Ion of additional pr'dseS "''O'' wv
4 do not that has replied Mr. 0 oSG Long o
island are needed There ought to be several
bridges which should he practically eontnH Saia
az across tho Thames and the Seine, the parts OF
London and Paris on OPPOSITE s b now OF ' Vou pass
from one side to the Other most withoqL 9md
ing It. believe IN conso,da'hns o our losey united
az nossiblc We need the bridges across the Fast
his side OF the river also. In fact 1t Is an ahsn
lutte necessity AZ ] said before. the CITY IL lu.y
fected in any wav by the carrying out OF the
scheme Of consolidat ton.
THE BATTERY PARK PROBLEM.
Has the question In reference to Battery Park
been settled YETI
mo tho Park Commissioners have not yet been /
brought TO take the right view Of the matter. /
have seen no sign OF any unfrlondllness on their
part but they do not seem 70 have been able 10 /
understand what :he law requires OF them. A |
cnnLLllnnal consent build our road under the |