New-York tribune., 1900-01-19
GOOD WORK EXPECTED.
TUNNEL INSPECTORS MUST
BE CIVIL SERVICE len.
RUMOR BUSY WITH THE SUPPOSED
hackers OF M'DONALD. THE RAPID
TRANSIT CONTRACTOR.


bonds ready before he can sign the underground
tunnel contract. several interesting details IN
connection with that huge undertaking devel-
oped- Report said that TWO United States sena-
tors and a Tobacco Trust millionaire were. with
Richard Croker and some other Tammany men.
behind the contractor whose bid OF 35O0OOOO
was accepted by the Commissioners William
Barclay Parsons. the Boards chief engineer, an
nounced that the large number OF inspectors
and assistants whO viii be employed By him N
constant supervision OF the work must pass
Civil Service examinations in order 70 get these
desirable places As soon as this contract -
under way the Rapid Transit Commissioners
will turn their attention 10 an extension OF the
road down Broadway from the City Hall TO tbs
Battery and thence under the harbor 70 south
Brooklyn and Staten Island shrewd real estate
men predicted that property far uptown along
the line OF the tunnel would Increase in value az
least % ner cent and the annual rate OF increase
in this city's population would jump 50 per eenr
SPECULATION IS LIVELY
Speculation. which was so lively before hids
for the rapid transit contract were opened eOli-
cerning who the bidders would oe. now centres
with equal interest around the probable hackers
~ the successful bidder John B. McDOnald's
declaration to the Rapid Transit Commissioners
that no one was interested with him IN Ms
bid is Offset by his admission that he may take
a few partners after the contract Is awarded
to him DeniaIs have been published from ths
Metropolitan Street Railway Company. the
Third Avenue Railway Company and the Man
haitian railroad people that they want any share
of Mr.. HcDonaId's big contract some OF The
leaders Of Tammany Hall have been associated
by rumOr with AIr- Mcdonald from the start.
but as no one OF them has money enough 10 bs
a valuable financial ally in so vast an under
taking the capital they are credited with con-
tributing 20 the combination is only political
pull" Therefore rumor has pitched upon sx-
Senator Arthur P. O'GOrman, OF Marylands
Senator Stephen 2. Elkins. Of West Virginia.
". W Duke, Of the Tobacco Trust; r C. Ker-
ems. OF St Louis, and John McOuade as the
moneyed men who are behind Mcdonald some
Of these men are interested in the New-York
AutOtruck Company. and II one OF them joins
Mcdonald all OF them may Mr.. German and
Richard Croker credited with organizing
the syndicate, which II is said can command
many millions OF dollars The Maryland ex-
Senator is reported 10 have been interested with
Mcdonald in the Baltimore tunnel and he was
in this city when McDonaId's bid was accepted
by the Rapid Transit Commission II is said
/ that before Mr.. Croker sailed for Europe he and
ex-senator German and Mcdonald had several
conferences. The Boss has sent cable mes
sage TO Mcdonald congratuIating him On the ac-
[ cepJance OF his bid
WHALEN DISCREDITS IT.
Corporation Counsel whalen who IS reported
70 be one OF the German syndicate. said yes
terday,
So far as I an personally concerned, there Is not
fbs+ an ~ - @ o1br - - -I @ = - ,,- - os7S 80 t
IT, either II is contract much too large for any
Mcdonald viii have several partners before long
I cannot even make guess as 10 who they viii be
Mr.. Mcdonald did not go 10 his downtown Of
fee yesterday, but spent the day at the Jerors
Park Reservoir His representative at No. 100
Broadway said the Gornan-EI -EIkins-Duks-
Kerens partnership was news 20 him Hs
thought Mr. Mcdonald needed no assistance In
| the construction work. but would assign the
operation OF the road TO some company or syn
/ dicate YET 10 be formed He anticipated no
| trouble in finding plenty OF responsible people
willing TO operate the railway and as for as
sistance in making the tunnel. sub-cOntractOrs
were applying by the score already for that part
/ OF the work Each one viii be investigated and
treated strictly on his merits. IN answer to the
| question whether any OF those men who IN
tended TO bid for the contract. but failed 10 do
So for various reasons. were likely 10 join the
company now forming OF 10 be formed. for
operating the road, Mr.. NIcDonald's representa-
tive said he thought it not unlikely
BONDS NOT READY YET
Up 70 the close OF business hours last evening
no notice had reached the Rapid Transit Board
from the contractor saying that his bonds were
ready. This caused no surprise. although Mr..
Mcdonald did say on Wednesday that hts bonds
were ready 10 be submitted ar once The prep
aration of two bonds. one for 100000 and one
for S1.OO0OOO. and the gathering OF SlOOOOOO IN
cash is not 70 be done in twinkling. and the
Commissioners will not be at all disappointed
If Mr. Mcdonald consumes his entire allowance
OF ten DAYS before ne appears before them again
As soon as he informs them that his securities
are ready a special meeting OF the Board VIII
be called in the Controllers Offices, so that the
cash can be transferred TO Mr.. CoIer. treas
urer OF the Commission, with as little trouble
as possible On this point Edward NJ shepard
OF counsel 10 the Board. said
The form Of the notification holds Mr.. McDonald
ne date Of nolaeation the Board viii hold at is
option that he has either made OF ahrogared tae
VII be forfeited indeed. IL viii be forfeited IN
either case But i he shall fail 20 qualify with his
cash and his bonds. and the Board shall hold tnar
he has made the contract then the city may pro-
cstd against aim Tor Whatever damages may ne et-
dent In other words. the contract may be let for
eny sum and Mr.. Mcdonald may De held for
HeIIes AZ y Nllt--l a ~ So-tIacL lnay os
OF course. there tS no danger or such conrt1-
seilcg t1ls-llf W u 80, = isS = - -55s
check for Si500o0 that received from Mr.. Onder-
The ss' papers are already prepared 50 far as the
Commission : concerned and al We are EaIlnS
bushes and 10 does rot seem possible that Mr.. No
Donald be ready Tor az least several days yet
THEN FOR THE EXTENSION
President Orr said there was nothing for tho
Board 10 do now but wait for Mcdonald TO
present his bonds. AS soon as that contract
was signed the Commissioners would be free
TO take UP the question OF extending the road