New-York tribune., 1900-01-14
BIDS OPENED TOMORROW.
RAPID TRANSIT BOARD HOPES A RE-
sPoNSIBLE ONE MAY BE FOUND.

The probabilities are strong that little after
tomorrow noon the much discussed question
Will be settled whether not a responsible
bidder has been found for the rapid transit tun-
mel construction contract. Noon is the hour set
for opening the bids tomorrow, and It is not
likely that there will be any postponement.
There is a possibility, however, of further de-
lay. though It seems remote one. President
Alexander E. Orr, Of the Rapid Transit Com
mission, said yesterday that an extension Of the
time set for receiving bids would certainly be
made If an application to that end should be
presented to the Board before noon tomorrow
upon grounds satisfactory to the Commissioners
No application of that kind. however, had been
filed at the close Of business yesterday.
The expectation seems to be pretty general
that at least two bids will be made. One of
these is looked for from the National Street
Railway Construction Company, and another
from the Terminal Railroad and Tunnel Com
pany, or from men interested in that company
who will form an auxiliary syndicate for this
especial purpose
FROM OTHER SOURCES.
There are several other sources from which
bids may come, but about which no certainty
can be felt. Among these are a French syndi-
cate, which has had its engineers examining the
plans; Tammany Hall syndicate. the Third
Avenue Railroad Company, a recently formed
syndicate of small contractors, a syndicate en-
gineered by John F. Sheehan, which has been
called the Metropolis Company, and a syndicate
backed by Vanderbilt money and led by Henry
Payne Whitney. Corporation Counsel Whalen
says the National Street Railway Construction
Company will make a bid as he is informed.
President Elias of the Third Avenue refused to
say yesterday whether his company would bid
or not. He would not discuss the subject at ALL
President Orr said yesterday that he had no
definite knowledge concerning prospective bid
ders, but confidently hoped that suitable one
would be found. The Commissioners not
compelled to accept the lowest or any other bid
They will look first at the probable capacity Of
the bidder to carry out the gigantic contract
which he is willing to undertake. The Board
members will reject all bids, no matter how
low, if they not satisfied that the bidder
can not only dig the tunnel which is the easiest
part Of the thing, but operate a rapid transit
railroad therein with skill and efficiency after
the tunnel is built. Each bid must be accompa-
MED by a deposit of $150,OO0 as as evidence Of
good faith. The contract may be awarded soon
after the bids are opened, it was said, should the
responsibility of some bidder be we'll known to
the Board, or the Commissioners may require a
day or two to deliberate should practically
unknown syndicate put in an otherwise accept
able bid
IN CASE OF NO ACCEPTABLE BID
Corporation Counsel Whalen says that If no
bid is found suitable, special legislation will be
sought to empower the city to construct the
road by days work, a consummation devoutly
to be feared by all who know the inside meth
ods of Tammany Hail.
Tammany, however is not relying wholly
upon the expectation that bid will be found
to suit the Board. Some Of its principal men,
report says, will back John B. Mcdonald, the
Tammany contractor for the Jerome Park reser-
voir in bidding for the rapid transit job. John
F. Carroll and Andrew Freedman are mentioned
his associates in the design. They, of course,
represent Croker and If they get the contract
Mr.. Freedman's surety company would furnish
the necessary bonds. 1t is even rumored that
Mr.. PIatt's surety company might get some of
the bonding business, in view of the fact that
Mr.. Platts help might be needed in the Legis-
lature in getting the Tammany contractors out
of any hole they might fall into If they found
the terms of contract too hard for them, after
accepting it. The citizens of New-York, how
ever, who know the character of the men COM
posing the Rapid Transit Commission, express
no fear that the contract will be allowed to fall
into bad hands.