New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-29
METROPOLIS CONTRACT COMPANY.
SOME INTERESTING IMPORTATION ABOUT
ITS PRESIDENT. FREDERIC b. EsLER.

SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION ABOUT
ITS PRESIDENT FREDERIC u. EsLER.
The passage OF the Ford amendments to the
Rapid Transit act. and the resulting obligation on
the RAPID Transit Commission to endeayor to have
the road constructed by the municipality and under
It's ownership removes. for the present. at least,
all known bidders other than the Metropolis Con-
tract Company. There little known by the pub
lie OF this company except that II Is made up OF
practical contractors. under the supervision OF
Charles sooysmith one OF the best-known engineers
In New-York The company has appeared In the
public press only over the name OF its president
Frederic b. Esler II becomes n matter OF interest.
then to ask who and what Mr.. Esler IL. and what
In the past would warrant undertaking OF such
ma gnitude by him.
Mr.. Eser is a Phl.adelphan by birth. and by
profession lawyer He was admitted 20 the Phila-
dephla bar under the preccptorshp OF the Hon.
George w. Fiddle. then. and for many years after,
the leader of the Pennsylvania bar. Almost I'M
mediately after his admission Mr.. Eser sent
to South America as counsel for the railroad con-
tractors who were then constructing railroad at
the headwaters Of the Amazon River. Upon his re-
turn TO this country from Brazil he was sent by q
syndicate TO Caracas TO negotiate for the
ton Of the first railroad then to be built In that
country The railroad from Caracas to La Gusyra
was built on the concession negotiated by Mr.. Es-
Ter. These two years Of practical railroad building
and negotiations naturally determined the line OF
practice TO he followed the future and az this
time. 1879, rapid transit the prominent issue in
both New-York and In Philadelphia. The New
York elevated railroads were under construction.
and AT the suggestion Of some prominent Phila-
delphans Mr.. Esler organized an elevated railroad
project In Philadelphia. This WAS the beginning Of
one of the most bitter and long -drawn-out contests
for municipal franchise in this country II
equailed in length only by that to obtain the Broad
way surface franchise.
rst NJ off del
elevated railroad project consisted OF representa-
tive OF the Pennsylvania road and Of the Reading
Railroad-the two rival trunk lines In Philadelphia
the most prominent political authority in the city.
and representative Of the purely financial people.
John J. Cisco. OF New-Y York, and the late WILL
lam l.. Scott. OF Pennsylvania. The rivalry be-
tween the two trunk line corporations caused a re-
alignment and when the application was first made
to the local municipal authorities for right 70
build the railroads mad given place TO the purely
commercial local Philadelphia interests. For
thirteen years the contest was fought II involved
not only defeat OF the intrenched streetcaf ana
leading railroads In the Municipal Council, but also
In the LegisatIre OF the STATE Inc fsn, was
Mr.. Eser who had been In charge OF the matter
from the hrst was the presiden. OF the company on
favor Of practical operating railroad man pur,
every stage Mr. Esler had the support as directors
OF such men in Philadelphia as George H. Boxer.
Of the International Navigation Company; Charles
B. Wright. president Of the Northern Pacific Rail-
Thomas S Harrison, r Morris Pratt. president Of
the Reform Committee of one Hundred. and Amos
r. Little. The syndicate for the construction OF
the railroad headed in this city by August
Belmont Co. Vermilyee Co. and Edward Sweet
& Co. In subsequent litigation. however, though
carried on by such prominent counsel in New-York
as james c. Carter. Strong & Cadwalader and
Court Of the state held that although the Lesis-
lature had undoubtedly given the right 10 build the
road such was not It's intention. The power was
Withdrawn.
At the same time while this matter was pending
Mr.. Eser organized two electric light corporations
I'm Philadelphia for the purpose Of competing with
the Electrical Trust for the municipal and private
Southern. has now increased its capital from $780,
90 TO 81 100000 and the stock r. selling at about 200
per cent even with that increase Tine other COM
pany was not so successful. II had passed an ordi-
put its wires under ground but II was vetoed by
the Mayor. and when IL had secured the contract
from the city for lighting. and carried 1t on for
this contract the letting awarded
to the Electrical Trust although IT'S bid was higher
than that of the Illuminating company
This was the last piece OF work Mr. Esler did In
philadelphia, and his residence has been In New
York since In 1896 he had passed a resolution
through the Board of Aldermen granting 10 the
New-York and Brooklyn Railroad Company the
right 10 construct tunnel from Park Row and
owing to the passage OF this resolution that the
late Mr.. Steinway NJ the Rapid Transit Commits
sion. asked Mr.. Esler to organize syndicate, the
outcome of which is the Metropolis Contract Com
the contract for the rapid-trarst road n will also
continue its work under the East River 10 Brooklyn
under private franchise Mr. Esler Is the vice.
president Of the Union Surety and Guaranty Com
pany, Of which ex-State Controller James A. Rob-
erts is the president. and the offices Of which
in the Dun Building. No. 2sO Broadway. and No.
LES Chestnut-st, PhlladeIphia MT Ester In social
life is a member Of the Metropolitan Club and the
Players.