New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-05
EXTENSION WELL RECEIVED
o,.prE COMMENT ON THE MANHAT-
rAS.TH1RD AVENUE AGREEMENT.

.e,- po.ns-A f. ORR REFERS TO W.
W AsroR's REPORTED coNNDcTIoN
WITH, THE METROPOLIS COMPANY.
.-rasn,ent arrived at by the Manhattan
r,,-a Avenue companies for an interchange
.,,ropsfers from one system to the other for an
as,,,onsl three-cent fare seemed 10 be re-
oo~dsd Yesterday generally with favor. New
yorrers after having rapid transit schemes
s..r,aS before them TO end only in procrasti-
,o,,on have come to look upon as boon any
..,,c or any proposal tending TO cheaper and
,ocnitate the travelling conditions in this city
,rAo combination between the two companies is
,ooLad upon favorably for the reason that II at
,oost has the merit Of having accomplished
so-oething and for the assurance II gives the
rubrc Of competition with the Metro
nol,an Street Railway Company. should the
Iot,er acquire the underground franchise Inc
possibility Of the Metropotan's offer TO oulid
The tunnel was undoubtedly the lever which
n,ourht about the consolidation Of interests be-
tween the Third Avenue and the Manhattan
railroads. Russell Sage practically admitted as
,,uch in an interview with a Tribune reporter
-, Monday night The benefits to be derived
,~orn the traffic agreement entered into between
.hA corporations are readily apparent, for the
~eason that passengers will be able TO change
,ron, one system to the other at every point
rrbera connection can be made. for an extra
-ovroent OF three cents The privilege Will AZ
fsct the residents on the upper east side or the
o,,v who will not be reached by the proposed
.unnel They will be able 10 get transfer tickets
a. q reduced rate 70 the Union Railway Com
ro,v's lines. which gridiron the Borough OF the
Bronx.
ONE FARE FOR FIVE CENTS.
Moreover. I, was predicted yesterday that the
,,r,a WAS not far distant when result OF
Tho stimulation 10 traffic which would undouot-
adv follow the reduction the directors OF the
Two companies would agree upon the policy OF
arc fare OF FIVE cents over their routes MT
Could himself IN the statement he has MADE
,uhlic hints that there may be closer con-
solidation between the two systems IN the fu-
+ure The impetus which the Metropolitan
proposition to the Rapid Transit Commission
gave 70 the reaching Of the present tranlc
agreement may similarly effect. 1t is fore
Swallowed a free interchangeable transfer sys-
,sn' on the elevated and Third Avenue lines
should the prospect OF the Meuopolitan's com
retttion. with the aid Of the tunnel service
grow TOO formidable
Another rumor that the ratification OF the
agreement gave rise to yesterday was that an
extension Of the combination may be expected
IN the near future to include the Brooklyn
RAND Transit roads. which were recently con-
soldated through the efforts OF RosweH +.
Flower II was said that Mr.. Flower knew "
the negotiations between the Manhattan and
Third Avenue interests long before the an
nouncement was made on Monday afternoon.
Nh Flower. however. disclaimed ali knowledge
OF the matter yesterday and said that he had
never considered for a moment the Feasibility or
desira bihty Of joining interests with the Man
haitian and the Third Avenue concerns
AT srANDsTILL
Matters concerning the construction Of the
tunnel ar for the moment az stanos'H- Inc
commissioners can do nothing further until the
act is so amended as to allow them to con-
sider proposals for the building Of the under
ground system by private capital There Is
growing feeling. however. that the Board VIII
insist on some modification OF the conditions
laid down by the company. The Commissioners
are known to realize that public opinion Is
AGAINST the granting OF a perpetual franchise
or in fact any franchise whatever 10 the Met
ropolitan company on the totally inadequate
terms Of compensation proposed 10 be paid 10
the city for the enormously valuable privileges
which go with the tunnel
Controller Coler. It g said. Is preparing a
statement Of his views on city ownership OF the
tunnel rapid transit road. II is 70 be presented
- the Rapid Transit c. mmission. and II APP
proved by that body A bill may be prepared and
presented 10 the Legislature which will provide
for the construction Of the underground road by
the civ. The Controllers plan is 10 separate
the existing county debt from the city debt.
The county debt ia about S20cOOOO0 and by
separating It the city would have an Increased
borrowing capacity FOR that TO devote to
the building Of the underground road. Mr..
Coler's plan does not contemplate the bonding
o. the county for any other amount What is
known as the county debt Is the obligation as
sured BY the former CITY Of NewYork OF the
bonded dests Of the towns which were formerly
part Of New-York County and which after
ward became part Of New-York City
Alexander F. Orr president OF the Rapid
Transit Commission. speaking Yesterday upon
the agreement made between the Manhattan
and Third Avenue interests, said he regarded
g. as an excellent thing FOR the city and its
people ANYTHING is excellent" he explained,
which increases the "a 1ius Of transportation
al a reduced cost But let no fall into the
error Of supposng that il in any degree in
grasses the rapid-transit facilities OF the city.
No new facilities are created by this agreement.
All the facilities 70 he employed are there now,
and were hsre before. II Is simply an addition
70 the convenience and the purse OF the people.
Il Will entice people 10 make greater use Of
facilities already existing. the privilege Of en-
jcying which they have had for some time. But
n makes no more room for passengers al rush
hours and IL adds nothing 10 spted. except
when one prefers 10 pay three cents more. and
ride where he now walks. Therein lies the
great difference between the accommodation
proposed by this scheme and that proposed by
the construction Of the tunnel. The latter is an
addition, and the most important addition ever
made % the TRANSPORTATION accommodations Of