New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-21
COLER SAYS IT'S POSSIBLE.
THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THE
TUNNEL.
CONTROLLER DECLARES HIS STATEMENT
WILL SHOW THIs-THE MANHAT-
TAN-THTRD-AvE TRANSFER
ARRANGEMENT

ARRANGEMENT
The Rapid Transit Commissioners met yester.
day afternoon. but. beyond receiving a verbal
report from the three members OF the Board.
Alexander f.. Orr. George l.. Rives and Charles
Stewart Smith. who went to Albany on Tuesday
to confer with Governor Roosevelt upon the
pending bill amending the Rapid Transit meas
ure. no business of' any kind was transacted.
None Of the Commissioners as they left the
meeting. would comment upon the existing sit
uaton or the outlook for the tunnel. Controller
Coler, who was expected 10 be present at the
meeting with the statement which he has COM
piled Of the financial condition of the city. did
not attend. When seen subsequently. however,
he intimated that his statement would show
that within a reasonably short time the city
would be able to undertake the construction
OF the tunnel. There IL no use" he said. ''in
presenting my statement until the Commission
Is ready to act. which 1t will not be until Il
gets It's bill passed The constitutional amend
ment relieving the city of the Indebtedness Of
the counties has now been so far advanced that
vote on 1t may certainly be expected at this
session of the Legislature. so that Il can 60
70 the people this fall. It's adoption will enable
the city to build the tunnel"
100000 YEAR
Were the Constitution So amended. Controller
Coler asserts that the city could easily devote
SlOWooO0 year for the tunnel without in any
way interfering with the municipal improve
ments already contemplated. Public opinion is
confessedly In favor OF delaying the beginning
or the tunnel for few months rather than ac-
cepting such exacting demands as were made by
the metropolitan company. II was this knowl-
edge which led Mr. Whitney and his associates
to withdraw their offer. But despite the ag-
grieved attitude which they take. IT is generally
believed that when the time comes for the city
TO invite bids for the contract one OF the COM
petitors will be a syndicate OF NetropoIitsn
Railway capitalists.
Richard Croker was asked yesterday when hs
thought the city would be in a financial position
To undertake the construction Of it's own gas
plant and the underground road which he has
expressed himself as favorng The gas plant"
he said. Il think should be started pretty soon.
but as to the time for starting work on the un-
derground road 7 have not yet been able to
form an opinion. All can say is that 1 think
that the city just as soon as it can see its way
clear to do so. should undertake the work.
Whether the city ought to build the railroad on
a cash basis with the money from taxation each
year. or Issue bonds to be sold TO the people so
that the road would eventually pay for itself,
am not able 10 say. Tf the city could build the
road in sections upon cash basis from direct
taxation I would prefer to the work done
that way am told by the Finance Department
that much be done in that direction now
that formerly considered impossible on
count Of the debt limit"
Little or no doubt prevails that the Municipal
Street Railway Company. which has been incor-
porated for the purpose Of building lines north OF
One hundred and -slxteenth-st. on Eighth-ave.
and the Kingsbridge Road as far north as Two
hundred and thirtieth-st. and Riverside ave-.
has been formed in the interest Of the Metropoli-
tan company Since the fight for the Kings
bridge Road franchise ended. two years ago,
without benefit to either the Metropolitan or
Third Avenue companies, the last-named COM
pany has entered into an arrangement with the
Manhattan Railroad to take transfer passen-
gers at connecting points for extra three
cent fare. This arrangement which will go into
force in the early part OF next month VIII oper-
ate at points where the Third Avenue company's
surface lines intersect the Manhattan. and will
provide a continuous service for residents In the
northern parts Of the city. BY controlling the
new corporation the Metropolitan company
seeks to acquire the advantages Of the Kings
bridge franchise and to counteract the arrange
ment made by the Manhattan and Third Avenue
lines by insttuting a similar three-cent transfer
system. The separate corporation also provides
against the contingency Of a legislative enact
ment insisting upon the charge Of only one fare
by any street railroad, and thus cutting of the
extra three-cent revenue as would be the case
II the Metropolitan company built and operated
the proposed addition under its own name.
RECENTLY WITH MR.. ROOT
A. C. Hume is named as the principal stock
holder In the incorporation papers Of the new
company. Mr.. Hume is young lawyer, who
until recently was in the Office Of Elihu Roots
firm Mr. Root is personal counsel to William G.
Whitney and general counsel TO the Metropol-
itan company This is Of the inferences
which IN the opinion Of many point to the gen.
orally accepted fact that the Metropolitan com"
peny is the parent Of the new Municipal COM
pany.
The preparations for giving effect to the ar
rangement made between the Third Avenue ana
Manhattan companies are practically completed
Alfred Skitt, vice-presdent ana genersl MAJ
ger OF the Manhattan road. said yesterday thas
the millions Of fare coupons and transfer tick
cts necessary for the interchange OF passengers
would be ready by the end OF the month. IN
addition TO this work" Mr.. Skitt said. we nave
had prepared a large map showing the entire
systems OF the two companies ana the ponts
where transfers will be made. These In litno-
graph. will be posted conspicuously IN every sta-
tion OF the Manhattan company, so that pas
sengers will be able TO see at glance just whers
they can go for eight cents and precisely where
they transfer.
1--WE are advancing the change OF motive
mower RAPIDLY and to u.s. most gratifyingly.
We have solved certain problems with readi.
ness and perfection not before achieved. but' OF
course we have had the beneht or much expert
ence Into the details OF the great progress we
have made we do not care to go just now but In
eighteen months at longest we shall nave COM
pletely effected the change and on secuon
pr The railway much sooner i don't care TO say
lust what portion Of the system that Will be-
because 10 do so would be going into detaiis.
We shall accomplish this early partial suosutu-
,ion through the use partly Of electricity rom
our own plants and partly, perhaps. OF thas
The Committee OF Fifty appointed oy tne
social Reform Club to agitate against the ahena-
., -, ,he new underground railroad franchise
70 a private corporation has met ana or
90 r,zed with j. X. Paulding. the pres-
-~.,h chairman. and julius