New-York tribune., 1901-03-29
JOHNSON OFFENDS BOARD.
WARNS IT AGAINST DEMANDING S15O,OOO
SEEKS POPULAR SUPPORT.
THAT THEY WILL NOT WITHDRAW
PENDING BROOKLYN APPLICATION.

PENDING APPLICATION.
Albert l. Johnson yesterday sent to Presi-
dent Orr Of the Rapid Transit Commission a
letter proposal. with reference to building
rapid transit tunnel to South Brooklyn and
Staten Island that Mr.. Orr characterizes as
very Disappointing. He tells Mr.. Johnson
that the letter binds him to nothing.
Mr. Johnson's letter to President Orr caused
| considerable Indignation among the commits
sioners all of whom were hand. with the
exception of Mr.. Smith. The letter says in part
enter into immediate binding obligation on the
board are willing to Recommend II the board it.
self will make me proposition on the lines which
stated to the Municipal Assembly, will consider
it: and unless find it coupled with unfair or IL
legal conditions will accept it.
One of the conditions stated in your letter is that
| deposit now with the Controller $5ON0. to be
no: refuse this but I must first have a positive
opinion from my counsel as to its legality. BY ad-
are treading on dangerous ground Have you any
such ' o0 Is WuS IN 0an adopt
| by the commission under such an inducement be
you will see if you study the decision of the Court
of Appeals in the Kingsbridge extension case re re-
| Kingsbridge franchise was nullifed. among other
900 into the city treasury, which the court held
was unlawful inducement-in effect hribe
| After outlining the route through Second
| ave-. Brooklyn. to Fort Hamilton and Staten
Island, Mr.. Johnson says:
Ny engineers and suryeyors who are now IT. work @
quite as precise general plan as that YOU have
Continuing. Mr. Johnson says:
cannot allow you without protest on my part to
Intimate that I in default in this business.
. It would have been idle and foolish (and in
Re abolition dept Y0a of S plan m Unless @ stirred
the people to support it I know of no better time
Mr. Orr. this is serious business for you no less less
advantages, upon you and your colleagues VIII rest
the responsibility.
After the board had considered Mr.. John
sons letter. Mr.. Orr wrote to him follows:
Your letter of March q has been received and was
| Transit Railway Commissioners 1t is very dsap-
pointing, not only varying in most essential particu
sembIy as we understand it. but it Contains no
definite proposal and binds you TO nothing. -
Withdraw it's pending Brooklyn application upon
such vague statements those contained ir your
letter l might add that you do not object TO
proposed route. except the ground that II
ever to prevent Your bidding on that route, when
bidding is invited and subsequently EN- aPpiyiFg IN f0r
credit by the of the city's credit as soon
as available.
Copies of the whole correspondence will be
transmitted to the two houses of the Municipal
Assembly.
Calvin w. Hendrick. engineer of sewers. re-
ported under date OF March 26 the anniver-
sary Of the day when work started on the
tunnel a year ago. that there had been con-
structed twenty thousand feet Of sewers. from
five to twenty feet in width. along the line OF
the tunnel. Eleven thousand lineal feet of old
sewers had been removed during the year.
Chief Engineer Parsons reported on the re-
quest made weeks ago by the Bricklayers
Union. that more brick instead of concrete
should be used in the construction of the tun-
mel. Mr.. Parsons said that concrete was pre-
servative of steel, keeping the air and moisture
away from it, and therefore was desirable
However. he said there would be millions Of
brick used In the building OF sewers and in
addition, there would be brick backing along
the side walls the entire length of the tunnel.