New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-14

lines would be built Jointly, and that the cars
would be operated In common over the same set
Of tracks. supposing that the Manhattan peo-
pie are earnest in their desire TO equip their
lines with electricity. and with the Metropoli-
tan similarly equipplng It's roads. 1t Is easy 10
zee how beneficial In the matter of saving oper-
ating expenses a deal between the two compa-
MES would be.
The RAPID Transit Commissioners were reti-
cent yesterday in commenting upon the action
Of the Metropolitan Company. What little thcy
would say In reply to inquiries as to the enect
upon the underground plans was that wrong
Interpretation had been put upon the rerusai OF
the company to bid at present. They pointed
out that the prospects FOR rapid transit were
never brighter and that the surface road mad
merely withdrawn for the moment In order 10
chow the insincerity Of the stated intentions OF
the elevated road directors to improve their sys-
tenn. The Metropolitan Company. In fact' IL
was stated, had merely entered upon game OF
strategy and had entered into no deal or any
kind, and was in reality anxious 10 puiid the
tunnel The Metropolitan Company the Com
in!ssioners said yesterday. did not believe that
the Gould company would incur the enormous
expense which would be necessary TO afford
20 wait a little while before undertaking the
work. because public opinion when the fact De-
came plain that no bettcrment Of the elevated
lines was ever contemplated. would become so
strong as TO compel the administration to sane
ton the tunnel The point Is also alluded to
that Tammany has it in its power TO retard the
work seriously, even II 1t were begun. by refus-
ing permits TO open streets and applying TOT
tp@n or another.
The step taken by the Metropolitan COM
pany" said one OF the Commissioners to Trfo-
une reporter yesterday afternoon. lis simply 70
reveal the pretensions Of the Manhattan COM
pany Mr. Gould made a big bluff and MT
Wh,tIey and those associated with him called
the bluff Rapid transit is not killed by any
means. II you will read Mr.. Vreelands letter
carefully you will notice that nothing Is SAID
about the company Withdrawing from the
scheme but 1t is simply designed to force the
hand Of the Manhattan company. 1t Is believed
that ultimately. upon some pretext or other. as
experience has shown in the past, the elevated
road people will back out OF their promises. and
when they DO so the truth will be impressed
upon every body that the only solution OF the
rapid transit problem IS the tunnel You may
believe when say that within the next two
years the underground road will be begun. and
the contractors will be the Metropolitan COM
pany."
II was anticipated that a meeting Of the Com
missioners would be held yesterday to consider
the situation, but the Board will not meet until
Tomorrow or Monday. This will be the first
meeting that has been held since the present
administration came into power.
With the exception of L. L. Delafleld who re-
marked. Il have only to say that consider the
letter a clever and diplomatic one" none of the
Commissioners would talk for publication.
THE MANHATTAN'S PLANS.
Russell Sage said Plans and estimates for
the equipment of the elevated roads with cleo
tricity will be considered at meeting OF the
Executive Committee Of the Board of Directors
Of the Manhattan Railway Company on Tuesday
next. The matter has been In the hands of the
president and the engineers of the company.
The company has prepared Its own specihca>
tions. ard the electrical equipment companies
will submit bids under these. The work will, Of
course. so 10 the lowest responsible bidders. 1t
Is quito probable that II will be divided among
several companies. A third rail will be used to
carry the current, and 1t is proposed to have
Q motor on each car. so that the cars may be
run separately. or in trains. as desired.
1T Is the Intention to apply electricity on
one line first. either the Second-ave line or the
Ninth ave. line. am In favor OF applying 1t at
the outset on the Ninth-ave. line. so that there
may be a demonstration OF the effectiveness Of
the use Of electricity the entire distance from the
Battery to Harlem. Not so much time year
will be required The equipment of the lines with
electricity is TO be followed by extensions Of the
lines themselves. 1t is intended 10 place ele-
vators at all the stations, and, in brief, TO make
the elevated lines a perfect system in all re-
spects The directors of the Manhattan com
pany a unit on this subject.
THE cost Of the change from steam to cleo
tricity on the elevated roads Will be large. but
once Il is made there will be an important saw
carry seven hundred thousand passengers day
without injury TO a single person. Ore reason
why electricity has not been adopted before was
the determination that in any change in motive
power the element OF safety should be main
tanned. 1t Is not true that the Manhattan
company Is to join with surface railroad COM
Ianies in establishing power plants IT Will
have It's own independent plant from beginning
10 end and its roads will be operated. as in the
past, independently OF other roads. The ee
waited roads constitute the ideal transportation
system for New-York. The people have not
wanted an underground system. and 1t Is fortu-
nate for them that they are not 10 be saddled
with the expense of it,"
Dealings yesterday on the New-YorS Stock
Exchange in the stock OF the Manhattan Rail-
way were as for several days. on large scale
II was considered that the underground scheme
had been killed. and Manhattan stock was as a
consequence in demand. The stock touched
ll9&. and closed at 1884, or IN above the clos
ing price on Wednesday.
pJ-\fORS OF CO\SOI IDATIO\