New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-25
NAY EXPLAIN CROKER'S WAR.
NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN HIS COMPANY
AND MANHATTAN.
REPORT THAT HE WANTED TO HANG
COMPREssED-AIR CONDUITs on THE
STRUCTURE. AND THE ELEVATED
COMPANY REFUSED TO AC

STRUCTURE. AND THE ELEVATED
COMPANY REFUSED TO AC-
cEDE TO THE PROPOSAL.
The development of yesterday in the fight
between the Tammany organization as repre-
sented by the city administration. and the Man
haitian Railway Company was a revelation
about certain business negotiations that were
under way at one time between the Manhattan
company and the compressed air company IN
which Richard Croker is a director and leading
spirit. The alleged facts in the case as printed
yesterday are as follows: Mr.. Croker who has
taken an active hand in the promotion Of the
compressed air company with view TO the
economical distribution Of compressed air for
commercial purposes, that Is to say, its employ
ment as power either for machinery or loco
motive uses requested Of the Manhattan tle-
yated Railroad Company the right for one hum
dred years to hang upon It's structures IN the
city streets the pipes or conduits for the con-
vavance Of the compressed air at d pressure Of
two thousand pounds to the square inch For
this privilege be named the price his company
would pay It was $4,000 a year. The Man
haitian company refused to accede to the proposi-
ton. It is said. on the ground that it could not
legally devote its structure to such uses that
ira structure was unsuitable for such pur-
nose that public opinion would condemn IT, ana
that the danger Of air under a pressure or TWO
thousand pounds TO the square inch was not ior
the present at least sufficiently understood
The refusal 10 accede TO this demand II Is al
legged brought on Tammany's holy war
against the Manhattan.
This is the statement as It was made yester-
day. II was further intimated that IN cohheo-
ton with the privilege Of hanging its pipes or
conduits upon the elevated structure MI croker
said that the elevated company would have the
compressed air power right at hand then' anu
could utilize H. and suggested an arrangement
that would do away with the proposed electrical
equipment.
When Mr. Croker was asked about the report
yesterday he seemed much nettled that the
story Of the negotiations had become puO"c
nr,oertv. Fe admitted that such negotiations
had been under way between lawyers represent
ir- the COMPRESSED air company and the law
gers representing the Manhattan company. He
said that these negotiations were broken of
when the report Of the Health Board was made
public.
This matter was In the hands OF the counsel
os the TWO companies" said Mr.. Croker. When
the report OF the Health Board was made public
the Manhattan company broke of negotiations.
ror the details Of the negotiations you will have
70 sec the counsel OF the companies. l knew
nothing about the report Of the Health Board
until it was made public and the Manhattan
company was the party which broke off the ne
gotiatlons" He would say no more.
Julien T. Davies. OF counsel for the elevated
road when seen yesterday declined 10 say any
.hirg about the mater Ex-Jy1se Van Wyck'
counsel l,r the con- presscd air company was
equally retioent.
Mayor Van Wyck yesterday gave cut copy
Of the following letter addressed TO Vice-Presi-
dent skitt OF the Manhattan Railway Company,
I'm answer to a request for hearing the ord-
RANGES which have passed the Municipal AS
sembly. requiring the elevated railroad to put
drp-pans under its structures and to run its
trains on minute headWay:
Dear Sir. am directed by the Mayor to ac-
ouestng hearing or behalf Of the Manhattan
Railway Company with regard 10 the ordinances
passed by the Municipal Assembly. requiring the
rgets srgotgqe and regua3ng h The headway Of trains
l am directed 10 inform you that ne oIdinances
MAJOR. but when received at this office opportu-
nifty win be afforded the Manhattan Railway COM
pA"y 10 DC ''1. ALFRED l. NJ DowNEs, Secretary.
Later in the day the Mayor received the ordi-
nauces from City Clerk Scully He decided TO
hold the hearing on Wednesday March !, at
1890 o'clock and sent Mr.. Skitt another note
advising him OF the fact. Al persons deslrous
of arguing either for or against the signing or
the ordinances will be allowed to present their
views AT this hearing.
President Murphy Of the Board Of Health
vvhan asked Yesterday what further action, IT
anv the Board would take in relation TO the
Manhattan roa4 answered that he had not yet
received the reports from the inspectors ana
did not know what would be done lie ADDED
fhot as soon as he got the reports ne would
make them public. The inspectors are stiIl at
work. .
4 committee from the Knights of Labor COM
nos4d on Mcnael Kelly, Robert Miller Mllam
Martin. Captain c. Wiley and W r. Wright,
called on Mayor Van Nyck yesterday florI'ns i
- aelsd for an opportunity to be heard on
fbe rronoscd Manhattan ordinances. They said
tbev favored them The Mayor said he would
give them notice Of the hearing ana Woulu De
pleased 10 hear them. .,
there was little movement In Manhattan stock
,.oetordav II ranged between 111as and ll3'2:
ana closed at 112s.. not advance FOR the DAY OF
= per cent.