New-York tribune., 1898-01-13
PRICE THREE CENTS.
METROPOLITAN BACKS OUT
ITS DECISION THE DEATH-BLOW TO
RAPID TRANSIT.
IT WILL NOT BID on THE TUNNEL CONTRACT
TALK or \ DEAL BETWEEN THE MANHAT-
TAN. THE METROPOLITAN AND
TAMMANY

TAN. THE METROPOLITAN AND
TAMMANY.
Herbert H. vreeand, president Of the Ietro-
potan Street Railway Company. made public
last night the following letter which was for
warded yesterday the Board OF Rapid Transit
Commissioners:
New-York. January H. 1898
To the Rapid Transit Commissioners.
Gentlemen: The directors OF the Metropolitan
street Railway Company yesterday took up OFF,
cially for the frs, time the subject of entering
INTO contract for the construction ana opera
ton OF the proposed underground Rapid Transit
Railroad. which. as you are aware. has been for
some time under consideration by individual
members OF the Board and under examination
by our engineers and counsel. We entered upon
the consideration OF the subject with the belief
that the necessity for improved communication
between the upper and lower parts OF the city
was so great that relief must certainly be af-
iorded ana We were sangeine In the expecta-
tion that an examination II the subject would
show that the Metropolitan Street Railway Com
Iany would render this public service. and at
the same time in connection with its surface
roads could render greater facility 10 the public
and secure greater profits for itself than any one
else possibly could do.
soon after the public announcement was made
of our intention. the elevated railroad companies
appear to have expressed their willingness TO
enter into an arrangement for the extension and
Improvement Of their roads. which the previous
city administration endeavOred. without success,
to obtain from them in preference 10 the con-
ment on the part Of the elevated railroads has
been received with approval by the present local
authorities: We have no disposition TO do any
thing TO obstruct nor u dscredit the sincerity
and the success Of this undertaking. and we
therefore do not feel that. long the alter
native method Of securing the desired result
appears about to be undertaken. We would be
justified in asking our stockholders 10 engage
In the construction of an underground road.
Yours truly. H. II. VREELAND.
President.
THINK 1T HOPELESS FOR YEARS.
This decision on the part Of the Metropolitan
people is 10 all practical ntents. a death blow
to the rapd-trans plans. which were evolved
by the Commissioners after a long period OF ear
nest and deep consideration and Investigation.
The Commissioners themselves admit the pros
pect of an underground railway is hopeless. for
some years, at least although they predict that
eventually the needs OF the city will demand
such facility.
For weeks the Commissioners have delayed
progress in the development Of the plans, in
order that the Metropolitan company might
have a thorough opportunity TO investigate the
feasibility of the project, and to determine
through it's engineers whether the system could
be built FOR the sum estimated by the Boards
engineer William Barclay Parsons. Anxously
the Commissioners have awaited the reply OK
the company as to its intentions 10 bid or not for
the contract Their anxiety was born Of the
knowledge that If the company refused 10 un-
dertake the work no other syndicate would face
the task and that moreover. the companys re-
fusal would mean the continuance Of deter
mined opposition by the Tammany administra-
tion.
How thoroughly the Commissioners under
stood the contingency is shown In the statement
OF one of the Board to Tribune reporter in the
early part of last week. He said: 1T is certain
and speak with positive knCwedge-that the
hope OF "a speedy beginning Of the underground
1cad lies in the decision Of the Metropolitan
Street Railway Company. This company has
the necessary capital foNthe construction OF the
work at it's command, and has behind it men OF
sufficient influence to obtain the consent OF the
municipal authorities If they decide TO UNDER
take the contract 1t is certain that while the
present administration persists in disfavoring
the project no other body Of capitalists or con-
tractors will bid for the work. II is recognized
by capitalists and by the Commissioners that IT
would be useless to enter upon the work unles
they were in accord with the administration.
The obstacles that could be placed in their way
by the city authorities would be practically in
surmOuntable.
IN a sentence, the Metropolitan Street Rail-
way Company holds the immediate future Of
rapid transit in the hollow Of its hand as 1t
were Let that company resolve that 1t would
be to its advantage to build the tunnel and
Tammany will raise no opposition"
VOICED THEIR FEELING.
These words voiced the feeling OF all the
Commissioners Consequently. rapid transit
being dead for the time being. at any rate, the
causes or combination Of circumstancesthat have
led 10 this unfortunate ending were discussed
with considerable animation last night by
those interested in the scheme. The opin-
ion was buntly and openly asserted
that the Metropolitan company had
backed out of the project not because OF
any fear that It was impossible, or that it was
work beyond its resources, but because an un-
derstanding had been arrived at between the
Metropolitan and Manhattan companies and
the Tammany administration The significance
was remarked upon with unusual stress that
the Metropolitan peoples decision should have
been coincident with the reported signing Of
contract by the elevated road officials for the in
stallation of electricity as the motive power
upon their system. The belief was expressed in
many quarters that the street railroad authori-
ties have never been really sincere in their pro-
posal to build the tunnel.
RUMORs OF DEAL.
For some time rumors have arisen with sig
nificant frequency or zeal between the Man.
haitian and the Metropolitan companies. Russell
Sage, in fact. In an interview printed In The
Tribune some days ago. admitted that Mr..
vreeland and his colleagues had negotiated for
the control of the elevated poads. but that the
terms offered were not satisfactory and
therefore came to nothing. Moreover. It has
more than once been rumored that in ostensIbly
taking up the underground scheme the Met
-opolitan people had no other purpose In view
han. 70 use a popular phrase. to bluff"
George J. Gould and Russell Sage into some
leal
People were talking Of these things last night.
They pointed to the belief that the Manhattan
feared the competition OF the tunnel
railroad that the Metropolitan company was
anxious 10 obtain an interest In the elevated
roads and that the Tammany leaders wanted
10 oust the Commissioners for the purpose OF