New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-02
p1ANS FOR RAPID TRANSIT.
-n.o ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BY
THE COMMISSIONERS.
o,,RrIIrY THAT AN ATTEMPT WILL BID MADE
FAVE THE LAW AMENDED so THAT PR


v,rE CAPITAL MAY DE INTERESTED.
che first time since the negotiations with the
Sss,,an Railroad Company for the extension
"u. elevated system fell through. last July the
o. l" ~ Rapid Transit Commissioners met yes
Boo afternoon at its offices. No. 256 broadway.
ts-a. .rhers gathered for the purpose OF discuss
inc -. situation which confronts them regarding
' ,resent status and future possibilities or the
Wv ,, .ransi; problem. The members have relin-
'f,sa all hope OF ever obtaining the cooperation
e., Tamrany municipal administration in build
'" -. underground railroad out Of the city's pub
!hs s,,ds and as consequence they instructed
~ counsel Edward VI. Shepard and Albert b.
.,,sn several weeks ago TO draw up legal
S,r,ons upon alternative schemes. which We're In
s,roIl; discussed at the time. whereby the powers
~ ~ hoard might be enlarged and relief OBJ
- Nv special legislation from the impotency
~ che Seht-lirit question has brought about.
q, Yesterdays meeting two alternatives were
,se-ei " means OF which the Rapid Transit
~, -,,rht be so altered as TO enable the Commls-
-, % secure the construction Of the tunnel Just
=, these two alternatives are the commission
,,s.S % make known yesterday after Its meet
~. 7, was said however that Alexander r. Orr.
-. ,-ssa,ent Of the Board will tomorrow issue
.s,,e,, outlining the necessity Of securing 1ur-
go. legislation and giving the opinion of the Com
..,ssor and is counsel as to which OF the TWO
",.:o,lvss Is the moro feasible and more con-
drcjye 10 speedy practical results
THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT.
-. following is the official statement which
,.v.s l.. DeiaheM gave olt yesterday afternoon
after the meeting
-. r,.-5 ,ro. - consider what alternatives were
e,,eh 70 sbt limit Of the Greater New-York makes
imi9''i' ~ 80 nresert statute After a long
H 'Ss ana mon considering the opinions or
Tsssrs shepari and Boariman upon certain ques,
-f
poa-a concluded that two alternatives were open
70 IL, bu, d.d not commit i'Se' % e''"e''
While MI De,afc,d would not consent to give any
.,l,r as TO the nature Of these alternatives 1t Is
,,9,,o, that ,he frs. is to secure special legis-
- ernnoNer,rg the Commission 10 seek the ala
=, nrtva,e capital IN carrying out It's project; ana
,ha ssco,s 20 devise some plan TO have the cost
Of the new railroad borne by al the counties OF
the enlarged city instead OF by the Boroughs OF
Manhattan and The Bronx alone. So far as the
Commission is concerned, the idea OF excavatng
TIE tunnel at the expense Of the old city has been
,ota ly abandoned. Even should the assessed value
o. Manhattan be increased 10 the anticipated cN-
tent o: c0r0Co0, the amount derivabie from the
larger borrowing powers would not suffice, 1t Is
said 10 pay OF the existing Indebtedness in excess
OF the limit. and 10 provide for the cost OF the
additional East River bridges which Mayor Van
}uipOse II is asserted in many quarters Of block,
ms any possible progress OF ne f@pic TRANSIT .i
project. Therefore the members o. the Commission
have reached the conclusion that Il the pans they
have iabored 50 lons to perfect are to he carried
away with the restrictions OF the Law creating the
Board. which tie them down 20 one source OF capi-
Valuation.
THE ONE LIKELY TO BE FOLLOWED.
AS The Tribune pointed out on Tuesday 1t Is
virtually certain that the Commissioners will finally
decide % have the act amended as to allow them
tle discretion Of employing private capital TO COM
pete the underground enterprise 1t was learned
yesterday that for some time the Commissioners
have been engaged in ascertaining the strength Of
The possibilities OF constructing the tunnel system
with private or syndicated capital, and that their
inquiries have satisfied them that the only requisite
TO obtain from the Legislature the necessary per
mission TO award the contract 10 include private or
bidders.
TheSeport revived Yesterday that II the Com
mission succeeded in having passed an amendment
OF this character. the Metropolitan Street Railway
Company would come forward Immediately With
proposal 10 lay out the underground road. In
January last The Tribune exclusively stated that
the Metropolitan company. after its engineers had
thoroughly examined the plans and after elaborate
details Il the estimated cost of the road had been
ola w up had practically determined to make bid
for the work but had Withdrawn from the scheme
almost az the moment OF filing an application for
Considerations which generally thought to
have been the outcome Of a conference with the
Manhattan company and with the leaders OF the
city government 1t is now understood however,
that such legislative changes in the Rapid Transit
act can be secured to allow OF the underground
road being built and worked without municipal
control the Metropolitan company Will come for
ward Immediately with an offer to carry out the
plans OF the Commission
Prior 20 yesterdays meeting Lewis L. Delaied
gave out a statement. in the course Of which he
said:
Individual members Of the Board have come 70
the conclusion that in the city's present financial
condition. growing OFT of the Constitutional Nni-
talon upon its dcbt-ircurrng capacity. II Is In
possible for the Commission 20 accomplish any
taln- for rapid transit under the law creating
The Board and defining is miss ions and powers. Inc
law requires that the railway designed by the
Commission shall be- constructed with the ctE's
money. and allows discretion TO the Commission
T. employ private capital. But rs matters stand
some amendment Cf the law permitting INC Work
q BE done otherwise than with tho funCS 81 the
Greater New-YoTk is necessary II the work Is To
proceed. IL has perhaps. been supposed by many
cry would expand the margin OF the city possible
Indebtedness TO such extent as 20 make munich
D. construction Of tho underground railway en-
ti;ely feasible Such, however, l. - now DeAeVSd
vii not be tho case. The assessed N1Iue % INC
city will probably be raised sufficiently 10 wipe
ogt the existing indebtedness in excess or the Con-
sttutional limit, aud 20 PROVIDE Tor the pnDIc oO-
iects which ne present municipal administration
has particularly heart. but not enoush 10 pro-
lie IN addition for great an undertaking as the
underground railway. As IL IS. II Il clear that the
Increase must be something enormous. and thai 1t
must fall upon the county Of New-York.