New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-07
THIRD AVENUE AND THE TUNNEL
NO PROPOSITION YET MADE TO THE RAPID
TRANSIT BOARD

The Board OF Rapid Transit Commissioners held
their usual weekly meeting yesterday afternoon
but matters OF new public interest concerning
the underground railroad came up for consideration.
The proposition which received In the early
part OF the week from the Metropolis Contract Com
pany. the details Of which have been fully reported
IN these columns. presented TO the meetihs'
but as the Commission IL not yet In a position 10
consider such offer action OF any kind was taken
regarding Il.
The letter Of Stuyyesant Fish, president OF the
Illinois Central Railroad. making various sugges-
lions TO the Board for the provision OF adequate
speed and accommodation on the projected rail-
road was read The contents OF Mr.. Fishs COM
munication made public In last sunday
Tribune The Board. in the transaction Of routine
business. ordered that a requisiton should be made
upon the city for appropriation Of soelo for the
payment of six months current expenses Ten
thousand dollars Of this amount was for counsei
fees and $500 for the messengers salary.
The report that the Third Avenue company might
make n bid for the underground tunnel was not full
filed The Board neither received proposition
from this company nor an application from the
Manhattan company for permission to make certain
additions to it's elevated structures. AS The Trib-
une pointed out yesterday, people competent TO
form opinion place little credence in the rumor
that the Third Avenue people seriously contem-
plate making an effort to secure the tunnel ran
chise Edward Lauterbach inscrutable yes
terday as on the day before when approached on
the subject I'VE are now considering the mat
tor" he said but have not reached conclusion
Whether will make al offer may depend upon
what is done in Albany. You see. the underground
road If II is built will parallel our surface lines
on the boulevard and to some extent our lines on
the East side Under these circumstances we are.
Of course Interested in the project and we are con-
STEERING the ACCESSIBILITY OF making an offer for the
! tunnel
Mr. Lauterbach specific, however, in con-
frming the report that the Union Railway COM
pany which is allied to the Third Avenue road
negotiating for the purchase OF the Tarrytown'
White Plains and Mamaroneck road. The trans
action Is not completed" he said. but It will go
through"
George j. Could when yesterday. parried
all inquiries as TO whether his company INTENDED
TO Join the Third Avenue company. should IT decide
10 open negotia tions for the construction or the
tunnel and also to whether the Manhattan com
pany proposed making application for additional
franchises looking to the erection OF more elevated
structures.
The assertion that the Deutsche Bank OF Berlin
will to a large extent financially support the Ne
tropolis Contract Company should It's terms for the
building Of the tunnel he accepted was revived yes.
a wear Frederic g. Esler. president OF the Metrop-
oils company. who consistently refuses 10 max
public the names OF those who are associated win
him in the syndicate. was no more communicative
yesterday regarding the reported interest which the
Deutsche Bank has in the company than ne was p
YEAR ago. Edward D. Adams. the agent of the bank
in this country. also refused to discuss the malter
J John Sa hne Smith. a member OF the supreme
Court Commission which decided aflrmatiVely on
the present tunnel route. in commenting Yesterday
upon the METROPOLITAN companys proposition said
IL was fraught with danger to the city. .
THAT company's offer. he said rs framed OF, 10 %
as little return may be to the city. . All that II
contemplates without condition Is n me up me
West Sid stopping ut hundred fourth st.
our Commissions became acquainted in its sttings
with the growing and paramount needs or Inc
bronx district There the population Is increasing
and mus, Increase most rapidly. and there tne De-
mand for nuick transit Is most urgent. Inc metro,
nolitan does not propose touch that district until
AFTER II has per CEN return assured on lis III,
yestment Such a return may be simply matter
Of bookkeeping and II might come about that t0r
whole decades the Metropolitan would operate only
in tho districts promising immediate revenue ana
leave The Bronx shift for itself. And AZ present
n has little To do on the surface In that district.