The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-12
WOULD BID ON TIL TUNNEL
srNDICATEs WANT THE CONTRACT
FOR THE HOL IN THE GROUND.

-
names withheld As Vet. bat the Rapid Transit
Commissioner Have Heard or at Least
Three-C. &. BeRman 1u Counsel for
Somebody Interested. and Charles sooJ
III the Engineer. Represents Somebody.
Members OF tho Rapid Transit Railroad
Commission say that at least one strong syndi-
cate OF capitalists will be in the field as bidders
for the control OF the tunnel road II the contract
Is ever let, and that perhaps there will be three
or moro syndicatos. That the possibility OF q
F30,o00,o00 or S35, 0G0. 900 contract was to be
let, backed by tho credit OF the city OF New
York, should attract tho attention OF big con-
tractors and responsible capitalists is no wonder,
and that one or moro strong associations OF such
men were looking into the chances OF making q
profit out Of tho tunnel scheme has been no So
cret for months. When Mr.. Charles Sooy
Smith, the engineer and contractor, was before
the Supreme Court Commission q few months
ago, he testified that he was associated with
persons who were looking into the chances Of
making money by becoming contractors.
~ have been engaged to look after the con.
struction end of such a project" he said last
night, and / am at liberty to speak OF any part
OF that, but l am expressly prohibited from
telling anything about who tho persons are be.
hind me, except that l can assure you that
there Is no question as to their ability TO sat.
isfy the Rapid Transit Railroad Commission as
to their good faith and financial ability. 1un.
dcrstand that there are other syndicates OF
good standing that are also looking into this
matter. OF that | cannot speak further. but
when 1t comes to letting the contract l hardly
expect that there will be any other bidder. for
i do not SET how any other lot of men can posi-.
bly, have time TO look into this matter with the
care and detail which we have found neces'
..We have spent months MT the work and have
gone into every detail of It,"
Stories were printed yesterday to tho effect
Choate & Beaman, had signited to President
Orr OF the Rapid Transit Railroad Commits
also likely to be a bidder. and had referred Mr..
Orr to John a. Stewart, President of the
i intse SSiiorG' a nnd t dhSlnpMsh r. s iSs sSte h iad'n as.
sured Mr.. Orr that the Doutsehe Bank Of Der.
posit with the United State. Trust Company
that amount good. during the building opera.
tions, and finally have II available for equip
ping tho road with electric power and rolling
stock. Other stories, declared that the posi-
Bile contractors had already ARRANGED to let the
work wi,h ~, Spon cs spe,SGntF s.ael e Gomp nSa o fa1 atssI
work at $53 a ton. Mr.. John, C.. Sheehan and
Others were mentioned as sub-contraetors.
Secretary Lewis l.. Deiehcld yesterday. '.The
i%Gf : ienail and financial standing have put
themselves in touch with the commission, and
some of these have even gone so far rs to make
valuable suggestions regarding the building
OF the tunnel. to which heed has been paid.
Who these persons arc l am not at liberty to
say;,
the Commission. said last night:
Il know that there are at least three syndi,
Gates which are entirely responsible and inan'
cially able to undertake the contract, which
have employed lawyers and engineers, both oil
high standing, to assure the commission OF
their actual intent to enter into competition
for the contract and to look into the plans and
s.timatcs. / know a few Of the persons who are
Interested in these inquiries, but do not be
lieve that either Mr.. Orr or the other Commits
sioners arc aware OF the identity. of the princi
pal men back OF the SCHEMES. Naturally. 1t ID
the purpose of these men TO keep their identity
unknown, both for their own reasons and to
save embarrassing the commission. Engineers
of high standing have been ut work for month:
in my office looking over the plans and making
computations of cost
Mr.. Parsons said It was quite possible tina
before the contract was offered the three syndi
Gates he mentioned might make q combination
and offer only one bid.