New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-01
rur coyTROILER on RAPID TRANSIT.

The authentic announcement made yesteIud!
in q statement given out for publication ny Con
troller Coler that he is an earnest advocate VI
underground rapid transit roads to be pulit WIFI
nuhlic money and owned by the city is exceed
inolv welcome for several reasons In the nISu
Mace il Is accompanied by valuable evidence u
the citv's financial ability 10 begin the execution
or rho work in the near future. The ControHer
10 convinced that So soon ms the separation OF
DIV and county debts has been effected by popu-
lor ratification Of the constitutional amendment
which will he voted on in November the munlcl-
nalitv will be able 10 increase IFS Indebtedness
10 rho amount of SEQ 100000. That sum is about
douhle tho estimated cost Of constructing under
-round roads I'm accordance with the Rapid
Transit Commissions plans. but the Controller
foresees no difficulty In drawing contracts Tor
thoir construction in sections nj an annual cost
mot oxcoodinc S15.OOOOOO The counsel 10 The
Commission are Of the same opinion, and Sec
tion "a of the Rapid Transit act, as amended in
1So4 vonld seem 10 give full legal sanction to
snch an arrangement If the Controller eSu-
n,ato If the citv's prospective borrowing capac-
,tv is reasonably accurate n yearly outlay Of
from 100000 to $150ooOOO for rapid transit
nurposes would not occasion the slightest en-
barrasSmcnt 70 OlheT '"lul''iI""''' P'''
municipal Improvement.
The Controller speaks with special emphasis
of The profit which the city may fairly expect 10
derive from such an investment The pubnc
necessity IS Il sufficient consideration for en-
barking in the enterprise under the prudent con
ditions established by the Rapid Transit act
but the argument for municipal construction
and ownership is greatly strengthened by evil
l. Guild hq pNcopd-
inqIr profitable There is reason to believe that
they would he, even If they comprised no other
source of revenue than the transportation OF
passengers: hut. as many intelligent cHzenS
nointed out nj the time Of tho Metropolitan lTac-
ton Conpany's proposal, and as the Controller
now declares. the conduits for telephone and
telegraph wires. gas mains, electric hght appa
ratus. steam and cold storage pipes etc, when
the tunnels would contain, would unquestlona-
blv Weld an immense return IN rentals 10 'he
city. The Metropolitan managers proposed 10
nav nothing whatsoever for these subsidiary uses
Of the franchise though II is scarcely credible
that men so sagacious and far seeing had not
confidently reckoned on their large earning ca
pacltv. At all events, sensible citizens soon per
ccived how great gift the city was asked to
hestow upon n private corporation, and made up
their minds that It's offer ought TO be rejected
The Controller. for reasons which it is not
easy 70 understand IN view Of his recent course
in municipal affairs seemed to take no interest
in rapid transit plans during his first year IN
office He attended no meetings Of the Com
mission. of which he Is eX-otfico member ana
evlnced no sympathy with his colleagues VINO
were doing their duty. Rather suddenly last
winter he changed his attitude and surprised
the community by favorinG municipal construc-
ton of underground roads and he has now be-
come one OF the most earnest ana perhaps the
most important Of their advocates. His support
from this ZINE forwl I'd Will be especially valua-
BILE because Of the official strength and personal
popularity which he has gained 10y his admra
HE conduct in connection with the Ramapo job
and other interesting issues. He makes par
ticula.iv good point in showing how readily
UNDERGROUND roads on this side Of the East
River nav be made to contribute 10 the welfare
~ BROOKLYN. whore at various times strong OPP
poS'tion has been manifested 10 the investment
Of public money in an enterprise which was rep
resented rs beneficial only TO the boroughs OF
Manhattan and The Bronx.
II is natural to suppose that Tammnny VIII
wish TO continue rs hostility 70 an undertaking
which, thanks 10 an honest Commission Il can
not control But there are many indications that
Tammany's course will be much less smooth
Hereafter than It has been heretofore. and de
mand for rapid transit facilities which even that
obstinate organization will not dare to resist IS
altogether likely to be delivered by the people
ere long The Counsel 10 the Corporation still
holds as he has held for year and a half. the
contract Of which "as to form the law requires
lis approval But even If he were capable Of
resisting the pressure of public opinion ndeh-
ntey, We have no doubt that he could be COM
PEELED by judicial process 70 perform his plain
| ministerial duty. For the moment It cannot be
said that any direct progress is being made in
the rapid transit matter. but we believe that
forces are AZ work hich will result in decisive
| action without much longer delay.
GOVFRNOP AND FARMER