New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-14
THE BLOW TO RAPID TRANSIT
PUBLIC DISAPPOINTMENT OVER THE
METROPOLITAN's DECISION.
IMPRESSION THAT DEAL HAS BEEN MADE BD-
TWEEN THE MANHATTAN AND THE STREET
RAILWAY COMPANY - WHAT THE
COMMISSIONERS THINK.


When the knowledge was spread among the
people Of this city yesterday morning that the
Metropolitan Street Railroad Company had re-
fused to undertake the work OF building tho
underground system. ard had in consequence
sounded the death knell OF any hope Of rapid
transit for some years II come. the general feel
ing that the news caused was emncnty one of
ENCOURAGEMENT and dissatisfaction. For years
New-forkers have patiently endured the lack Of
adequate transportation facilities. relying upon
the promises held out 10 them from time to time
that better means Of travel in the metropolis
were to be provided within a comparatively
snort time For years they have put up with
the badly lighted cars. the incompetent service
and the ash-throwing. ill-smelling locomotives
OF ire elevated roads; they have scrambled
aboard already overcrowded cars Of the surface
lines. and have thought themselves lucky 10 have
even the privilege Of hanging on to a strap
AS was made clear In yesterdays Tribune the
plans drawn up by the Board of Rapid Transit
commissioners have received serious blow
from the action Of the street railway company
from which there is little hope OF recovery.
knowing the animosty they were called upon
TO face in the Tammany administration the
commissioners welcomed the possibility OF hav.
Ing the aid Of the capital and the prestige of
the Metropolitan Company. and the political and
commercial backing Of the men in IT, With such
wealthy and influential corporation willing
to undertake the construction Of the tunnel. Mr..
Orr and his colleagues were confident Of Tam
many withdrawing It's opposition to the scheme.
more than month ago. when the Justices ot
the Appellate Division handed down their de-
cision confirming the report OF the Inquiry Com.
mission, there were at least three syndcates OF
capitalists ready to bid for the contract and the
commissioners were prepared 10 invite bids
They wanted only the favorable opinion OF the
Court to proceed with the work. The wordins
Of the opinion, however. raised a doubt in ega
minds as to whether the SIS 100000 bond in.
sisted upon was 10 remain In force only durina
the period Of construction or for the full oper-
ative term. The counsel Of the Board we're in.
structed TO draw up Immediately an application
TO the Court 10 obtain a construction Of TIE
disputed point. when the Metropolitan COMPANY
stepped in and intimated that It wished TO look
into the scheme with view to bidding for tho
contract The opportunity was afforded H. The
company set corps OF engineers at work upon
the plans. talked loudly about the necessity Of
quicker transit. and succse eded in convincing not
only the Commissioners. but the public gener.
ally, that its Intention to build the road had
been practically resolved upon
COMMISSIONERS AT A SrANDSTILl.
Meanwhile the Commissioners were at
stands ILL., They delayed making the applica-
ton To the Court. and they refused 10 invite
proposals from other bidders Tammany came
into power and at the very start condemned
the tunnel plans. While the Commissioners
were waiting for the Metropolitan people to
make up their minds. George J. Gould was pay.
Ing vlsts-purely of a social character Of oourss
to Richard Croker at Lakewood and there
were daily well-defncd rumors Of negotiations
passing between the directors OF the two rail-
road corporations Mayor Van Wyck in his
message. suggested that all the needs for tho
city's transportation could be met by the ex-
tension Of the existing systems. and called upon
the Municipal Assembly to compel" the Man.
haitian company to substitute electricity for
steam power. A week ago II was announced
that George J. Gould was on the point OF sign
ing contracts for tho installation Of electric
tive power Two days ago the Metropolitan
directors announced that they were unable 10
enter into any contract to build the proposed
tunnel because. the elevated railroad companies
appear to have expressed their willingness to
enter into an arrangement for the extension
and improvement Of their roads" First having
driven the other competitors from the field. and
given Tammany the opportunity officially 10
protest against the scheme. the Metropolitan
now wlthdraws effectuay sandbagglng tho
whole project and leaving the people Of this city
In the same plight as before the Commission
appointed.
SO fraught with significance are the varying
stages Of the rapid transit situation during tho
last month that the opinion openly
pressed yesterday that the whole thing is the
result Of deal between the municipal govern
ment and the companies. People did not dis
guise their feeling that the Metropolitan was
never really sincere in its professed desire TO bid
for the road For sore time il has been well
known that the surface road company has been
anxious to make some advantageous working ar
rangement with the Manhattan people 1t has
been admitted that the only obstacle 10 the COM
pletion Of such an understanding was that the
terms offered by the men in the Gable Building
were not sufficiently tempting 1t is said that
the primary purpose OF opening negotiations
with the Rapid Transit Board was 10 force.
through the fear OF possible competition the
hands Of Messrs. Gould ard Sage. 1t Is thought.
too that while the latter were supposed to be
exceedingly near 10 the hearts OF the Tammany
leaders. the Metropolitan officials had an even
stronger hold upon their affections, and that It
was mainly owing to the gentle promptngs that
came from the building at Houston-st and
broadway that Mayor Van Wyck put the clause
regarding the use Of electricity in his message.
But however that may be. the opinion was
reneral in well-informcd circles that the Metro
polItan Company had forced the Manhattan to
scme kind Of agreement and, having accom-
pl.shed this the necessity for the tunnel bluff"
as Il was called, was at an end In Wall Street
and IN transportation circles II was asserted
Yesterday that the Rapid Transit Commission
ers had been deceived by the double dealing
OF the Metropolitan Company. and that deal
had been made between the two corporations Of
which Tammany aware. Not only Is II
looked upon as certain that such an agree d.
r,ent had been perfected. but It was thought
that this was but the preliminary step to an
ultimate combination. or working alliance OF
all the railroad interests in the city Efforts.