The sun., 1903-12-18
new BIDDER FOR NEXTSUDWAY
METROPOLITAN WILL COMPETE
WITH BELMONT-.WBO DONALD.

1t Sees In More Underground Routes North
and South the Only Remedy for Con-
scstion on Its Surface Llnes-R. T.
Board Told and Glad 10 Hear It-Nleans
Transfer Privileges - Maybe Under.
River Connections East ana West,
Official announcement was made yester-
day that the Metropolitan Street Railway
Company is prepared to bid for future
extensions Of the subway system In Man
haitian and The Bronx contemplated by
the Rapid Transit Commission.
The commission has under consideration
not only extensions of the line now sp-
preaching completion, but also tho con-
struction Of additional routes on the Eas.
and West sides of the city and the building
Of at leas one more tunnel to Brooklyn
In comparatively short time these e1-
tensions will be authorized, and the Metro
politan company apparently realizes that
should these new roads go to the Belmont
Mcdonald syndicate, that company. with
its acquisition of the elevated railroad and
with its entry into Brooklyn would largely
control the city railroad situation to the
Metropolitan's detriment.
This statement in regard to the COM
pany's intentions was made es,erday by
Thomas F. Ryan, speaking for the Metro
politan Street Railway interests
The Metropolitan Securities Compsny
which, through its ownership OF all the stock
Of the 1nterurban Street Railway Company.
now controls the entire Metropolitan Street
Railway system, is not anxious to add to its
responsibilities, At the same time. we real!z"
that the control OF all the surface lines in
Manhattan and the Bronx places us under 4
grave responsibility to the city and the public.
More than 622 ,OOo0OO passengers rode in
Metropolitan cars during the year ending
June 30. 1903. and the traffic Is Increasing
each year at an enormous rate OF the aggre-
gate daily passenger traffic in Manhattan
and The Bronx. including the suburban traffic.
about two-thirds arc carried by the Metropol-
tam lines
We appreciate that IL is our duty to TAX"
advantage of every opportunity to increase
our facilities for the comfortable transport
tation Of this great number of passengers
ard especially to relieve the overcrowdinr
along the lines running north and south.
While many of our lines will be able for some
years to come to take care of the increased
trafflo, some Of the longitudinal lines. such
as those on Broadway and the Rowery and
Third Sixth, Eighth and Ninth averuea.
during certain hours OF the morning and
evering encounter con ngestion OF traffic
so great as to be Justly termed iptolrrable.
In this situation il seems that the only
relief possible must come from the construc-
tion Of tunnels extending the 'ntire length
of the island and so connected by transfer
arrangements with our crosstOwn snrface
lnes ns to attract a substantial portion OF
the lonE-haul riders from the lines runuin e
north and south. thus making room for thc
great numbers OF people who are now COM
PEELED &c choose whether they will ride IN
overcrowded cars OF. walk. g.s-
Convinced as we arc that some apch plan
As this by which passengers can b brought
under comprehensive transfer syvtem to
the tunnel In the morning and distributed to
their homes at night by our crosstown surface
lines will furnish the only real and permanent
relief from present traffic conditions. Metro
politan interests are prepared TO become
competitors for the construction and opera
ton of u rapid transit tunnel on Manhattan
Island in connection with their system OF
over 400 miles Of surface lines. provided the
Rapid Transit Commission will lay out IA
route which will meet the requirements OF
the situation. and the terms Of the contract
prescribed by the Commission do not place
undue burdens.
1t has been generally understood that
the Metropolitan, had it wished could
have had the contract for the Manhattan
subway three years ago, but did not bid
because il disiked some of the terms Of
the contract The Metropolitan refused to
bid, and the work went to John B. Nc
Donald. President II. II. Vreeland said
then that he was glad the subway was to
be built because it would relieve his lines
of @ large amount OF Improbable long
haul traffic. Since then, however. the
situation has changed.
In the letting OF new contracts the Rapid
TronSt Commission iG lppUer ve0 nv
the monetary amount OF tho bids sub
nit ted. As in the case OF the Brooklyn
extension, future contracts Will be awarded
to the company which can offer tho best
advantages in the matter Of transfers and
of carrying passengers from one borough
to anothe for single fare. Ii this idea il
carried out the Metropolitan and the Inter
borough companies will be the only logical
bidders for the new contracts.
The Rapid Transit Commission's com
mittee on plan and scope is now preparing
plans for new lines, both on the East and
West sides OF the city. Among the several
improvements that have been suggested
there is proposal for the construction
the Battery to Harlem, through, either
Seventh or Eighth avenue. On the East
Side the Visibility of laying out tunnel
under Second avenue, from the Battery, to
the northern limits of the city. Is being
thought of as an alternative to the con-
struction OF an East Side branch Of the
present subway. from Forty-second street
up Lexington avenue.
Before any beginning of these improve
ments can be made, however, the Rapid
Transit Commission will have to obtain the
consent of the i.egisat ure to the spending
of more money. The Rapid Transit acl
limits the expenditures Of the commission
to $50 100000, The cost of the Manhattan
subway and the Brooklyn extension will
eat up about Si2 600 900 of this amount, 80
that the commission has a balance OF only
81, 900 900 left 1t has been estimated that
the subways now contemplated will cost
at least SO, 900, 900.
The fact that the Metropolitan company
wants TO bid on future tunnels was made
known to the Rapid Transit Commission
by President Alexander Z. Orr at q meeting
of the board yesterday. MIR. Ryan and
Paul d. Cravath Of the Metropolitan have
had conferences recently with Mr.. Orr Oh
the subject. The result of these was
the reading to the board yesterday OF
statement prepared by Mr.. Orr, in which
he told OF the representations made to him
by these gentlemen. He went on to say:
The board will not, of course. in any way
commit itself as TO its future policy. and
much less form an opinion US to the merits
OF any competitor for n future contract
But as the board has repeatedly and publicly
stated. II is the more ready to consider
proposal for municipal construction if there
n hpli.ya bnf b,r will IA fwn