New-York tribune., 1901-04-01
JOHNSON SAYS HE'LL FIGHT
TO MAKE DETERMINED EFFORTS TO
GET BROOKLYN TUNNEL CONTRACT.
ppEPARING FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS. AND
SAYS HE WILL GO TO THE COURTS.
IF NECESSARY

Alrert L. Johnson is very indignant over the
,,,aatnlent his tunnel proposition. has received
~,on the Rapid Transit Commission. 1t is Mr.
lohnson's opinion that every effort is being made
>, prevent him from building tunnel 10 Brook
lvn and Staten Island. He intends 10 fight this
onnosition in every possible way. he says. and as
last resort TO carry the question into the courts
~ other means Of getting the contract fail. But
ha does not want 10 go 10 law If II can he
avoided.
Public opinion is going 10 be his first great
,s,er 10 move the Rapid Transit Commission
,oro what Mr.. johnson calls its position Of de-
r,,;ned opposition to him. To-day he is 10
ave a conference with George Cromwell. Presi-
cant Of the Borough Of Richmond, TO arrange
or publie meetings in that borough, and during
,se week he viii hold numerous public meetings
"a Rrooklyn TO have the people Of that borough
.axpress their views. Mr.. Johnson believes that
rbe people are Tie ultimate and final arbiteIs.
and that il they declare in his favor the Rapid
Transit Commission viii not dare 10 oppose him.
In the mean time his engineers will he work
,nr on the plans for his proposed route. He
returned from Cleveland yesterday with big
r n Of plans that were prepared in 1893 for
:, mel he wanted TO build then and in addition
I these plans his engineers viii have 10 aid
Z srn the plans for the tunnel he is about 10
llG Al LOlluuL aAAA NAiN A'ASA-c - AitS A04A4SA
- " building in the Borough of Manhattan The
p " plans VIII be ready in a few weeks. ana
n. Johnson says that if he gets the contract
the system VIII be ready for operation in a
wear and a half
M johnson said last night:
During my absence from The Sly for the last few
have enGeayored 10 set me aside, but II they try 10
sOwn me they will ind before they get through
trat they have the biggest job their hands they
Straight through 70 the end. and before any one
csc gets that contract The Court OF Appeals VIII
have 10 pass on the question.
l believe ! have rights and ] believe know
10 right 10 give any one The contract TO build that
tunnel with the exclusive right 10 it after i; is
They 80 before the Municipal Council and say
ey are very noch clsS Silo.Atea WIN VIZ my lg' ,Td &
tel you that have had but litte more than TWO
Transit Commission has had over a year. Yet
where are their plans AL they have 10 show Is a
Municipal Council with that nap and say. Please
hendeur the people aEG hold mem on WINE We
- When I go TO the Municipal Council ! viii have
fun SCI of plans that VIII NOT have cost the
Sow. 7 see that Controller Coler has been doing
some talking on this subject. Mr Coler Is on rec
that is tbs M most ra2dy gr3Hing diftriSt in nil h'ngS
relieve The needs o; thaI . seetioP r., ...-o. AZ
is 10 biild tunnel TO and through the section
which Mr.. coler admits is most in need Of a tun-
tunnel under the Narrows Staten Island. so
link the three boroughs together ana 10
give the people real rapid transit the entire
lne for three cent fares. Mr.. ColeI's answer 10
nv pTOposJCn IS 10 say
Let Mr. Johnson bid for the present route. and IL
he can demonstrate that &c can make l. pay.
especially a three cent fare basis. all the money
20 pay for the extensions Mr. Johnson wants can
no doubt be readily obtained. The extension OF
this particular tunnel IS proposition Tor iutuie
consideration.
Now. this means that Mr.. Coer. who IS q mem
her Of the Rapid Transit Commission. Is IN favor u
na king il IS difficult possible for or any
aoCv else 70 compete with the Pennsylvania road,
.foF The tunnel laid out IS especially plaured 10
s.at tfe who control the tunnel that Will lead
into i the NeW-Iork eDd and tho same set ~
men who control the railroad that VIII lead out Il
l. the Brooklyn end l. Is planned SO that the
chance Of competition from an independent bidder
would be very slim.
AR. Coler knows This well anybody, and II
be knows anything about al all he ought 70
know that ten the difference between good
thing and a gold brick quick the fellow.
Nj Colcr. understand has MADE some reputation
as e reformer. He may be the real thing in that
lie for all know. bat y the statement which is
printed coming from him is correct 1 only
think that he is not any more in earnest in giving
The Rapid Transit Commission.
u is my opinion that II any section Of the tunnel
Is 70 be left ont for the present because of the
pese, il should be the section from the City Hall
70 the South Ferry. That viii be OF TIE most
expensive sections Of he tunnel. and II well be
LETT 10 the future For IL the people from Brooklyn
snd Staten Island can be landed in NeW-York
quickly and easily there are plenty Of ways fer
them 10 get al over this city.