New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-26
rN1ON THE FINAL OBJECT.
o,cx,r,cANr ACTS OF THE MANHATTAN
AND SURFACE ROADS.


AND SURFACE ROADS.
.crrSEnAL BELIEF THAT CONSOLIDATION Is Nor
FAR OFFEND OF THE FIGHT BETWEEN
THE METROPOLITAN AND THIRD
AVENUE COMPANIES
While there is little more actual OASIS LOT the
renort that the railroad companies OF inns CITY
are about 10 consolidate than there was 'nree
,ronths ago. when the amalgamation was talked
O. as having been practically de'eri'neu "poi''
Il IS tacitly understood that the application 10
the Railroad Commissioners OF the state u! 'he
N..ropol,tan and Third Avenue companies to
change their motive power on all their "hes 10
electricity IS another step in the progress to-
-, -, o,,o,,uo1 consolidation. Developments
rro,o t,us IN time have pointed Enthusiastically
~ ,u,ure combination. not only OF all the rail-
,,,o,.s ,r ,h,s CITY but OF a harmonious working
orr.rgeren, with the Brooklyn companies. How
nsrfec, is the understanding between the New
VII oorrnanies the trend OF recent occur
rences has shown.
1-,,u the beginning Of the present year the
,,otronol,tsn and Third Avenue corporations
,re,a hitter competitors. and every advantage
~ extension sought by one was invariably op-
rosed ny the other. These conditions existed In
I,D,,a,v last when the Third Avenue refused to
GLOW the Metropolitan to cross its tracks In
~, Rowery and elsewhere with the new under
ground trolley system which was then being
laid down The Metropolitan. on It's part. at the
same moment was fighting the Third Avenue
tooth and nail for the Washington Heights fran
chses
THAT JOINT CIRCULAR
Consequently It was a surprise. TO express It
tOiD
circular was issued by the two companies an
nouncing that they had harmonized their con-
hicting interests The Metropolitan company
urged the property-owners OF the Washington
Heights district to give their approval of the
proposed extension Of the Third Avenue rail-
way. Nor was there any longer any opposition
by the latter company to the Metropolitan cross
ing its tracks The installation Of electricity on
some OF the Metropolitan lines is being followed
by the Third Avenue in the Forty -second-st
and Boulevard route: and finally both roaos
are now making joint application to equip
their entire systems with the underground
trolley.
Moreover It !s certain that working ar
rangement between the Manhattan company
and the surface roads is a possibility. An
attempt was made some months ago by the
Metropolitan capitalists TO make a deal whereby
an exchange OF stock or some sort or merger
would enable the two roads TO be operated
Jointly with material saving TO both mat
deal fell through because neither MI Gould nor
Mr. Sage would listen TO anything but cash
transaction. But that an understanding was
subsequently arrived at Is generally beIeNeu.
AS A BIDDER FOR THE UNDERGROUND
ROAD.
What the Metropolitan people failed to obtain
by persuasion they got by force, or rather
N
the inter working plan. which was said 10 have
been proposed by William c. Whitney. the
Metropolitan company appeared as bidder
for the construction and operation Of the rapid
transit underground railroad. Engineers were
set TO work examining the tunnel plans and speci-
fcations, and computing the cost OF the work
The Metropolitan officials in fact thoroughly
convinced the Rapid Transit Commissioners
that they were in earnest, and day after DAY
they talked loudly OF their intention 10 provide
New-York with real rapid transit They con-
WINGED everybody that they were sincere. What
was more 10 their liking. they convinced Messrs
Gould and Sage also. Then significantly
enough just as the Metropolitan syndicate had
completed its arrangements and was about TO
make its bid for the tunnel. the Manhattan
directors suddenly renewed their application for
franchises TO extend their elevated lines. Stimuli
taneously. almost. the Metropolitan withdrew
I'VE have disposition to do anything TO OBJ
struct nor TO discredit the sincerity and the
success Of this (the Manhattan undertaking.
The Metropolitan company had left the RAPID
Transit Commissioners in the lurch. but had
gained its point with Messrs. Gould and Sage.
When seen by newspaper reporters the officials
Of the different companies continue 70 pooh
pooh any suggestion of consolidation, but the
business and financial men of this city openly
assert that the fusion is but matter Of a com
paratively short time. The economical consid-
eratons behind such an alliance enormous
With the different systems operated by cleo
tricity power could be obtained from common
" ~ fhara
would be a material saving OF running expenses.