New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-22
NOW FOR THE CONTRACT 1!
NEXT STEP A TUNNEL UNDER LOWER
BROADWAY
MR.. CoLER PRICKs A PoRTENToUs BUBBL E
BLOWN UP BY AN ASSISTANT COR
PORATIoN COUNSEL.

1t was decided yesterday to have the actual
signing of the rapid transit contract take place
in the Controllers office at 1910 o'clock on
Saturday morning instead of in the Commits
sioners rooms at No. 320 Broadway This is
done because $1,000000 in cash or negotiable
securities will be turned over to the Controller
for the contractor, John B. Mcdonald and Mr.
Coler does not want to be obliged to carry that
sum any further than his safe which is in the
same room. On the authority of Andrew Freed
man, vice-president of the United States Fidel-
lty and Guaranty Company, the following is the
correct list of the surety companies which will
furnish S100O000 of the construction bonds for
Mr.. Mcdonald The American Surety Company,
the United States Fidelity and Guaranty Com
pany, the National Surety Company and the
City Trust Company of Philadelphia.
The Joint Committee on Celebration, which Is
composed of members of the Board of Aldermen
and the Municipal Council, will meet in the com
mittee room of the Board of Aldermen to-mor-
row afternoon at 2 o'clock This is the commit
tee that has in charge the proposed celebration
Of the breaking of ground for the rapid transit
railroad. Isaac Marks. of the Board of Alder
men. is chairman.
Once the contract is signed the securities de-
posted and the actual construction of the road
well under way, the Rapid Transit Commission
will turn their attention to the extension of
the tunnel down Broadway to the Battery.
Speaking this point, President Orr said yes
terday:
It is the logical end of the Commission to furnish
There was great deal Of opposition from the the
oughfare. I believe that opposition will not only
than willing now, far as lower Broadway is con
cerned, to have a tunnel along the line of their
South Brooklyn, and thence 10 Staten Island, will
naturally follow.
On this subject Controller Coler thoroughly
agrees with Mr. Orr. He said
The tunnel is the solution of rapid transit BY
tunnels this city will be carrying its freight
as well as its people. The next step is. of course
Brooklyn and the county Of richmond.
A. B. Boardman, of counsel for the Rapid
Transit Commission, also believes this is only a
step toward tunnel rapid transit for the city.
He said yesterday:
, PEOPLE will no longer tolerate the shutting off Of
facilities for rapid transit are notoriousy made
quate, and there is more room for surface roads
ong he lime Of WI But R the sg Is
ing ing fast longitqdinally % & and when this tunnel has
% more The proper thing is to anticipate the great
come intolerable.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Gustavus A
Rogers gave out a remarkable interview yester-
day, in which he said among other things that
the city would be obliged TO condemn and pur-
chase rights of way and easements all along
the line of the proposed road at cost of prob
ably 100000 600, because every property owner
nornr eitie 20 the sapd IN rrur,t~of his house
lot to the middle of the highway"
When Controller Coler was asked last night
if there was any truth in this contention of Mr..
Rogers, he said: None whatever. The land in
front of each mans lot is used for highway pur-
poses without paying him anything. The tun-
mel road can be laid there just rs freely as
sewer or surface tracks. This argument is non
sense. If 1t were true, the rapid transit road
could never be built. The only condemnation
proceedings necessary will be in the few cases
where the tunnel passes under private prop
erty'
learned Whalen?