New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-31
TO BID ON THE FRANCHISE.
COMPANY FORMED TO BUILD THE
UNDERGROUND RAILROADS.

coon AS THE RAPID TRANSIT Com
MrssIoNERs ARE READY-DE-
TAILED PLANS FOR DOING
THE WORK UNDER WAY.
r,s,e "a no longer any doubt that at least one h'o
iii ha made for the franchise for building SYSTEM
'. ,,sororound roads north OF the CITY HAM
h,cb the Rapid Transit Commissioners VIII soon
eer ~ the highest bidder. providing iaNo'""o
aacs,on is rendered by tho courts on the pam INV
der considerations company OF capitalists ana
directors has been formed with the express pu'
49, =, constructing underground ra'roads IN
,xwyork and II was quietly incorporated seVe'a'
weeks ago without attracting any puolc "o''0',
~o,rraI,v the names OF the prominent bankers anu
o,bar men interested did not appear IN ,hc Hs' %
.,oro,ors hut there is ample capital behlnd the
enterprise ,, 49,, .,odo -, tho
oos, OF construction. and partial agreements nave
been made with number OF contractors ioi INV
.o,s.ruc,ion OF the various sections INTO "llCh I'M
-L uul he divided 1t s the intention to carry
~ n,ork IN a large number of places at the same
-, I'D ~ have the entire enterprise so appor-
.,..aa among the contractors that each one Will
h,ve n good-s.zed contract while at the same 'l'le
all ~ them will be able to make rapid progress IL
q estimated that from the time work IS nesum' "
there arc no unexpected oDstacies inc 'o''N wa ~
IN operation In three years.
The authority for these statements Is Nn"Ies
Seventh the well-known engineer and contractor
xho Is at the head of the firm OF Sooysmth d Co.,
With Offices In the Mills Building Wheh seen
,ners hv a representative OF The Tribune on Friday
NJ Sooysmith. while unwilling to describe in de-
,ou the personnel and plans Of the company, spoke
ten nostiveness regarding Its intention TO put IN
a hid and 10 proceed with the underground WORK
~ the contract is awarded 10 H. Inc sum ana
suhstance Of what he said is that the men inter-
ested IN the company have looked into the matter
most carefully and "mean business
Mr. soovsm,th has long been believer IN the
nrecticability OF underground roads ana ne mas
80 an extended experience IN underground work.
both IN the construction OF the foundations Tor
bridges IN various parts OF the country ana IN pre-
narne for the erection of important buildings along
broadway and elsewhere. lie was OF OF 'he com
r,,ttee OF experts appointed by the Rapid Transit
commissioners about three years ago TO report on
the nracticabiity Of building the roads then pro-
rcsed for the prescribed &0.0o0eOO his associates
hs,ne Abram g Hewitt Octave Chanute. Thomas
c. Clarke and Professor William H. Burr
7. IS an interesting circumstance that among the
notifications in the plans recommended by TINS
.,n,,.ea uos tho substitution OF the Em-st. route
,or Broadway between the City Hall and Four
feminist . 80
In answer to questions. Mr.. Sooysmith said: Il
have believed for ten years or more that the only
way TO give New-York rapid transit was by under-
around roads. and have been an earnest advocate
n, this method Of construction since Mayor Hewitt
brought forward his plan for rapid transit MY eN-
perenoe in underground work has given me eN-
ceptional knowledge. perhaps. OF the dihoulues 10
be overcome. After the Rapid Transit Commis-
soners decided in favor Of roads beneath the sur
face endeavored from time TO time 10 interest
capitalists OF my acquaintance In the project but
without much success. However, my interest ana
confidence did not diminish, and went so FAR as
70 make estimates of the probable cost OF construc-
ton. etc. so that fully prepared to deal IN
7 t.,xf COW
eral months ago TO consult with certain capitalists
who had become interested in the project
az need not say that I highly gratifed at
their action. I was asked 10 consult with them
because OF my experience In building the founda-
tions Of buildings along Broadway. Since then the
matter has been gone into thoroughly; careful
estimates Of the cost have been made and negotia-
tons are in progress with contractors Of experience
and large resources with view 10 'hfe es nhaei
humber Of bankers there are several ar are COM
yaeea of the Feasibility Of the protect and
company is prepared to make bid Tor me ira ran
TO be able to offer within few weeks. 1t is not
syndicate but a regularly incorporated company,
structing the proposed roads provided OF course,
that the court Commission makes favoIa6e 5e
Division. to which It will be presented
THE METHOD OF CONSTRUCTIONS.
What method Of construction do you propose u
follow?' Mr.. sooysmith was asked
"As to that" he replied. II can only say that the
work will be divided into number Of sections with
the idea that operations shall be carried on stimuli.
taneously in many places. The exact number OF
sections do not care to state. but the plan IS TO
not so much TO embarrass him in executing ms
part Of it expeditously. A number OF contractors
course the opening OF the streets will be necessary
but we hope to avoid having them open i gTe az
nothing like such state OF things az has been
seen In Fifth-ave. III the vicinity OF the city Han
Is
underground with very little disturbance OF the
How long is the construction OF the roads likely
Mr. Sooysmith paused TO think before making
answer Il do not wish TO indulge In any rash pre-
dctions.' he said after a moment but my judg-
ment Is that II no serious obstacles are met with
the roads ought TO be built in three years ! mean
that the railroad ought to be running by th t
viii be torn up in any P beT f % ht W
foundations Of one Of the Broadway. buildings,
IN sdd ths TO- the Weight OF The street Itself The
principal difficulty will be in the handling Of sewers.
q good deal Of trouble. All these things have been
considered, however. and detailed estimates show
ure that Will leave a fair margin for proht
WILL THERE BE OTHER BIDS?
Have you reason to believe that there will be
any other bids than the one offered by your
pany?"
Il do not care to say anything about that" re-
pHeo MI oooysHlith with sHlI'' pu' IL o'"c'
people were contemplating putting In a bid II Is
natural to suppose that they would not tel me
about It,"
rs 1t so that the part OF the underground
system which II Is proposed TO build at present does
not include anything south OF the City HALF"
That is true said Mr. Sooysmith. though there
Is little doubt in my mind that the road will ul-
matey be extended 10 the lower end Of ;he Island.
There is already strong demand on the part Of
business men in the lower part Of the city 10 have
the road TO the Battery. But that vii, make no
difference so far as the company in which have an
interest IL concerned"
DO you expect that the contract will be made be-
fore the end OF the year,?
Il am very hopeful that II will. II the Commits
sion which has been hearing testimony reports in
favor OF PLAN and the rcpOr: - confirmed by the
Court the Rapid Transit Commissioners pre-
pared 10 act without delay. IL is considered desir-
able by all Interested that ne Contract should he