New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-07
THE TUNNEL CONFERENCE.
WHALEN'S NOTIFICATIONS LIKELY TO
BE ADOPTED.
Mr. RTvEs. FOR THE RAPID TRANSIT
BOARD. SAYS THE SUGGESTIONS ARE
BLE-METROPOIITAN AND
THIRD AVENUE LIKELY TO BID.

BOARD. SAYS THE SUGGESTIONS ARE
BLE-METROPOLITAN AND
THIRD AVENUE LIKELY TO BID.
The notifications suggested by Corporation
Counsel Whalen in the contract for the construc-
tiOn Of the underground railroad were discussed
Yesterday at a conference which the city's law
officer held with George l.. Rives. member or
| the Rapid Transit Board and Edward NJ Shep-
| ard, Of counsel to the Commission. The meet
ing lasted nearly two hours and was held be-
| hind closed doors. At its close the waiting
newspaper men were called into the Corporation
| Counsers office and were Informed by Mr. klVes
that the proposals Of Mr.. Whalen-flrst that
the contract should be so amended as to comply
with the labor laws passed at the last session or
the Legislature and. second, that the institu-
! ton of any condemnation proceedings which
/ may be necessary to the building OF the ROAD
shall he conducted by the Corporation Counsel
and not by the Commissions counsel as the
contract now stipulates-seemed reasonable and
intimated that they would be accepted by the
Board He pointed out that the contract was
| drawn before the labor laws were adopted but
that now it would be altered to meet the re-
ouirements Of the law. which provides that Ia
borers shall receive 50 for a day Of eight hours
The greater part Of the conference was de-
voted to the discussion OF Mr.. Whalen's recent
suggestions. That his proposition 10 give All
condemnation proceedings into the care OF the
CORPORATION Counsel will be acceded to was
manifest from a remark made by Mr. hNeS'
that we think the Corporation Counseis 6 views
are reasonable and there will be no dif1culty
in complying with his suggestions
In the next two or three days Mr.. Whalen
will formally present those suggestions to the
Board and a meeting will be called to take ac-
titn upon them.
ORR AND JESUP EXPECTED SOON.
Both Alexander f. Orr and Morris K. Jesup.
VINO have been spending the summer abroad
| VIII be home early next week. and meeting
Of the Commission will be held as speedily as
possible.
Controller Coler was not invited to the con-
ference. but in a communication addressed to
IN. Corporation Counsel he urged that adequate
! provision should be made in the contract tor
| tn. construction OF eubWays in the tunnel from
/ IN. operation OF which in the carrying OF pipes
AMI wires the city might secure an immense
revenue. Mr. Coler wrote
Understand that YOU are about to communicate
to the Rapid Transit Railroad Commission certain
notifications Of the contract heretofore suOmllted
to Tou for your approval as to form, when modl-
fcaOns you deem necessary TO be made before you
a fiI your signature thereto.
po1amt feature ' as to which believe the contract
in question is silent. l refer to the making Of Of
subways in connection with the railroad tunnel
from the operation Of which the city might secure secure
derooped Of electricity for heat. light power
h may be that under existing legislation the
Rapid Transit Commission would not have me
power to contract for the building OF such SUB
ways: but there is reason why the contract
should provide option in favor or the cry IN
case fe.sifaH faeessiSn n n IN tie legislature
COLER'S LETTER NOT DISCUSSED.
This letter. Mr. Rives said. not discussed
except in a general way, and he added that the
section relating to the subways would have to
be redrawn. The existing form Of the contract
does not provide for the use of the tunnel for
other than railroad purposes, except that GER
tain rights are reserved for the city. In explain
ing that this section would have to be re-
drawn Mr.. Rives said that the deriving Of reve-
nue. by the city for subway and conduit privi-
leges was a matter that merited the greatest
consideration.
Would the reservation Of these privileges by
the city interfere with the letting Of the contract
to build and operate the road?" Mr.. Rives
asked.
Il do not think So" he replied 1T depends
upon the form the contract will take. That is a
matter which must be carefully considered and
ion just now 1t is a large and complicated ques-
ton and will have to be deeply studied out"
Mr. Rives was proceeding to answer other in
| ouires put to him when the Corporation Coun-
sci Interrupted with the remark: The main
thing is 10 obtain rapid transit and We are going
| to get it, think can agree upon all these
| details The administration is committed 70
building this tunnel. and is going to do it,
That is the main thing" Mr.. Rives acqui-
esced. we shall have rapid transit at last |
helieve"
The opinion generally prevails that when the
time comes for letting the contract, the success
fu bidder will be found to be either the Metro
politan or the Third Avenue company. 1t Is be-
lieyed. despite the statement made by Pres
ldent II. II. Nreeland last spring. that since MS
| company could not obtain a franchise in per
| petuity. II had washed its hands Of the whole
thing the Metropolitan will ul,S1ately bid FOR
the tunnel on the terms set out IN the contract
When Mr.. Nreeland as yesterday II
there was any probability Of the company com
petlng for the underground road ne said that
so far as he knew the matter had not been con-
| sldered by the Metropolitan directors since last
| spring
MIR. WHITNEY'S PLANS.
ut has been reported that william {. Whit
ney's recent trip to England for the pur-
pose Of arranging for the necessary capital to
build the tunnel" was suggested to Mr.. Vree-
| land
| II Mr. Whitney wishes to take the contract
! u would not he necessary for him 10 go To Lon
uoh Tor the capital" Mr. Nreeland replied.
An officer of the Third-ave. road, i'm an inter-
we" Yesterday. asserted that the road would
| ,,trtalnly he built either by his company or the
metropolitan company. Neither of the cor
| porduons. he said. can afford 10 let Tam
nldny or any political machine get control OF the
| .aPld transit system. The political power ana
Wv patronage the system would give would De
~ great that Tammany Hall or any other polit-
| .SI organization would get the fever Of owning
! lnt rcSt Of the slrnnt rallrnads Non who get