New-York tribune., 1902-05-11

people in Brooklyn against the Rapid Transit
Commission for having adopted a resolution au-
therizing investigation of the comparative
merits Of bridges and tunnels a means of
rapid transit between Manhattan and Brook
lyn silenced yesterday by a statement from
Alexander f. Orr, president of the commission.
Mr Orr. although active in the business life Of
Manhattan, is by choice of residence a Brook
Ignite and next to his public spirited interest
IN the prosperity and progress of the greater
city of New-York he has always been fore
most in his endeavors to benefit and develop
still further the borough in which he has his
home.
From what has been said by those who now
criticise the commission it is argued that be-
cause the commission some time ago on the
motion Of Mayor Low. voted TO take up the
subject Of East Side subway its action in
authorizing investigation of the Man
haitian Brooklyn rapid transit problem as af-
fected by tunnels or bridges a slight to the
borough 10 the east Of the East River. 1t was
said, Furthermore, that by such means the COM
mission was attempting to stop work on the
Manhattan Bridge. and, by substituting a tun-
mel or two at a saving of many millions OF
dollars, insure the construction of an East Side
subway to The Bronx at an early date. On
these grounds it was said that the commission
was favoring Manhattan and The Bronx. to the
injury Of Brooklyn. In commenting on the sub
ject yesterday Mr.. Orr said:
"An this talk about the Rapid Transit Com
mission sacrificing the interests Of Brooklyn for
the sake of Manhattan and The Bronx is absurd
in the extreme. The Rapid Transit Commission
holds the interests of Brooklyn in as high
esteem those Of any other borough 1 think
our record sufficiently proves that fact without
further argument. At the present time steps
are being taken by the board which will per-
nit the advertisement OF the contract of the
Brooklyn extension OF the rapid transit system
at the earliest possible date. On Wednesday the
subcommittee OF the board which has charge
Of the contract will confer with the contractors
as 10 fits form and specifications. so that when
it is advertised there will be no hitch in the
bidding of those Who eager to do the work
When the contract is let the work this
branch will be pushed with the same energy, as
far as the Rapid Transit Commission is con-
cerred as the work the present subway
HAD TO KEEP WITHIN DEBT LIMIT
The Brooklyn extension of the subway sys-
TEN is as complete as is possible with the means
which the city has at the present time. We had
hoped for a larger scheme. but as every one
knows We were compelled to keep within the
debt limit Of the city. Every one knows. too.
that there should be more adequate facilities Of
transit between the two boroughs. but we can
only go as fast as the ctys financial status will
permit
THE Rapid Transit Commission was organized
and had begun fits work before the consolida-
tion Of the present city It was then the Rapid
Transit Commission of old New-York AS such
It wrestled with the problem OF building the
present subway. and had successfully launched
the project when the consolidation of the differ
ent boroughs took place. Now. what was its
next action? On January g. 1900. week
before the contract for the subway now under
construction was let, the board passed a resolu-
ton in favor of extension Of the route to
Brooklyn. The obstacles which stood in the way
Of that undertaking have now been overcome.
and work will be begun the tunnel
possible.
The resolution introduced by Mr.. Smith and
adopted bv the board on last Thursday is
merely for the purpose Of inquiry into the
comparative merits of tunnels and bridges be-
tween Manhattan and Brooklyn 1t has been
urged that tunnels are far less costly and more
quickly constructed than bridges. and, as the
board had been asked by the Mayor to look into
the question of permanently relieving the ter
rihIe congestion on the Brooklyn Bridge, such
an inquiry thought to be entirely proper.
Whatever the commission may think sug-
gest in reference to this question is, after all.
are perfectly free 10 act they see fit.
The resolution authorizing this inquiry has
no connection whatever with East Side sub
way. The commission looks at problem to-
Gay and at another tomorrow. As have said
before, IL is the province Of the commission TO
look into the needs and to try TO meet the rapid
transit requirements of all the boroughs Of the
greater city. 1t is duty; for when the Con-
solidation act passed, a special act was
also passed by the legislature enlarging the
scope Of the commission to include Brooklyn,
Queens and Richmond boroughs"
Mr.. ORR'S FORMER WORDS QUOTED.
It is interesting to note that while the East
SIDE subway was being agitated, and before
the commission had even acted on this project,
Mr.. Orr was quoted in The Tribune of April 8
saying:
The tunnel 10 Brooklyn will be the next step.
This improvement can be made at a cost which
comes within the debt limit of the city. And,