New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-08

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Of the RAND Transit Commission realize that II
is Of the first Importance to have the contract
for the construction Of the underground roads let
before the consolidation scheme takes effect on
January next and are bending every effort in
that direction.
II is feared that If something tangible Is not
ACCOMPLISHED before Greater New-York comes
into existence there may be violent opposition
on the part OF Brooklyn, Richmond and queens
70 the SPENDING Of so large a sum for the dement,
of Manhattan and the Bronx. and that II may al
least seriously delay the carrying out OF the plans
on which the Commission has spent so fnuch
time and energy. The present city OF Ne"
York is committed to the underground PROJECT IN
the most decisive way. inasmuch as there mas
been a vote Of the people on H. ana IL might
seem therefore. that the other parts OF the en-
larged city would have nothing to say on the
subject Still they will have voice in the eS-
panditure Of the public money and doubtless
might occasion serious obstruction, aitnough
well-informed men are convinced that they
could not defeat the plan for carrying people
swiftly between the lower end OF Mammalian ISL
and and the upper as well as to the region north
Of the Harlem, which is no insignihcant city III
itself
conceded.
transit will be much easier II an actual contract
has been made for the building OF underground
roads prior to the end of the year and if the
matter advances that far it is not unreasonable
- assume that ground will be broken before
New Years
THE NEXT STEP.
The next step To be taken in rapid-translt pro-
caedinrs is the hearing OF testimony by the COM
h, supreme
mass on the question IF the necessity OF the
nro,osed roads and favorable report from
those commissioners if approved by the court
will stand in lieu Of the consents Of the owners
NJ nronertv along the proposed route The
corse,ts Of majority Of the owners on each
street are required, and in some cases IT has
been found Impossible to obtain them Hence
the application TO the Court for the appoint
ment Of commissioners.
The PROCEEDINGS are precisely parallel to those
taken when Broadway was included IN the
route Of the underground road. II was from
thar quarter that the great opposition then
came Elm-st has now been substituted for
| Broadway. and along that street a majority OF
the property-Owners have given their consent
| ~ the nronosed construction. Difficulties were
encountered by the Rapid Transit Commission
! further uptown however, and there the attempt
to procure sufficient number Of consents was
unavailng.
The commissioners named by the court
Messrs Williams Young and John Sabine
! Smith will begin The hearing OF testimony to-
| morrow at the rooms Of the Repid Transit Com
mission No 2J6 Broadway. How much time
will be required for the hearings it is impossible
even TO guess. 1T may be one week. or 1t may
/ be eight weeks said interested citizen yes
terday
The former proceedings occupied a good many
! weeks. and then il long time before the
| Court rendered it's decision Neither of these
! things is looked for this time. 1t IS expected
that the Court Commissioners will proceed with
their work rapdy-although the time 1t will
! consume will depend on the amount OF oppo-
| siton to the projected roads and the number OF
! property-owners who desire to he heard-and
| that the Court will pass on the matter without
| delay. All questions relating 10 rapid transit
I have n preference before the courts ana the
! judges appreciate the importance or making all
| possible haste
THE CONTRACT ALREADY DRAWN
| So confident are the Rapid Transit Commits
sioners Of a decision in their favor that the form
of contract for the construction OF the under
ground railroads has already been drafted and
! put in type for their consideration This docu-
ment represents a good deal of work on the part
! Of the COMMISSIONS counsel and engineer III
| makes a gOod-siZed volume. The Commission
ers feel sure that bidder and lessee viii be
| secured and ii is their belief that they viii be
! in a position 10 award the contract in November
| They will certainly strain every nerve 10 do 1t
before the end OF the year. in order To avoid pos
! sible complications arising from consolidation.
| on this point the Commissioners are naturally
reticent. but the facts here stated are given in
| good authority. II the Rapid Transit Com
| missioners with the aid Of the courts. can
| accomplish II, NEWCOMERS will have the posi-
| tive assurance OF rapid transit by underground
roads before they eat their Christmas dinners
| and not impossibly before they sit down to their
| Thanksgiving turkey.
TWO YEARS TO BUILD THE ROADS
How long will the work Of construction take
after the first spade is thrust into the ground?
| That is the next question OF interest. The en-
]. gineers who have studied the problem have an
| answer ready. They say that barring strikes
and legal delays the work OF building the
/ roads proposed be done In two years
/ Strikes. Of course are mighty onsartin." and
! no man can tell what may happen In the case
| OF the large number Of workmen that VIII be
| employed That njunctlors will be applied for
| and other means Of hindering the work tried
| is fully expected. but IL IL believed by lawyers
| that in view OF the strength OF popular opinion
In favor OF genuine rapid transit at the earliest
possible moment the courts Will be slow to issue