New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-23
?. R. R. FRANCHISE REJECTED
ALDERMEN SENT CONTRA CT BACK RAPID TRANSIT BOARD
-BEL.NONT LIKELY TO WIN.
THE BELMONT BID FAVORED
ITS ADVANTAGES POINTED OUT BY OF
FICIAI.S-ACTION LIKELY
TOMORROW.

1t is the general impression that the S3OOOOOO
bid of the Belmont Mcdonald syndicate for the
construction of the Brooklyn extension of the
rapid transit subway will be accepted at the
meeting of the Rapid Transit Commission to-
morrow. With the allowance of S1,OOOuOO for
terminals and real estate. the contract price
will be 81 100000 and will include the extension
of the present subway under Broadway from
FOrty-second-st to Union Square. 1t seems TO
be recognized that this bid is extremely liberal
in its terms and ought to be accepted without
delay, that preparations for beginning the
work may be started as soon as possible
Controller Grout pointed out yesterday that
the Brooklyn and Broadway extensions COM
bined would cost about S12OOOOOo, so that
nearly SS,OO0O0O would remain for other i'm
provements Mr.. Belmont said at the meeting
of the Rapid Transit Commission on Monday
that this sum could be used in the building or
an East Side tunnel. which The Tribune has
for some time advocated. There seems to be no
good reason why the proposition for an East
Side tunnel should not he taken up Immediately.
but Controller Grout thinks it should be de-
ferred until next year. He has no doubt that
il will then be adopted
COULDN'T ACCEPT FREE TUNNELS
Mr. GrOu; said that the proposition made oy
the Rapid Transit Subway Construction Com
pany last February to build any future tunnels
free of cost the city could not under any
circumstances be accepted. because under thls
arrangement the company would own the tun-
nels 1t would destroy the prospect OF municipal
ownership which. he thought. was the most at
tractive feature of the subway franchise already
granted and those TO be awarded in the future
William Barclay Parsons. chief engineer OF
the Rapid Transit Commission, pointed out yes
terday the provision in the Brooklyn extension
contract which will a repetition of the long
DELAYS and street distractions which have oc-
Cured on some sections of the present subway
The contractor will not be allowed to begin ex-
cavating until he has all his material on hand
and the subway will be carried below the water
and gas pipes so that these will not have TO be
removed. The work will be simplihed by the
absence of sewers in lower Broadway. and the
fact that there is little rock and practically no
blasting Mr.. Parsons believes that the subway
along lower Broadway can be rooted over and
finished so that traffic will not be impeded.
within twelve months after the digging is begun
The experience that the Mcdonald Belmont
people have already had will stand them well in
hand All the necessary tools and machinery
are practically at hand and their gangs Of
workmen are thoroughly organized and ready 10
attack the new subway with minimum waste
of energy and time. The Rapid Transit Com
mssioners were also guided by their experience
in drawing the Brooklyn extension contract. and
had in mind the immense traffic in lower Broad
way and the inconvenience that would be caused
by torn up streets. \ good deal of the delay on
the present subway has been caused by the In
ability OF the contractors 10 obtain steel ana
other material. and after tearing up thorough
fare they were Obliged TO wait in many cases
more than year before being able TO obtain
the necessary material to proceed with the
work a claus. in the BROOKLYN extension con-
hat hnn no
at any point until a statement has been filed
with the engineer showing that the material
needed for construction at such point mas oeen
acquired and is on hand. Mr.. Parsons says
that at least six months will he occupied in get
ting material before a spadeful or earth is
turned. The contract also provides that Be
tween the hours of a and p m. the sur
face of Broadway shall be maintained in a con-
dition for ordinary travel, except IN such man
ner and in such places s the engineer. in writ
ing may permit" Instead of three feet under
ground the depth of the present subway, the
Brooklyn extension will be five or six feet under
the surface of the street. Thus most of the gas
and water pipes will be between the roof of the
tunnel and the surface of the street and Will
not have to he disturbed. except TO be chained
in place.
THE CONTROLLERS ATTITUDE.
Controller Grout. in discussing the bids for
the Brooklyn extension yesterday. did not state
officially that he favored one bid more than
other, but intimated that the S3,0OO.OO0 bid of
the Belmont interests was the best for the city
to accept. He thought the proposition of Mr. Nc
Donald TO construct tunnel up Broadway from
Union Square to Forty-second-st. was highly
advantageous. Mr.. Grout explained that this
would practically complete triangle. and al
low express trains to make much faster time.
BY this route. he said the right angle of the
route up Fourth-ave. and along Forty-second-
st. could be avoided for express purposes.
Regarding the bids the Controller would not
speak fully, but said the bid of Mr.. Mcdonald
was practically about % per cent of the cost.
This statement explained by the fact that
the Brooklyn tunnel, exclusive or terminals.
would cost about $S.0O0.000. and the Union
Square. Broadway branch another $40OOOOO.
making S12OO0OOO The Belmont Mcdonald
interests will build both for S4.10Q.000.
The Controller also brought out the fact that
if the bid Of Mr.. Mcdonald was accepted there
would be enough money left for the city to
take of a number of improvements which
considered necessary Among these are
about 100000 for park purposes, So6,OOO of
which Commissioners Eustis wishes for improv-
ing and finishing the Crotona and Mosholu park
ways.
The fact that the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Of
fcials admitted that they carried 100000 pas
sengers daily was mentioned TO Mr.. Grout He
said that the tunnel people expected 10 be able
TO carry only 80 900 passengers a day, and if the
larger number sought TO ride, all the transfers
and transfer systems in Brooklyn would not
get them across. He added that this extra
crowd would make much congestion in the
tunnel that two-thirds of the people would have
to take the bridge and ferries. they do now
The Controller has booked his passage for
Europe to sail next Tuesday, but said he would
not go unless the bids were decided one way or
the other.
He hoped that some action would be taken in
executive session at the meeting of the Rapid
Transit Commission on Thursday. He said that
any one wishing TO be heard on Thursday would
get an opportunity. AT any rate. he expected
action before next Tuesday, but il no action
was taken he would defer sailing for Europe
until the commission had acted.
The Mayor spoke briefly about the matter.
Il very much pleased ne said. that the
short term clause of thirty-five years was ap-
proved instead of the fifty year clause The
bids, | think. are very gratifying. / will act as
/ presume all the other members of the COM
rnissIon viii and will await the opinion of The