New-York tribune., 1902-07-26
EAST SIDE TUNNEL SOON
RAPID TRANSIT BOARD TO
HA ST'EN PLANS.
USE OF PRIVATE CAPITAL IN CONSTRUC-
TlON WOULD MAKE AN EARLY Be
GINNING OF THE WORK POSSIBLE

subway system. the necessity for which has
been pointed out in The Tribune from time TO
time, is now practically assured within a short
time. 1t is the intention OF the Rapid Transit
Commission TO take up the subject together
with the proposed extension through Broadway
from FOrty-second-st. to Union Square in the
autumn There appears to be good reason
why contracts for these extensions should not be
awarded Immediately. as August Belmont presi-
dent Of the Rapid Transit Subway Construction
Company. has indicated his willingness to use
private capital in their construction About
SSOOO.OOO is saved TO the city in the cost of the
Brooklyn extension. the contract for which was
awarded to the Belmont people on Thursday,
and Mr. Belmont believes that this sum ought
to be used. as far as it Will go on the East Side
and Broadway extensions
Frederick Evans, secretary OF the construction
company. pointed out yesterday the reason why
his company Is willing 10 use private capital In
borrowing money from the city. the company Is
Obliged to pay interest at the rate OF 31S per
cent and an additional L per cent when the
bonds are redeemed This 1 per cent can be
saved when private capital is employed This
makes 1t desirable for the construction company
TO make the lowest possible bid for subway
work. so that as little of the city's credit as
possible is used. 1t is argued therefore that
! the SSOO0OO0 remaining from the cost Of the
Brooklyn extension would probably be sufficient
TO insure the construction not only OF the sec
ond tunnel to Brooklyn for which William Bar
clay Parsons. chief engineer of the Rapid Transit
Commission has been directed to prepare plans.
but the East Side and Broadway branches as
we'll Mr.. Belmont was keenIy disappointed
when he learned that the Rapid Transit Com
mission had decided 10 delay these two latter
improvements until the autumn. expecting that
his low bid for the Brooklyn extension would In
duce the Commissioners to call for bids immedi-
raIt- rha
Mr. Parsons went out of town early yesterday
and had no time to think of plans for the sec
! ond Brooklyn tunnel. He has not yet decided
on the route. which is to be the most direct
possible from the City Hall 10 Borough Hall. in
Brooklyn 1t is thought that he has abandoned
| the idea OF placing the tunnel at Maiden Lane
/ or Fulton-st.. with a subway through Nassau
I St TO the City Hall Nassau-st is extremely
narrow and congested at all times. and subway
! work would cause end Of confusion
The contract for the Brooklyn extension will
! probably he signed within a couple of weeks
/ The Belmont people are ready to deposit the
bond required and sign the contract without
delay Work must be begun within sixty days
after the delivery Of the contract This means
that ground will have to be broken but the
real work will not begin for possibly six months
IL will take that length of time to gather the
/ material, and II is the purpose to avoid torn
/ up streets as much possible The contract
provides that the entire extension shall be com
pleted within three years. and all. excepting
the East River tunnel. must be finished within
two and a half years. The subway people are
confident that they can finish the tunnel in
much less time. however
The first spadefuI of earth will probably be
turned by Mayor Low The ceremonies it is
thought, will take place in the neighborhood Of
Borough Hall, Brooklyn. 10 emphasize the fact
that this is TO be Brooklyn tunnel The princi-
mol CO..,
are as follows;
= Contractor TO build and equip the road and lease
II II, from the City for term OF thirty-iye years.
The city will pay for construction SOO0Ooo for
rental consisting of interest rate OF S1s per
construction. and rer cent additional on all bonds
The contractor guarantees transportation with
out change OF ears for the entire subway route.
Contractor TO deposit with Controller 0oaOOo in
cash or securities 10 guarantee construction. and
Will have hrst lien on the equipment
contractor the sole right TO construct and operate
The railway and its equipment as contemplated
oy the contract constitute great public work
sight shall therefore be designed Constructed and
maintained with view 10 the beauty Of their ap-
pearanCe. as we'll as to their efficiency
The contractor is exempt from taxation hts
interest in the railroad and equipment. Eight
H, Houfs uay labor anu PreVallns rate OF wages
sai SOard with other roads when directed TO Oy the
1t is the purpose Of the city-and IL is Intended
by this contract 10 carry out such purpOse-that
the railroad as practicable be operated
In harmony not only with the connecting lines
with respect 10 which assurance is hercinhefore
provided but also with all other rapid transit and
surface railways and other railways which shall
he operated within the present limits Of the greater
New-Nork, and be capable Of connection with the
railroad and that any passenger upon the railroad
o upon any of such other railways shall have
the benefit of a continuous ride over the railroad
and any Of the said railways at the minimum
practicable fare
railroad within sixty days after the execution OF
the contract. The entire railroad shall be
pleted constructed and equipped, ready for I'M
mediate fun and continuous operation. within three
years OF the day OF the delivery OF the contract
be extended to four years by the board
All except the East River tunnel must be finished
within two and half years Stations 70 be To-
Gated "A Citv Hall. between Fulton and John SITS.
Hail. HCyt-St., FlatbuSh-ave and FultOn-St-. and
Flatbush and Atlantic
Work under Broadway and in BROOKLYN between
Borough Hall and FlatbuSh-ave- shall not be be-
gun until material Is all on hand When IL is be-
gun there be at least TWO shifts of Worku1en
az hours each. On weekdays between a
and D. the surface OF Broadway Snali DC
maintained in condition for ordinary travel except
in such manner and in such places as the engineer
permit
board taken to Riker's Island NJ material OK
any nature will be piled along Broadway in Man
haitian or FultOn-st. Brooklyn, or any streets
adjacent thereto Nc larger quantity of explosives
shall be kent on the line of the work than VIII oe
actually required for the twelve hours next en-
suinc The average speed Of trains must not be less
than twelve miles hour, including stops FROM
ll.3O n m l a trains every ten minutes:
from I 10 5 a m. every fifteen minutes; at an
other times the full capact,y or the subway.
F'reight NAV be carried lOnC as II does not
Interfere with the passenger traffic.
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