New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-19
SUBWAY COMPETITION.

Tho announcement of the Metropolitan Secu-
rites Companys willingness TO pld ior an uii
foreground railroad franchise Is interesting Oh
moro than one account In the first place. as
Mr.. Orr was prompt to point out, the com
pany's offer is suggestive Of a lively compeu-
ton for a valuable privilege. 1t may oe re-
garded as q certainty that whenever con-
tract for the construction and operation OF an
other north and south subway is ready TO be
disposed of, the marlborough company, con-
trolling the underground roads now nearing
comnlation. will be Oh hand to make a bid; but
the presence of another bidder bringing such
credentials as the Metropolitan interests can
furnish would be exceedingly desirable.
A little less than five years ago the Metro
politan Street Railway Company proposed to
build at its own cost and operate an under
ground road in accordance with the general
plan of the Rapid Transit Commission, and at
first the proposition was favorably received by
the nuhlic. But on consideration Of the fact
that the company demanded perpetual fran
chise and was not liberal in the matter of COM
pensation, strong opposition was quickly mani
tested. The result was that the offer was With
drawn, a few weeks later, in letter from the
company's lawyers which suggested suspicion
that the public was expected straightway TO
become sorrowful, repentant and solicitous for
a
that was a mistake, and we mention the mat
ter only by way OF indicating how great a
change has been wrought since the spring Of
1899 The Metropolitan people then protested
to doubt If such an investment even on the
most favorable terms could be made to pay,
and they say now that they are not anxious to
assume new responsibilities. But they realize
the imperative necessity of providing in some
manner not only for the traffic which has al
ready outgrown their existing lines, but for the
vastly larger traffic which they will have TO
deal with in the near future, and they have
good reason TO believe that an underground
road operated in connection with their surface
lines would be profitable. few years ago the
franchise that the Rapid Transit Commission
had to offer went begging. 1t is pleasant
prospect that two powerful corporations, with
great facilities for serving the public, may be
competing before very long for another subway
contract.
Some persons may think there is nothing TO
be thankful for in any prospect of future oper-
atoms similar to those which have been going
on for the last three years, and we feel some
sympathy with that view of the matter But
nobody is able to suggest an alternative for
more underground roads. Mr.. Ryan, speaking
for the Metropolitan company, acknowledges
that at certain hours ON its most important
lines 1.-THE congestion is so great as TO be justly
termed intoIerable" What will be the condi-
tons at such points and virtually everywhere
else few years hence, with the city growing
at its present rate and, above all, with the
great steam railroads at work providing addi-
tional facilities which will have the effect Of
enormously increasing the traffic to be taken
care of on the street lines? 1t is certain that
the original subway will not meet the require
ments which can easily be foreseen, useful as
it will doubtless prove TO be. We do not under
estimate the evils which have resulted from
tunnel digging, but the latest methods afford
much relief and there is always a possibility
that the deep tunnel system may be adopted
for future operations.
We do not imagine that contracts for new
rapid transit roads will be ready TO let in short
order Moreover, it has to be remembered that
the transportation companies may be merely
manRuvring with some hidden aim when they
/ seem TO be dealing openly in the public inter-
est Even now there those who think they
see in the Metropolitan companys offer and in
Mr.. Belmonts rather sarcastic comments upon
it a declaration of hostilites preceding q gigan-
tic combination. But for the present we prefer
! to assume, with Mr.. Orr and Mr.. Parsons, that
It looks like genuine competition for a franchise
/ which is practically certain to be put on the
market without long delay.