New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-10
CAN'T FINISH SUBWAY ON TIME
LINT EXPIRES ON AUGUST Fl, Mr.. RWES TELLS
RAPID TRANSIT COlINISSION.
ability of City Enforce Penaty of Cent Remaining install
ments To Be Paid Considered Doubtful.
OPENING OF THE SUBWAY
Mr. orr Doubts That 1t VIII BE in
September.

~ HNN'''oN''
August Belmont and John B. Mcdonald have
only until August q 20 complete the subway
and turn Il over 10 the city in complete work
ing order. Mr. Mcdonald contends that the
contract time limit is September "a Ex-Cor-
poration Counsel Rives sprung a surprise on the
Rapid Transit Commission yesterday by saying
that the contract clearly specifies that the work
shall be done within four and One-haf years
from the turning over Of the contract to the
contractor
The contract was turned over 10 Mr.. Nc
Donald on February p. 1900 and the time set
FOR the completion of the tunnel is up on August
2l." said Mr.. Riyes. y notice that the impress
sion has gone abroad that the time is not up
until some time in September. This is a mis-
take. The contractor may have assumed that
the contract said that he had four and half
,ears from the time Of breaking ground. In
that case perhaps he would have until some
time IN September"
Isn't there penalty imposed for not complet-
ing the tunnel on timer" asked President Orr.
Yes" said Mr. Riyes, the contract says that
a penalty Of . per cent shall be imposed for not
completing the tunnel within the time specified.
THE ability TO enforce this penalty is doubt
fal" said Mr.. Rives. THE contract says that
the city is authorized 10 hurry up the contrac-
tors, and, II necessary. put its own men on
Tor enforcing the penalty. II we should take
the work out Of the contractors hands and any
thing should happen then would have hard
work making him responsible for accidents"
Controller Grout, who used TO be insistent on
NIr Benonts strict compliance with the pro
visions of the contract, said nothing.
THE contract contemplates the imposition OF
a . per cent penalty on the remaining install
ments to be paid the contractor" said Mr.
Rives. For instance, II on August p there
should be remaining unpaid TO Mr.. Mcdonald
100000 or 100000 for services that had
not been certified, the penalty would be per
cent on that remainder and would be imposed
each month until the tunnel contract was com
pleted."
After the commission had adjourned Mr.. Orr
was asked about the prospects OF getting the
tunnel IN operation some time in September.
Mr.. Bryan. Of the Interborough company
says they viii have the road running in Sep
TENDER, but have my doubts" he said.
1T seems 10 me that there IS great deal OF
work to be done along the line in various places
ana II Is not long until September. don't see
as there is any remedy for It. have tried TO
ind IN the contract some provision that would
allow us 10 hold up the pay Of the contractor
81 he did not do his utmost 10 finish the work
on time am afraid It isn't there. When we
road company or contractor anxious 10 become
our tenant For that reason we had 70 make
the terms Of the contract liberal Things are
different now The Brooklyn extension con-
tract is different. They viii not get the better
OF US again, because there Is not the same
difficulty about getting tenant now that there
was before We began 10 build the present sub
way"
At a hearing proposed extensions some
weeks ago a crowd Of Bronx residents suggested
two-one from misunderstanding fifth-st.
and Third-ave. TO Woodlawn and Girard aves-,
and the other from Bronx Park and White
Plains Road 10 Mount Vernon. The commission
wrote TO August Belmont, president Of the Inter
borough, asking If he had any proposition 10
make Mr. Belmont replied that lie could not
see his way al present 10 make any oiter Tor
such extensions.
Charles Bulhey Hubben representing the
commission appointed by the Appellate Division
TO consider the damage TO househoIders by the
rapid transit road, etc. wrote 10 the commission
10 ask II IL were possible for illustration and 10
test vibration, 10 run a perfectly equipped train
through the subway. Mr.. Mcdonald told the
commissioners il would be impossible 10 DO II
before the middle OF August
resolution adopted directing the acting
CHIEF engineer TO prepare the plans for the pro-
posed FOUrth-aye. extension in BROOKLYN
The commission authorized President orr 10
Invite 10 the opening OF the subway European
engineers and others interested IN rapid transit
! nave heard from Mr.. Parsons. the chief
engineer" Mr.. Orr said, that several men in
France and England would like 10 be present
ri the opening Of the subway Mr. Parsons
says the contractors assume il viii be ready
about the middle Of September and I think II
would he q graceful attention 70 invite those
men. There would be no expense to the city,
II was decided to invite owners Of prouertv
houIung the kiosk stations 10 submit proposals
70 The commission as 10 their willingness TO
give entrance TO the stations through their
6ulalngs, 50 as TO do away with the kiosks
ouch entrances must be kept open at all hours
ana every day IN the year.
me commission honored reouisitions for
SadtNp Tor work done in Nav and for
eIVo319 . for extras. About S33 600 600 has
peen PAID on the tunnel contract IN 10 date
controller Grout asked why there was so
huch delay IN opening Elm-st for traffic He
wanted TO know when lower Elrl-st would he
ready Acting Chief Engineer Rice said thar
Ahote Leonard-st the street was in the hands
OF ne paving contractor and that below Leon
ara the subway people would be ready TO turn II
over 10 the borough authorities by July
very much doubt about the work being an
shape 10 turn IL over 10 the borough an that
uIle SAID President Orr. Il was IN the street
rev Gays ago, and Il seemed TO NE then that
there was a good deal of work 20 be done"
MT kice seemed 10 think that the subway
work would be cleaned up by the time stated
bct he added that the city would not be able 10
grace two or three OF the cross streets so as ~
make them disable by July ]. The new grade Of
5lm-st is six feet higher than the old grade OF