New-York tribune., 1900-04-01
MIR. NICOLL DENIES REPORT.
CHARACTERIZES PUBLISHED INTER
VIEW ABOUT MANHATTAN-TAMMA
DEAL" AS OUTRAGEOUS"

Based upon remark purported to have been
MADE by De Lancy Nicoll. report gained currency
yesterday. conveying the Inference that the Man
haitian Railway Company had made deal with
1hfnmany whereby peace had been restored be-
tween the Goulds and the Organiza tion." and that
the movement to oust the company from Battery
Park would die natural death. It was intimated
shat Mr.. Nicoll acted as the go-between to bring
abost this pacific state OF affairs. and by way OF
supporting this suggestion. he quoted IN the
report referred 10 stating. I'VE not worry
ing any more about the elevated structure in Bat
terry Park" When Mr. Nicon yesterday
afternoon by Tribune reporter. he expressed the
greatest indignation st having been subjected to
wilful perversion of the conversation which
CURED between himself and the reporter
1T Is outrageous he said that words should
have been put into my mouth which I never
tered. DO you think / am such fool to talk
about things OF which 1 have knowledge? am
not connected officially with the Manhattan COM
pany in any way. Julien T. Davies. the counsel
for the company has called me into consutation
with him upon various matters, and that Is the
extent OF my relations with the company II any
agreement has been made which Will obviate the
necessity Of the removal OF the elevated structures
from Battery Park am In total ignorance Of 1t.
Il know nothing about the reported probability
of Naughton & Co. getting the contract to build
the suburban extensions of the elevated road;
do not know when the contracts are to be let; In
fact, know absolutely nothing about the road X
cept with regard 10 matters l. which have acted
with Mr.. Davies in advisory capacity. 1
annoyed that should have been misrepresented
as was this morning. When the reporter Of the
paper which so m.srepresented called upon me
yesterday 1 told him exactly what I have Just
said 70 you now. AS he leaving me he casually
remarked. 4 suppose you not worrying about
the Battery ParkT and I. IN the same casual man
her, replied, oh. no. but never thinking for
second that the inference would be drawn that
was from that meaningless answer In no way
have acted intermediary between the Man
haitian company and Tammany. and wish to re-
pudate emphatically the implied assertion that 1
have been interested In bringing about what
termed cordial agreement between Tammany
and the elevated railroad"
President Clausen, Park Commissioner for the
boroughs of Manhattan and Richmond was shown
yesterday the newspaper statement purporting
be De Lancey Nicolrs and asked whether 1t meant
that the Park Department had changed its policy
on the question of the elevated railroad occupancy
Of Battery Park. to which ne replied:
There III has been no change In the situation as re-
M the the Of 4 the es pq psms
ing in Battery Park. ! do not know anything
OF the elevated railroad company with any private
contractor or contractors l do know that the
landscape experts of this Department have been
& hard at york I since the last meeting between the
has been nes Of any
We d the
railroad officials before this and consider the per
figured that it would in the end result in bet
ter progress. L fully expect that the matter VIII
be entirely settled at the next meeting between
the railroad @ officials and myself and that this
no hardship involved on the part of the railroad
or the public which 1t accommodates The term-
nal facilities will be interfered with the
traffic interrupted, but the Battery Park will be
stored to the people and to Its proper a
park. We have proceeded In this matter steadily
and with one purpose always in view, but we have
ests of the public.
The report that the Manhattan Railway Company
had awarded to Naughton & Co. the contract for
its Bedford Park extension declared at the
Manhattans offices yesterday afternoon TO be with
out foundation II added that a contract for
the work would probably be awarded within week
but that whether IT would go to Naughton & Co.
to other contracting firm question to
which definite answer could yet be given.