New-York tribune., 1901-05-23
dresses were made by the Rev. william H. huht-
ington and DR.. Frederick Peterson
SAYS IT'S PERMIT TO TUNNEL.
Rr-T MIR KEaTING DENIES THAT HE HAS
ALLOWED PRIVATE COMPANY TO
BEGIN BORING TO BROOKLYN.

aror. that a syndicate composed largely of
English noblemen would bore a tunnel under the
East River connecting the City Hall in Manhattan
with the Borough Hall in Brooklyn, and that OPP
eratfons would begin yesterday morning by break
ing ground in South-st. caused many persons to
go 10 South-st. yesterday and look for the place
where the digging was to begin. They saw moth
ing unusual there. Other persons who were inter
ested in the report to the office of Frederick
B. Esler, in Broad-st.. to seek information. be-
cause Mr.. Esler is the promoter of the new tunnel
scheme.
Mr.. Eser said there had been some misinforma-
tion printed about the time of beginning work on
the tunnel. He declared that he had not said work
begin yesterday. painter was at work
placing the door leading TO Mr. Eslers office
the words: 'New-York and Brooklyn Railroad
Company"
Mr. Eser said that perhaps there might be some
digging in South-st. to-day, and anyhow the en-
gneers of the New-York and Brooklyn Railroad
Company would begin the building of bulkheads
to protect the tunnel shaft when 1t Is sunk
The New-York and Brooklyn Railroad Company
Incorporated in 1896. Mr.. Esler said and he is
the vce-president of the company. Major B. 5.
Henning who died recently, was the president
The company has entered into a contract Tor the
construction of the tunnel. Mr. Esler says. with
company which incorporated in Albany on
Monday and has issued 100000 in bonds to cover
the cost of the work. The bonds to be sold
through the New-York and Brooklyn Syndicate,
Limited. whose directors, Mr.. Esler says. include
Earl Grey Earl Kintore and Sir Charles Rivers.
The rights held by the company TO construct the
tunnel under the East River Mr.. Eser said. were
contained in the tunnel sections of the Railroad
act 0nd IN ordinance of the Board of Alder
men passed in 1896 The ordinance permitted the
company to tunnel under the East River from Ann
st. and Broadway high water mark on the
Brooklyn side of the East River. Mr.. Esler ar
gued that because Of consolidation the rights
granted by the New-York Aldermen in 1896 now
extended to Brooklyn. AS soon as the tunnel
could be built the company would run trains at
two minutes headway between the City Hall in
Manhattan and the Borough Hall in Brooklyn.
Commissioner Heating said yesterday that he
had given permit for digging test holes in South
St, with the understanding that there should be
clause inserted that the promoters of the tunnel
company must be of good standing. The permit, he
said, had been ordered, but not signed. and he
would not allow digging to begin until he was
satisfied that there was good franchise back of
;he company.
When Mr.. Esler heard what the Commissioner
had said he exhibited what purported TO be per-
NIT, apparently the regular blank of the High
ways Department. 1t was signed James P. Keat-
ing" Commissioner, and Walter B. Martin" en-
gineer. In the blank space there was typewriter
the following:
lyn Railroad Company to take up pavement and
south-st. between Beekman and Fulton sts, for
the purpose of beginning the construction OF a
The printed form requires among OtIcT Things
that the work be begun in forty-eight hours after
the granting Of the permit Late in the afternoon
Commissioner Heating said:
I still insist that l have given permit to dig
any tunnel. l gave permit TO dig test holes. and
that is all If the company start to do ythins
else will have them arrested.
Mayor Van Wyck declined 10 talk about Mr..
Eslers tunnel scheme Controller Coer said:
Mr. Esler cannot frighten the Rapid Transit Com
mission. We will start promptly the Brooklyn
tunnel and finish IL promptly l have been fighting
| for II for years. and there IS scheme that
can be oated at this time. that will stop it, AS for
| this other tunnel IL cuts no figure whatever.
The ordinance granted in 1886, II is said. gave to
Mr.. Eser's company a franchise to build tunnel
from Broadway and Ann-st. to extend under the
East River far the jurisdiction OF the city of
New-York may extend" Al that time the jurisdic-
ton Of the city of New-York extended only the
shore line of the city Of Brooklyn. similar
franchise was sought in the Brooklyn Board of
Aldermen to allow the digging of the tunnel in
Brooklyn. The resolution died in committee In
1898 Alderman Mccall introduced a resolution
tending the franchise that the streets Brook
lyn would be included This resolution was killed
in the Committee of the Whole.