The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-13
DITCH OR NOTHING BELMONT
RETTER NO SUBWAY THAN RUIN,
THE MERCHANTS REPLY.
Broadway Business Men Not Alarmed by
the Report That the Interboroush
VIII Not Build Except by an Open Cut
brooklyn Merchants Arc Alarmed.

Brooklyn Merchants Are Alarmed.
II was automatically stated yesterday
that August Belmont, president Of the
marlborough Rapid Transit Company,
should there be further opposition of pro-
nounced character to the construction Of
subway under Broadway by the ditch
digging process, will write to the Rapid
Transit Commissioners Withdrawing the
application made by the company for the
right to build a tunnel between Forty
second and Fourteenth streets. and adding
that even should the commission adhere
TO the proposed route the marlborough
company would not be bidder for the
contract.
The idea is that an independent concern
could not build it and operate this line at =
profit and that this argument will be used to
influence the Rapid Transit Commissioners
TO follow the same plan of construction that
has been followed in the original subway.
1t is Mr.. Belmont's intention not only to
withdraw his application for the Broadway
franchise but also to threaten the commits
sion that if the Broadway spur should be
authorized his company will not bid for
the contract It is understood further
that Mr.. Belmont will intimate that il the
Broadway merchants are opposed to hav-
ing subway railroad along the route the
Interf orough company will be entirely
willing to construct a railroad along Seventh
avenue
Mr.. Belmont declined to answer any in
quiries concerning the action his company
would take. This matter" he said, has
gone beyond the mere withdrawal of our
application to tunnel under Broadway. IL
now rests with the Rapid Transit Commits
sion to determine what method of construc-
ton shall be followed. When they have
determined that, we will be able to state
what course we will follow"
Another statement that can be made
on good authority is that the Belmont
Mcdonald syndicate have decided that they
will not bid on a contract for a genuine
tunnel under Broadway. They have de-
cided that they will have either ditch
opening or nothing The reason for this
determination. 1t was ascertained, is that
the heads Of the syndicate think that they
part Of their general subway system.
Members Of the committee of fifty who
are to meet to-day to organize to fight a
ditch in Broadway said last night that they
would not be bluffed by the president of
the marlborough company.
1T seems to US. said one Of the organizers
of the movement, shat it is presumptuous
for the marlborough company to dictate
TO the Rapid Transit Commission and to the
taxpayers OF the city. II there is any
backbone IN che Rapid Transit Commission
the marlborough company will be made
TO understand that it is not going to be the
sole boss Of New York just because 1t has
some contracts that make the possibility
OF dealing with other parties remote.
The company ought to be willing to follow
the instruction Of the Rapid Transit Com
mission if the members thereof decide
with US.
IF the city as q whole can get along
without this branch we can do without it,
If the marlborough company can get along
without such a valuable connecting lini,
OF it's lines We can afford to do without it.
Mr. Belmont no doubt expects to find
us very much scared at the prospect OF
changing the route to Seventh avenue.
That is where he is mistaken. Rather
than have an open cut in Broadway for
three years we would much prefer to have
Seventh avenue selected. Broadway will
he Broadway as long as New York occupies
the island Of Manhattan, and Mr. Belmont
can't shift Broadway to Seventh avenue
by changing the route. The theatres.
hotels and shops in Broadway will always
he near enough to the transportation lines
TO hold their paramount place. We won't
be scared. and unless we are to be greatly
disappointed in the Rapid Transit Com
mission Mr.. Belmont's bluff won't stand
UP.
Some of us who can't stand the strain
Of a long financial struggle would far rather
have Broadway undisturbed than to have
any subway branch at all. Let Mr. Bel
mont take his bankruptcy ditch over to
Seventh avenue if he can boss the Rapid
Transit Commission"
The mmittee Of fifty will meet at
80 o'clc ok this afternoon at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel
BROOKLYN MERCHANTS AROUSED.
james Matthews Of the dry goods firm Of
ing Of the merchants doing business on
Fulton street between Bore ugh Hall and
FlGtbush avenue, at the Brooklyn Club
next Nc nday afternoon, to take measures
against the ditching Of that thoroughfare
for the constructor OF the tunnel. At the
conference an organizaticn will be effected.
On Nov. Mr.. Swanstrom. the President
- the borough, met the leading Fulto n
street merchants at his Office and discussed
Will them the subject of the tunnel. Their
views were embc died in this resc luticn:
Resohed That IL is the sense of this meet
ihg that the Board of Rapid Transit Com
missionerS be respectfully requested to give
Instructions to their contractors that the
work on that section Of the subway in Full
ton street between Borough Hall and Flat
bush avenue. Brooklyn shall proceed stead
ny both day and night.
ResOlred That ii is the sense Of this meet
ing that the work on said subway between
the limits stated should be done in three or
more sections each section to be completed,
possible before work on another Is begun.
Rtsohcd That in view of the peculiar re-
Itiou to the whole OF Brooklyn Of this por-
ZION Of Fulton street. the Board OF Rapid
transit Commissioners be requested to take
such further and special measures as their
Judgment may approve to minimize both the
time Of construction of this portion OF the
subway and the necessary loss and incon-
ventence certain TO arise therefroin. not only
TO the business men along said thorough
fares but TO the whole Brooklyn public.