New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-06

tho county debt IL lifted from the ctys liabilities
tho municipality can build the tunnel Mr. Coler
In any is opposed to private construction ana
particularly to the Mctropotan's terms. Il am
opposed" he repeated yesterday. ITO the construc-
ton OF the tunnel by private corporation no mat
ter how enticng tho percentage OF profits ohered 10
the city may be. II Albany so acts upon the pend
Ing constitutional amendment that the $OoU""
OF county debt Is lifted from the city's liabilities
the city will then be in position successfully TO
undertake the work OF constructing an underground
tunnel without soliciting the financial aid Of private
corporations The advantages TO private cor
poration syndicate IN the ownership or tunhei
in this city are so many and so great at present
and In prospect that by that arrangement the cor
poration syndicate would. by right OF IFS I'M
limited time franchise. he Weather and more
powerful than the municipality. The privileges IN
tho subways for which rentals could be charged
nro many to-day. and with the great strides III 'ho
field Of invention now being made would become
almost innumerable These moneys should go to
the city. and If the city is permitted TO construct
the subways they alone will in fifty years wipe out
the entire city debt. | don't claim that the city
could expend in a lump amount close upon
s35.O0O00O but by building the tunnel in sections
and with the relief which no afforded by favor
able action upon the constitutional amendment
which would place the municipality in position to
borrow large sums. and with the aid OF contribu-
lions from the sinking fund. It could be successfully
and proftably built"
THE CONTROLLER NOT ALONE.
Mr. Coer is not alone among the members OF the
Board In his opposition TO the Metropolitans con-
ditions One member who in his condemnation Of
the offer has asked that his name shall he with
held for the present. it is known. viii never sane
ton the acceptance Of the proposition Again.
Charles Stewart Smith while DESTROYS Of immediate
construction. does not like the suggestion of per
petual franchise. 1--WE have waited long enough
for the rspjd-transit tunnel he said yesterday. at
is imperativey needed once. ! believe In build
ing ii with the citv's money II VIC cam II we can't
believe in building II with private capital But |
believe also that no private capitalists should he
permitted to have the tunnel in perpetuy, or be
allowed TO have II at all without paying to the city
a proper and reasonable remuneration for such an
enormously valuable franchise. ] believe. at the
time. in being liberal with private capitalists.
Let them have long lease OF the tunnel and Jet
there be q stipulation for its renewal but at some
time IN the future the tunnel should revert to the
city as it's absolute property. 1t seems TO me that
the city ought TO he able to build tho railway
1t a matter Of frequent comment yesterday
that tho growing public opposition which IS being
exhibited against practically giving away for an
indefinite period to the Metropolitan Railroad the
enormously valuab bic underground franchise. with
It's still more valuable privileges of renting the
subway for the carrying Of light. heat and power
tubes wires ana pipes has been strikingly OK
emplihed in the Mayoralty elections Of Chicago and
Toledo Carter II. Harrison elected mainly
on his record in the fight against the granting OF
hfty-year franchises TO tho street railroads. while
Mayor Jones of Toledo. after being turned down
| by the Republican municipal convention. in which
| street railroad interests were paramount. re-
| elected by Il great majority. And it is undoubcd.
| in the opinion Of well-known citizens. that any
| step toward increasing the monopoes OF the street
railroad corporations in this city Will receive SINH
| lar public denuncaton.
PROSPECTS OF OPPOSITION.
| On every hand it is perceptibe that tho public
mind. which has hitherto been somewhat lethargic
in the matter Of the rapid transit scheme, Is awak-
| ening 10 the exigencies of the situation In any
case there is TO believe that the Metropoli-
tan company will not be able to drive through to
six Of the Commissoners to grant franchise; but
Wh dsSpproval Of besowing any franchise in
! perpctuity there is little likelihood OF the Met
ropolitan's proposition being accepted unless some
very liberal notifications are made People are
! contending that as the proposal of the Metropolis
city than the conditions exacted by the Metropol.
! tan company. the Board should not commit Itself
county from the city. debt-that the offer Of the
Metropolis Contract COMPANY could be taken ad
arc ready, Immediately 10 comply with all the bond
a aeTe. q OF the qconstrucoE bonds to create sink
/ inc fund pay them off at maturity. mus COST
rosd the sa fla spse tn ne ey 1 end
rental to the city
w
| Since the rumor gained currency two days ago
| TINT William Waldorf Aston member of the
| Metropolis syndicate some curiosity has been felt
| as 70 Just what interest. # any he holds In the
| company Frederic b. Eser the president OF the
concern was In Philadelphia yesterday. but from
an authoritative source it was learned that MI
Astor is concerned to a considerable financial eX-
tent in the company. Apart from the prohts WhiGG1
| he would derive If the Metropolis company shOud
| obtain the contract, il was pointed out mat ne
would gain IN other directions by me % T -,
Of the transit facilities the northern part OF mo
| CITY In the vicinity of Central Bridge ana Morris
Park. and in other places above me lIdriem. w
! be enhanced in value by the underground railroad.
| II was reported yesterday that the Manhattan
and Third-ave. roads INTENDED biddHS Tor me con
! etrucion of the tunnel Edward Lauterbach re-
fused 70 reply one way or the other 10 inquiries
| bearing upon the possibility of such a bid being
| Alexander r. Orr said Yesterday that the Man
| haitian company had yet made no application
for any extension of the elevated system az the
/ meeting of the Thirteenth Street Church on Tues
day night One of the principal arguments used
| in favor of the proposed anna lgdinatlOh WIN me
| Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church was that the
Manhattan Company intended 20 carry an elevated
! sDur through Thrteenth-st. This was one OF the
routes embodied I'm the scheme OF extension as
clssed last summer. but 1t is thought impronaple
that the Commissioners would grant the applca-
tion for additional franchises. supposing the Man
| haitian company should revive the plans contem-
| plated year ago.
a mass-meeting under the auspices Of the Peo-
! ple's Institute Is TO be held in Cooper Union on
Tuesday night 10 protest against the granting
OF a perpetual franchise TO the Metropohtan Irac-
! zion Company or any other company, for the pur-
| pose OF constructing and operating the proposed
! underground railway. The meeting viii be presided
| Of the Peoples Institute A committee OF twenty
Eve will be appointed TO cooperate with all LABOR
! end other organizations in opposing any granting
of free nchises. franchises In perpetuity. TO
any corDoratiOn without the consent of the voters.