New-York tribune., 1898-01-29
MANHATTAN AND ALTRCISH.
Mr. GOULD COMMENTS ON PRESIDENT ORR's
CONSTRUCTION OF HIS LETTER.

CONSTRUCTION OF HIS LETTER.
meet,np WAS held Yesterday OF the special COM
ni;tee of the Board OF Directors OF the Manhattan
Railway Company which was appointed to consider
plans for the extension and Improvement OF thf
elevated railways. There were present the iu''
committee ms follows: George J. Gould. president or
the Manhattan company Robert NJ. Gallaway, NOM
inally chairman OF the committed: Russell sage
and Narcellus Hartley The meeting was called 10
consider the letter to Mr. Gould from Alexander h.
Orr president OF the Rapid Transit Commission
which was written on Wednesday. After the read
ing OF Mr. Orr's letter Mr. Gould submitted draft
Of the additional franchises and facilities which the
Manhattan company desires. together with the
form OF structure to he erected. the extra tracks TO
no lod upon existing structures and an estimate as
to the time in which It would he possible for the
COMPANY TO finish the work. All this Information
was ordered to he printed and transmitted 10 MT
Orr on Monday for presentation to the Rapid Tran
sit Commission.
Mr.. Could made the Following statement h' "o
close Of the meeting: -
"As for Mr. Orr's regarding my letter OF the 10th
inst as being merely tentative ana designed 10
elicit some expression on the part or the boaIu
OF It's general views. l would say In answer
that II is substantially correct enough interPre
tation Of my letter. It's purpose. IN the painest
words in which | can express It, was to indicate
briefly and generally to the Commission what the
company prepared 10 do II II shoun receive
the approval and assistance OF the Commission
THE first OF the propositions which submitted 10
the Commission. namely. an extension along west
st. which the Commission has correctly interpreted
me as meaning by westerly side OF the city west
ST. from Battery Place to Gansevoort or horauo-
ST. has from the point OF view OF the revenue OF
tho company exceedingly small utility. paraiei-
ing as that extension would. both our Ninth-ave
and our Sixth-ave. lines and so nearly, at that'
But from the point Of view Of the public and es-
pecjallv that portion Of il which lives in New
Jersey trafics between that State and this city
the extension would he OF the greatest benefit.
As soon as there should he an elevated structure
through West-st., along the water front. where
the most important ferries are. II would result In
direct connections between the ferry-houses ana
the railway which would then take the passen-
gers directly either to the Sxthave or the Nlnth-
ave lne and TO any part Of the West Side OF the
city and also TO any part of the East Side should
an extension connecting the two sides be per-
mtted us. This West-st. extension Will. therefore.
undoubtedly be very welcome TO the public. saw
ing. 1t would. the trouble. not TO say the oah-
ger of crossing Wes-st. with It's increasing rafflc.
and the walk to the Ninth or Sixth-ave. line In
bad weather this would be especially appreciated
by ladies' while the saving OF time would be very
acceptable TO nll classes Of passengers. AS say.
however II would probably add little TO the reve-
OF the company. and would be. may say.
undertaken from nearly atruistic motives as
could we'll be expected from men engaged In busi-
ness.
80 far my proposition to connect our West
Side lines with City Hall terminal through
Canal Centre Reade or Duane SITS. concerning
which Mr. Orr says that the Board thinks 1t Is Tor
bidden by the statute under which the Commission
is constituted, and therefore is not TO be pronaDly
consider ed It's merits would merely say that
before making that proposition | consulted the
best counsel | could find. and was advised that IN
their opinion the crossing OF Broadway was not
only not forbidden by the statute but was actuaHy
contemplated. All that was forbidden, accorulhg
TO my legal advisers. was a structure III ana
parallel with Broadway The proposition was GER
tany made in good faith. with full reliance upon
the soundness of the opinions submitted TO me
a substantial structure extending the West Sice
lines of the company northward would say that
the company certainly would not contemplate q
structure Of paper. or one in any way nimsy' III
the reference was to q structure heavier than any
we have built thus far, and carrying four tracks,
We can deal with that later on.
''My proposition TO carry the extension only SO
far as Fort George based on the Idea that
at the present time that would answer, al re-
auirements. Ii distinctly in my nina that II
the extension to Fort George were authorized II
should ultimately be carried to Kingsbridge and
that In the near future. 80 - It, ..
My communication to MI orr VIII remove
anv Of the indefiniteness which he may have found
in my proposition TO construct additional tracks
and facilities to increase the ability OF the COM
many 10 accommodate the travelling puDllc
II do not attach any Importance TO the fact mat
Mr. Orr expressly says that his letter Is unoilciaI
and tentative. We are not going to split hairs or
dficultles.'