New-York tribune., 1901-03-09
ORR BLAMES THE COUNCIL.
SAYS IT Is RESPONSIBLE FOR DELAY OK
FORT GEORGE EXTENsIoN-MDoN-
AID THREATENS MANDAMUs.

President Alexander r. Orr Of the Rapid TRANSIT
Commission places the blame for the oeiay Ia ne
sfnning work on the Rapid Transit tunnel from
Fort George north on the Municipal Council IN
the following letter sent yesterday 10 handolph
Guggenheimer:
gIon. Randolph Guggenheimer. President OF the
Dear Sir: The RAPID Transit Railroad Commis-
SION instrqcts me 10 can your @ at'fIGI RIid ga
road from Fort George hofui; Lis 1-la1&s, - - -.
fected, viii straiFhten and shorten the me save
the city rot less than $4,000 and materially dnln-
Ash the running time of trains.
The plans and conclusions Of this board relative
nicipal Assembly on November % 1870. more than than
thirteen weeks since They haLe neeh % tos ,stIt
f6sSJ1,tSsrr S1Sr 80 laws of 1850 provides that:
'Within four weeks after the copy of such pans
transit Railroad Commissioners shall have been
approx ed by said Common Council nnaI vote shal
The conncil by emitting to act for than
thirteen weeks has therefore as you wall obseiNe,
failed 10 comply with the statute m \ is i 60. -
source oi serious embarrassment ne tuli'I l 4l
One-hundred-and-f nifty -eEhth-st 10 Fort George
81 fhc fioosac Tunnel we believe viii be the long
sst double track tunnel in the United states. Inc
difficult and until the exact location Of the line
north OF Fort George IS fixed work cannot even e
hopes that the entire road may he IN actual opera
lion by Christmas. 1903, but such result VIII not
Doe possible unless the work Is pushed vigorously
need not at this time discuss the merits OF the
nnpiication I assume that the council is fully In
formed as they have not thought il necessary 10
summon this board 10 appear before them or be
fore any ~ their committees Very, respectfuhy
YOURS. ALEXANDER T. 'iNIN.
Neu-Yor1 March = 1901.
John r Mcdonald. on behalf OF the Rapid Transit
subway Construction Company, yesterday sent no.
fice 10 Randolph Gugrenheimer, president OF the
council that unless that body took immediate ac-
tion in approving the modification Of the plans for
the Rand Transit railroad he would compel action
10y applying to the court for peremptory writ Of
mandamus.
The modified plan relates 10 that part OF the
route OF the West Side line from Eleventh-ave.
north ~ Observation-Disclosures commonly
known as the Fort George extension.
In the opinion Of President GUggenheimer and
others a similar mandamus might be obtained 10
compel the Municipal Assembly 10 take action on
the approval Of the plans for the Brooklyn tunnel
extension These latter plans are held up. The
time limit for action expires next "Wednesday.
In his letter Mr. Mcdonald SAYS;
Thus almost four months have been wasted, and
the council in absolute violation OF the law has
failed 10 proceed with the consideration OF this
contract
i believe the change proposed by this agreement
IL in the interest the residents OF that portion CT
the city affected by il, but IL is matter OF COM
paratiye Indifference TO me whether II is adopted
or not The uncertainty occasioned by the delay
i'm determining what is 10 be done is. however
serious and very detrimental 10 the interests OF the
city IL will greatly retard the completion OF the
railroad, in which every citizen is interested.