New-York tribune., 1899-11-12
TALK ABOUT BIDDERS.
CONTRACTORS WHO MAY UNDERTAKE
TO BUILD THE TUNNEL.
NOT CERTAIN AS YET WHO WILL HAVE
THE RAPID TRANSIT WORK-To BE-
GIN WITH THE FIRST SECTION.

GIN WITH THE FIRST SECTION.
Interest in the rapid transit project now CEN
tres around the question Of what contractor Will
undertake the work OF construction. Rumor men,
tions several possible bidders for the JOB. among
them the Metropolitan Street Railway Company,
the Third Avenue Railway Company. the Manhat-
tan Railway Company the New-York Central ana
several special syndicates to be formed for that
special purpose But there is almost no connrma-
tion OF any Of these rumors to be had. Inc oest
founded of them all to be that concerning the
Third Avenue company. and that rests on the
somewhat ambiguous words Of Edward Lauterbacn,
who is reported to have said: THE Third Avenue
Railroad Company will be interested when bids are
asked for So will a great many other persons
be Interested"
Not much confirmation as that could be
procured yesterday at the offices of the Metro
politan Street Railway Company. but the fact that
this company offered to bid former OCCASION
though upon different terms is held to justify the
expectation that 1t will do so again. The rumors
to the intentions of the Manhattan and the New
York Central thought to have little or no
foundation
The formation OF special syndcates for the ex-
purpose of undertaking this great enterprise
is no idea, and is well within the limits OF
probability. In addition these there are, OF
course. several large individual contracting firms
In this and nearby cities, such the Messrs Grim
Minis, and even Naughton & Co. might take II, II
they get through the Boulevard job before next
election.
II all these sources fail. for any Unforeseen rea-
son. to produce acceptable contractor. 1t has
been suggested. the city might itself construct the
road by days work Controller CoIer proposed
this yesterday. and It is reported that Croker
smacks his lips every time he thinks OF this pos
sibility. What a horde Of stanch Tammany voters
he would provide with jobs, II the city could only
get the building Of that road! The anti-Tammany
labor vote weak enough showing at the re-
cent election but Mr.. Croker thinks it could be
entirely dsregarded If he had the direction of the
tunnel contract. 1t is sincerely hoped. however by
the members of the Rapid Transit Board that this
will not be the fate Of the project. which has sur
mounted so many difficulties and at last seems in
a fair way OF reasonably speedy realization.
Alexander f. orr, president OF the Board. when
asked yesterday what he thought of Mr. Colers s
suggestion. said THAT suggestion Is not new IL
was made by the Governor himself when the Com
missloners went to Albany. The Governor said
that rapid transit must be assured and that IL
there was no other way the Commissioners had
better apply for the power necessary to have the
work done by the city, l hope We shall not come
to that however There have been many people
examining our plans, but l do not know their
names"
Corporation Counsel Whaen spent considerable
part Of yesterday congratuating himself upon and
telling his friends about the assistance he had
given to the entire rapid transit project lie said
that several capitalists had called to see him about
bidding for the contract Why they should see
him instead OF the Board he did not explain lie
did explain at considerable length. however, that
the prevailing high rates for money would prevent
the upper section OF the road being built before
the middle section. This his own original and
brilliant idea. Now he says he has abandoned IL
because OF dear money. The truth Is that the
Board Gatly refused TO adopt the scheme. and will
build the downtown section first the middle section
second and the uptown section last.