New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-27
EAST RIVER TUNNEL SOON.
CITY ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES EN-
PECTED TO ACT QUICKLY.
LONG ISLAND RAILROAD ENGINEERS PRE-
PARED TO REG1N WORK AS SOON AS
TIE FRANCHISE is GRANTED

PARED TO REGIN WORK AS SOON AS
THE FRANCHISE is GRANTED.
The Atlantic Avenue Commission, backed by
all the influence Of the Long Island Railroad
Company, has. it was learned last night. per-
fected plans which will probably bring about a
meeting Of the joint Committee on Railroads Of
The Board Of Aldermen and the Municipal Coun-
Gil not later than Monday next with a view to
having the resolution passed which will give the
Long Island Railroad the franchise for the
building Of the tunnel under the East River to
the Flatbush ave. station in Brooklyn Presi
dent Baldwin of the Long Island Railroad last
night confirmed the Information gained by the
Tribune reporter. but he declined to discuss the
subject for publication
The officials OF the Long Island Railroad to-
eether with the members Of the Atlantic Avenue
Commission. have been working for months at
trying TO convince the members Of the Commit
tees on Railroads Of the Board Of Aldermen and
Of the Council that they are not carrying out
the wishes OF their constituents by refusing 10
take action on the franchise resolution Yester-
day at President Baldwns Office it was said
that matters were now in such shape that there
was little doubt Of a meeting within the next
week, and that IT would probably be held as
early as tomorrow.
1t was learned further that the engineers Of
the Long Island Railroad have perfected all
their plans, even to the mnutest details for the
beginning Of the work soon as the resolution
IS officially acted on by the Aldermen and Coun-
cilmen. OF the engineering part of the work
one OF the railroad officials said: Things are In
a state OF such preparedness that excavating
would be begun on the Brooklyn end within
week. and a noteworthy feature Of the plans is
that the people would never know it was going
on unless they went to the Brooklyn end OF the
tunnel and saw the earth and rock it was
brought away. There Will be no such thing as
obstructing streets and numbering up thorough
fares with machinery. The present plans
rant the statement that the tunnel will be COM
pleted at the end Of two and half years
Whether the railroad officials will be disap-
pointed I'm the action Of the city fathers remains
TO be seen 1t was learned that If the Council
men and Aldermen continue TO show the same
Indifference to the franchise they have since
the last time it was up for discussion. in June
Of this year. new and effective pressure viii be
brought 20 bear on them that they cannot with
stand The nature or extent Of this pressure Is
not at present disclosed. but IT is rumored that
Richard Croker Johr F. Carroll Mayor Van
Wyck and other well known Democrats have
promised their assistance. and with the Tam
many Aldermen II is said that Tammany viii
apply the pressure by telling the Aldermen that
If they do not pass the resolution they will be
looking around for money to run their district
campaigns with.
President Baldwin has declared over and over
again that the railroad would never pay dolar
directly or indirectly to get the resolution
paesed There was no money used at Albany II
Is asserted in order 10 get the necessary legisa-
rion for the improvement Of Atlentic-ave., and
MI Baldwin's friends say that public sentiment
is So nearly unanimous FOR the pushing ST the
nroiect that the company will rely on public
sentiment alone 10 force the Aldermen and
C0uncilmen 10 take immediate acucn.
II is expected that Mr. Croker Will use the
argument that as the building II the tunnel
,coud bo n great public improvement. i Woui
no oood r,olitics 70 have the organization take
hold Of II I'm an official way. and then point
with nride" 10 the passage Of the resolution as
a niece of Tammany craftsmanship. Whether
he Will take this position or not. the tact re-
mains that the railroad company Is going ahead
with its ulans as If the franchise already had
been obtained. -,
The Council Committee on Railroads IS 'nade
up NJ Messrs Oakley. Hart Hyland. Comfy. Hes
Ter Cassidy and Francisco. The Aldermen
committee consists of Messrs. LedWlth' flech'
smith Kcegan Mccall and Goodman.
All Of these men have been comnunlcated VIVA
IN the last few DAYS and IL is expected that
enouph Of them will be ready on Saturday To r'-
rort favorabv on the franchise resolution the
fassaee 0f which means the immediate Desh-
ming ~ the tunnel 10y the railroad