New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-04

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT FASTENED pY
METRoPoLITAN's BID FOR THE TUNNEL.
A COMPETITOR FOR THE coNsTRrc.
TIoN OF THE RAPID TRANSIT ROAD.
Tho rapid-transit situation was marked hv
important de-, elopments yesterday Stirred nv
the prospect of 'he Metropolitan Street Railway
Company securing n practical monopoly of IN.
travelling facilities of the city through tho aif
of the proposed underground railroad system,
the Manhattan Elc 'ated and 'he Third Avenue
Railroad companies entered 'nto ocmprehen-
sive traffic agreement arranging for m inter.
change of transfers. The arrangement provided.
for the transference Of passengers for an ai-
ditonal fare ~ three cents 10 the lines con-
trolled by the Third Avenue. coniorIsirg tho
Dry Dock East Broadway and Battery the
Forty-second Street MannattanvIle and AZ,
Nicholas Avenue and the Union p, stems These
lines VIII furnish crosstown trarsf,rs from the
elevated railroads AZ Canal-st Grand-st,
Forty second ct. One-hundred- and tenth st.
one e-hundred-anG-twenty- One hundred
Snd thirty hfth-st. and 10 the territory north
of the Harlem served hy the Union Railway.
The motive for this consolidation OF interests
Russell Sage frankly admitted last night vas
10 counteract the advantages which the Metro-
potan company would derive from the under
ground road presumlng that n will obtain the
franchise
Economy was also an inducomcnf especially
90 far as the Manhattan company was con-
cerned. as Mr. Sage said his company would
have no rced 10 expend money In extending
its elevated lines or TO build connecting spurs
across town Moreover ne both companies pro-
pose 70 use electric motor power the employ
rlent ~ i0int power-h puses as one ~ the con-
sideratons that led 10 the agreement Ths
officials Of tho two corporations are actively at
work on tho "details. and n f. proposed - nut
the plar into practical operation within period
~ ten days
The scheme is admittedly one for Tho mutual
advantage Of tho two companies. Anything
that may tend 10 improve ihe travelling con-
veniences of the city Is regarded hy the public
with favor. but people We're saving last night
that both the Manhattan and the Third Avenus
companies could have conferred a greater heneAt
upon the community than two-cent reduction
on double fare. II they had agreed 20 end
some Of the dscomfort- and cvasperaiing con-
ditions that are imposed upon their patrons
In the matter of the construction ~ the RAPID
Transit tunnel. the Metropolitan company has a
competitor IN the field The Metropolis CON-
mitted an offer 10 the Rapid Transit Commis-
sion yesterday 10 build the underground road
Oh terms more favorable to tho city than those
~ Mr.. Whitney and his associates Frederic r.
Eser who is the president ~ the Metropolis
Contract Company. offers 20 construct the tun-
mel for the sum ~ S33Woooo. and will agree 70
pay 10 the city the interest on the bonds issued
by the city for construction. and also create
sinking fund with which 20 pay m ihe interest
~ all the bonds before their maturity. 80 that
the road and tunnel viii become the property
Of the city az the end ~ the period prescribed hy
tho act without 'he expenditure n any money
" uhatever and Absolutely clear ~ encumorance.
When Alexander T.. orr, president ~ ihe
Rapid Transit Commission. was seen NJ no
home in Remsen-st. Brooklyn. last night he
vas about 10 leave the house. bat paused long
enough 70 say. ~ this new traffic arrangement
goes into effect. as reported ~ VIII faNoraDy
affect the plans of the Rapid Transit 'ommis-