New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-30
COUNTY BOND PLAN GIVEN UP
RAPID TRANSIT BOARD NOT LIKELY TO
PUSH IT FURTHER
COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO PRESENT MEMORIAL
TO THE LEGIsLATU RE-PRivATE CAPITAL
THE PROBABLE MEANs-A sUGGEs-
TON THAT MAY FIND FAVOR.

TON THAT MAY FIND FAVOR.
The probability that the Board OF Rapid
Transit Commissioners will ultimately decide
that the only speedy means by which the under
ground railroad can be constructed is by giving
the work over 10 private capitalists Is becoming
stronger each day A month ago the Board was
apparently determined upon building the tunnei
by the issuance of bonds on the county OF New
York and on seeking special legislation TO raise
the necessary funds by the issue OF county
bonds. They agreed. AS an alternative. 10 ASK
for power to carry out their project with the aiu
Of private capital From the first this latter
alternative for reasons which have already beeh
stated in The Tribune, has been fought by Con-
troller Coer and it would seem from state
ments made after the regular meeting OF the
Board yesterday that the Controller has sue
ceeded TO some extent in bringing the Comrnis-
sioners 10 his view.
At any rate. Controller Coler and George H.
Rives were yesterday appointed as committee
10 draft a memorial to the Legislature explain
ing the present situation Of the rapid-translt
scheme. and outlining the views Of the Commis-
sioners as to the best and quickest way OF oD-
tanning the money necessary to build the tun-
mel 1t is certain that the Controller VIII not
recede from his opposition to the bond susges-
tions. and as the only desire Of the Commls-
sioners is to see work begun on their plans II
is not improbable that the memorial Will urge
the expediency Of employing private capltal as
opposed to issuing county bonds This much'
in fact. was admitted by Lewis L. Delaheld
after the meeting although he would not com
nit himself TO any official utterance.
THE CONTROLLERS STATEMENT
Controller Coler however, was more COM
nunicative and said: You state for me
that the capital for the rapd-transit system
will not come from issuing county bonds. That
suggestion will never be considered again seri-
ously"
In view Of the likelihood that private capi-
talistc sources will be relied upon for the con-
struction Of the tunnel, and in view also OF the
admitted fact that the Metropolitan Street Ran
way Company will become bidder FOR the con-
tract. attention is being attracted to suggestions
made by writer in the current issue OF Ihe
Engineering News" Whether the article was
inspired or not is matter only OF conjecture
but nevertheless, one Of the Commissioners SAID
Yesterday IT contained much common-sense.
while its suggestions were feasible and worthy
Of consideration In explaining his plan, the
writer in "The Engineering News says:
The original 50O00oO plan OF the Rapid Transit
Commission compTehended a four-track ROAD rom
the City with various. four-track and two-track
branches In the modified plan the four-track
scheme was still adhered TO While the four,track
scheme was an excellent and proper one when II
was planned the march Of events has now rendered
It obsolete II the local lines Of the proposed rapd
transit railway were now in operation they would
be forsaken by travellers for the electric cars on
Carrying out Of the New-York rapid transit enter
prise 10 build two-track tunnel roads for express
trains only, beneath some OF the principal nOrtn
and south lines Of the present electric conduit sys-
Would ne need to be- operated % in entire harmony with
the present surface railways. ana thls means
an arrangement between the city authorities and
the Metre cpolitan street Railway Company. Such
feSt1 E rnsdv I'm he and the coming
o. fact ;t''''
The writer suggests stations only at Twenty
third-st. Fifty-nnth-st.. Ninetieth-st.. One
hundred and twenty -ffth-st. and Harlem River.
and estimates that. allowing for stops az those
stations. the total time consumed by the trains
between the two termini Of the lines would be
eighteen and half minutes, with the possibili-
ty Of even this time being shortened.
While President Alexander f. Orr and other
members Of the Commission would not directly
discuss the advantages of this suggestion, or
the possibility Of it being considered, yet by
niecing together the disconnected remarks OF
each TO various inquiries there Is reason to be-
lieve that the Board would be disposed, did they
believe circumstances warranted, to make ma
terial alteration in their plans.
WOULD HAVE TO BEGIN AFREsH.
But in this event Mr.. Orr pointed out yes
terday IT would be necessary for the Board to
begin all over again. to obtain new consents
from property-owners. or in default Of that 10
appeal to the courts for authority. In spite of
these drawbacks, however, ii is apparent that
IL the Commissioners let the contract 10 private
capital the successful bidders will assuredly
seek notifications Of the plans already drawn
UP, TO meet their own views. And as the sue
cessful bidders more than likely To be the
men who are behind the present electric sur
face system. IL is natural 10 assume that they
will desire to operate the underground road in
connection with their present roads, and when
II is remembered that by the system OF transfer
the people Of this city could have the use for
one fare Of the surface lines for short distances,
and Of the tunnel for long distances, there is
reason TO believe that the Commissioners would
meet the exigencies Of the occasion by agreeing
to various changes in their present plans.
FIGHTING ~ BRITISH EAST AFRICA.