New-York tribune., 1899-07-15
APPEAL FOR RAPID TRANSIT
COMMISSIONERS WISH THE WAY hEPI
CLEAR FOR TIE TUNNEL
LETTER TO THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE AND
THE ASSEMBLY ASKING THAT OTHER
LARGE DEBTS BE DELAYED
REASONABLE TIME.

Now that the result Of the last assessment has
raised New-York City's debt mourning capacity
, to a point at least s4O.Oo0OO0 above all existing
liability. there seems no good reason left why
the work Of constructing the underground rapid
transit tunnel should not he undertaken. Tam
many however is capable Of any trickery IN
order 10 defeat the scheme and the Rapd
Transit Commissioners seem to fear that IL may
delay this great work until IL has had time 10
increase the cIty's debt once more 10 point
where so great an enterprise could not De De-
gun without waiting for further growth OF the
city. Therefore they sent the following coIh-
munication to the Board Of Estimate ana 10
both houses of the Municipal Assembly yes.ef-
day:
The rolls Of the several borougns& & "a
posing the greater city OF New ork WeIe ond sIed
inst. finally completed and deIxsreu ,n. " 60 ~ The
with the Municipal Assembly The am9unJ, o. ., o ois ~ ~
a. sans 2, S5 ss Tepresentns the total OF the
latest realty assessments heretofore eAlsslHs
result Of IN the gs s9 me ctty Of New-York debt
incurring capacity Of at least Sp"""o oFe' anu
In the M memorial Of the undersigned the RAPID a.,
Transit Board. submitted TO the ia
1899 this Board said: rax corrois-
"On January 9, 1899 however, the az ons Of real
estate for purposes OF taxation during ,ne 40 ~
s These sfs so new new csni of %bch or
resents the amount by which the citys de9l gu IN IN.
curing capacity could be thereby increaseu -,
new Valuations are still subject 10 modihcaoH' nui
it is not unlikely that the aggregate thereU5 ma'
be materially changed before their final coni'Tni1 %
lion which viii occur on the first Monday IN I Ju{
In view of the fact that under the mos ,,can 10
% bonds fo- rapid transit purposes before july
1899. the changed financial conoItpb ba reearded for
new assessments will create may De Drassntv exist
the purposes of the discussion, as prese"'s eN9
ng Ebs former city Of New-YOrk composing tho boz
onghs az Manhattan and The Bronx. IN NovernV1r yh
Iss voted by "a o,s maJ9T 1Ees in % the negative for
ncipa construction OF rapid Son transIS Of rapid
hou.eS Sasroad n we're prescribed by this Board on on
February l. 1897 Thereafter ana ,be ennnicipqi
@ boIIes Sqe and thereafter and b. order eRtereo
on April 6. 1895 they were apPrOETu V%othing then
eIained 10 be done except to prepare ana uu'
advertise contract for NC mid transit con-
,rct was nursuant to law. submitted 70 tne IL ba
ton Counsel for his appToval a. bnt has sent this
RneTd no communication with reterencg ,es - ba.
This deay the Rapid Transit bT"t 90 he Corporatior
G0unseI as 10 the power Of the cily 20 m rapid
debt necessary for the cons ad however been SC
9aLs.' 9 or a. Ieast such the Intention on ~
Board TO meet tht aret p"u 70 incur debt beyond
49, CONSTITUTIONAL power. The Haplq 80 tha, uur
hoped tnat IN Me the Corporation Counsel whau
syer should be his doubt as 10 ~, ~ return th'
oeDt with his approval so that tnSI1 Viii
/ 80 ,bo Least possible delay N "o'eo'e
ra,id transit construction. nc rernove(
! '%,lu hHuever the new assessment nas ~, >,
., Too,,b. and permitted the city 10 ILL., - mi
tlS t,,i oxtant necessary to the p"elIll N,
enr ,r,,ction and the Board assu1n r.f,,vr
/ .olIalI'.&-,ior & Counsel VIII WittoW eelfs. r.t,l
N,otts - cOutract with MS aptI"a..' o,nroV
/ ~ suqpesfed amendments. II ne q" "'' "Ff
nT ~, li Panid Transit Board respecIiu! ! orrSitteC
/ - 'that until the Board shai " -, deb
/ ppt contract the proposed rapiu ,s sac,,r
- ,t,D. cannot technically ne creattu az ton
/ ~ 'i'f ',recedeuce TO which, upon sol-9,i., 4, /
tne ssii. lgood faith as we'll as public Po n
/ o. - and that until such preetu.tI'. -, ar1oun
tHt4-oS ~ creation Of other dents 20 a.aacitv n
] 60 reduce the debt incu,IHs ~ he
/ suI'I,. -. beIoU the amount requieU eesct
/ lurt ~ the rapid transit roau s..vali,, do
1-o,.er+ Us construction anu ,be vot
It u1.' ,be viii Of the city. as represeh'e' -
/ of It's people. ., r,a.-5 respectfully asks you
lht - bo5y therefore. 70 delay tle d. 70 a,
! hoI"i 49, deht on the part OF tLe 30 belov
toh "a .scient 10 reduce the Htt, -, 10 sh
amour. - the rapd transit road uiliI ~ ieffin
tht a rea sonahle opportuni1s ~ loa-.roct wa
hsNe ND transit contract. na' e~e ,sears ago
OF a.sa~aad n bv popular vote neary ~ c-eetion o
sahclv,r ,,,bIc purpose involving lne o,oe ~ tn
No oIt. ,avah HE out Of the current - racessit'
'ty oT has either sanction or sup Tanid transit :
Guy nc hose which commend IaP"
! ,.dt,r honorable body. --, rpA%GTT RAILROAD
! ruE- BOARD or RAflb
| III HEONNTSSION Acting President.
JOHN -. STAfl.>,, - ''''7