New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-27
SAID TO BE AFTER B R. T.
WILLIAM c. WHITNEY DENIES THAT
METROPOLITAN WANTS THE
STOCK AT THIS TINE.

That the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company VIII
soon pass into the control OF the Metropolitan
street Railway Company. the Third Avenue com
pany did II was said yesterday would be a develop
ment Of the future. The price OF the stock Of
Brooklyn Rapid Transit has been going down for
several months until to-day It Is not much higher
than II was when the late Roswell P Flower
started in on the bull campaign which resulted IN
Forcing the price Of the stock UP 10 about 1875 1t is
known that for long time the representatives OF
the Whitney-Widener- Elkius syndicate have had
their eye on this property. but at the same time it
Is said they regarded the price Of the stock pro-
hoitive Since the stock had decreased so substan-
tally IN price, however il is declared that these
interests have once more turned their attention 10
the property, and yesterday IL asserted that
Metropolitan interests had acquired both in the
market and at private sale large blocks Of the
stock. and that control Of the property was pass
ing into their hands
AL efforts 10 get any straight confirmation Of
this report last night without result. The
story net fat denial from the Metropolitan peo-
pie but in this light certain history Is recalled Up
until the hour that the Metropolitan formally an
nounced that il had secured control Of the Third
Avenue its officials denied that they had or we're
acquiring control of the property. After the oeai
was announced they declared that the reason they
had made such denials was that at the time II vas
talked OF the price CT the stock too high, out
that when the stock came down reasonable
price they bought il II Is said that while these
interests some time would not have touched the
stock at the price quoted for the purpose Of get
ting control yet the fall in price had brought the
stock 10 level where they believed 1t reasonable
commercial proposition. and steps were taken %
get control OF ma jorty Of the shares BY private
and public purchase
a certain prominent bear operator IS credited
with being heavily short Of Brooklyn This OF
orator is not regarded kindly by the Metropolitan
interests and IN fact it said at the time OF the
Third Avenue deal, and it was generally believed
that the acquisition OF the Third Avenue vas
brought about as much 10 twist this operator
as TO secure the road as a business proposition
II Is said that the plan 70 acquire the Brooklyp
Rapid Transit contemDIates q repetition Of the
tactics toward this operator L IS known that
certain large stockholders in Brooklyn Rapid Tran
st- have recently sold out, and interests Identified
with those CT the Widener-E Ikins- Whitney synoi-
cate are credited with being the purchasers Other
holders have been approached with a proposition
Tor the purchase OF stock, and these offers are
believed to have come from those acting in har-
rlony with Metropolitan interests
William c. Whitney last night denied absolutely
that any transaction of this kind at pres
ent He was seen at his country seat. at West
bury, Long Island, and asked If the METROPOLITAN
EaS II any way securing control OF Brooklyn
Rapid Transit stock. He said with considered bic
emphasis;
ut IS all nonsense know OF no such move
II Is, OF course. true that Brooklyn Rapid Transit
the Metropolitan obtained control, but does that
The truth is that the Metropolitan has enough
% look out for at present this side Of the East
Is not then. such a control Of BROOKLYN Rapid
Transit contemplated in the near future? was
~ do not want to speak for the future" Mr..
Regarding the report that the widener-Elkins
or controlling interest in the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company. Clinton I. Rossiter president Of
the company, when seen at his home. No. IS Mont
gorery Place last evening by . Tribune reporter,
said he must ask 70 be excused from saying any
thing on the SUBJECT