New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-13

NO DEFINITE ANSWER FROM MR.. GOULD
TO MR.. ORRS LETTER.
THE FORMER SAYS HE MUST AWAIT THE MEET
ING OF THE EXTENSION COMMITTEE BEfoNH
REPLYING AS TO TIE ELEVATED Rail-
WAY FRANCHISES Mr. CoI.ER AT
YESTERDAY.
THE NETTING YESTERDAY.

WAY FRANCHISES COI.ER AT
THE NETTING YESTERDAY.
The Board o, Rapid Trensi, Commissioners met
Yesterday Afternoon but 10 action was taken upon
tho letter written by George j. Gould on Nay o. ~
Was announced In yesterdays TRIBUNE MI O'
acting for his colleagues replied 10 that co''"",'
cation last Tuesday. begging Mr. Gould 10 make
his nronos,ls clearer upon certain points. and 10
submit dcanii" propo s,iions 10 the Board MT OFT
! has apparently construed Mr. Goulds letter 10
mean that unless the elevated railroad company
can have the Boulevard franchise II VIII 'aNe
none Many other people have taken the Same
view but in order that there should lie no niisuh-
dcr,,andIng as 20 the attitude OF the Manhattan
Railway Company the Commissioners sought to OBJ
tain categorical answers to specific questions bear
Ing upon this matter. Mr. orr wrote as follows:
May TO- 1895
George J. iould. esq. President Manhattan Rail-
way Company. ,...
Dear SIR On April II addressed to yotH y, Letter ,sS
which tho Rapid Transit Board had concluded to
in out hat Of these franchses the iirst six mum
hrred from 10 {. !nclusvel conformed suostan q,
TALLY to six Of the routes and extensions Tor whch
| application had been made by your company, ana
that tho seventh numbered >. which granted tne
suggested by tho Board as substitute fq Ro, the
| ward which had been requested by you m
also stated that II your company was unwilling
sired that one or more OF them should be granted.
tho Board would willingly consider me matter upon
Of the several franc hises were desired by your COM
pany. e.. ,,
in which you inform the Rapid Transit Board that
your company Will not under any circumstances
| accept the seventh tor Amsterdam-aye) franchise
above referred to. and In which, II understant
your meaning YOU express willinEness 10 accept
The franchises with certain 'modtnCa-
tions'-tho nature OF which is specihedf this
| Koard viii greatly reduce tho compensation 10 DO
made to the city. ard provided this Board will
grant to your company the right 10 construct an
| Underground railroad beneath the Boulevard.
The inference which drew from your letter IS
that your company VIII not accept any one or more
OF the first six franchises even upon reduced
| basis Of compensation. unless the Boulevard fran
chisc above referred to. he also granted But as
your letter is by no means clear upon this point.
and as Il IL important that there should be- mis-
h us r FpGs so Of Ss
you will send me categorical answers. In writing. TO
Frst-If the compensation to be paid therefor to
the city he satisfactorily arranged between will
! franchises without the grant OF the franchise TO
construct n railroad under the boulevard, and. II
Sccond-If you express a willingness to accept
one more OF the first SIX franchises. what are the
| notifications the terms of such franchises
which. "a you state In your letter. you deem TO DO
| am. sir, yours very respectfully.
A. T.. ORR. President
Just prior % the meeting yesterday Mr.. Gould
forwarded an answer to this communication. say
ing:
desire to acknowledge receipt OF your letter OF
May 10. ana to suggest that the inquiries you now
make are practically answered In my letter OF May
g. Ii win however give me pleasure 10 transmit
to you, az you request. before your regular meet
Ing on Thursday next an answer In writing to the
| questions You have now submitted Our Extension
| Committee cannot be convened and tho requisi 9
| action taken in time for your meeting to-day
As result OF Mr.. Goulds announcement the
| Board WAS Obliged delay progress for another
week But. as was said by one OF tho Commits.
sloners after the meeting inasmuch as practically
! all the Board asked Mr.. Gould was for an inter-
probation OF OF the sentences or his own let
tar the necessity OF calling a meeting OF the Ex-
| tension Committee before replying WAS somewhat
| incomprehensble II would seem that II the Man.
haitian company will build one or more or the ex-
tensions the Commission Will be inclined to agree
| to some compromise In the matter or the amount
| OF the remuneration TO be paid to the city. Mr..
| orr virtually says as much in his letter. Moreover
| special efforts were made TO persuade the Mayor
| and the Controller to attend yesterdays meeting
| Tho reason why their presence was desired was
| that some expression might be elected from the
| civic authorities to the reasonableness OF the
| terms fixed by the Commission The members OF
the Board are anxious that the company shall have
| no we-grounded or even plausible reason for re-
fsing the franchises. and II In the opinion OF the
| Mayor or Controller the city would have suncien!
| remuneration by a lesser percentage. the Board
| would undoubtedly reduce the terms originally de-
| cided upon The Mayor did not attend the meeting.
but Controller Coler was present Whether the