New-York tribune., 1899-12-23
COLER APPEALS TO ORR.
WOULD EXTEND THE RAPID TRANSIT
SYSTEM TO BROOKLYN.

r,,ro1.r c,oIer forwarded a letter yesterday 70
..,.xsnder E orr president OF the RAPID AiNS' '
Commission asking him 10 caII speo'a'
q. IN. Commission 10 consider the oueeNo"
tendins the rapid transit system TO the poi @
poot,v,- This action on the part OF MI C0ie.
- ,s.os hv the publication OF the views OF
S-o-,e : Flves and W Barclay Parsons. tha' sue"
, scheme was perfectly feasible under tne p,.n
NJ the Rapid Transit act and direcuy IA my =.
,ne future plans OF the Board. Mt Co'ers IeVe' "
ths Commission is a development OF t"o 90 ~ ..
h,-b has arisen between him and the Mayor uP0i
" aaxtsahui,y and practcablity Of building tun-
-. ,,,der the East River as opposed 10 the con-
s,ruction OF costly bridges
Although he received a setback al tho "a"u -
the city Council when that body decideo 10 au'N'
t,o an anprooriation OF 100000 for the SINKING y,
,ba Foundation of a bridge to connect Long lsldie
-. - xew.York Mr. Coler has not abandoned
h,a aeb, for the tunnels. He has turned 10 'he
Rand Transit Commission FOR AID, ana II 'he po"e
Of the Board are as comprehensive as MessTS li'e'
and Parsons assert them TO be- Nj Coler may SUI
ceed In removing the whole matter OF lh'erOoIVue"
transit from the control OF the administration 10
,no are q, the Rapid Transit Commission such
81 ,-ansrerence OF power would mean an enectua'
block TO the Tammany schemes which are s'a'eu ~
be the motive Of the Mayors enthusiastic oruBe
IDEAS The Controller has already interviewed GOV
trnor Roosevelt upon the subjeoi, ana IL Is unuei
.tood that even n the present act does not permit
as 10 authorize the Commission 10 take under us
control the whole transit situation on both sides OF
the river.
Speaking Of this possibility yesterday Mr. Coier
said.
regard this as the only practicable solution OF
wsys thought that the Rapid Transit Commission
should comprehend BROOKLYN and the ouLylns
boroGghs ia It's plans. but have not Deen certain
that under the present statute IL has been en-
powered 10 do so. / have read Mr. kiVess olli99I! non
fuFnv
settling the question. II gratihes me gIeatys 700, 700,
learn that nothing stands IN the W way ot e,rIc rc
the tunnel from South Ferry to BrooNlyn. IL sim sim
pllees the present situation and offers deSlrabIe
solution Of the problem with which the city is now
oTn nos,f,ye that the city will have tunnels and
not b-idees. and am also confident that these will
bs built by the Rapid Transit Commission II me
60, tons ave bound to ensue because Of the
existence of several other tunnel fIanchlses 81, ~
Commission. however. It would be easy TO overcome
such contingencies.
Corporation Counsel Whalen when he was asked
10 commont upon Mr.. Coler's latest move. pro-
fessed to regard It as Of no consequence. and re-
marked that the powers Of the Rapid Transit
Commission could not be extended to Brooklyn
without special legislative action. because the act
confined the authority Of the Board 10 the limits
Of the rd city % New-York
Mr whalen added later:
In order that the proposed tunnel may be Of use
derFround roud from the City Hall 10 the Battery
o. Bowling Green. To consider such thing would
practically be 70 throw the whole rapid transit
question right open again just when we have
reached point where the work Of construction is
about 10 begin
The people have made up their minds that they
must have rapid transit az once and any man or
official who seeks 10 interfere will find that SUCH
interference viii not be tolerated IL IS most unwse
at this time 10 compcate the present rapd transit
project by loading II down with schemes or plans
assured That the Comnlssioners viii not do any
thing that will set back on the eve OF the ac-
compshment Of what the people have needed for
years.
After the completion OF the great underground
system I Will favor any form OF rapid transit that
will convenience the people living in remote parts
of the greater city. transit facilities that VIII
enable them go 10 and from :Eeir homes at
moderate cost but now l most strongly protest
against anything that might spoil the present
prospect.