The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-22
SUBWAY'S BUILDER LEFT OUT.
REL MONT, Not M'DONALD, TO BE
~ FRONT AT THE OPENING.
Nnen Your shosel's Empty. Wall street
Doesn't Give Damn for You, says the
Contractor--The EIbowing out Proc
ess APPLIED In subway Matters.

John B. Mcdonald, the man who built
the subway. will not speak at the ceebra-
ton In the Aldermsn's chamber next Thurs
day, when New York's first underground rail-
wayis formally turned over by the city to
the operating company. As a mattero OF fact,
he has not been asked to speak or to take
snv pa ri officially in this important function.
August Belmont, who did not build the
subway, but who is president Of both the
construction and operating companies,
has been invited by the committee of the
Aspid Transit Commission in charge OF the
eslebration to make an address on behalf
Of the marlborough corporation
when asked by Sun reporter yesteday
why he had not been invited to speak Mr..
Mcdonald said:
when the dirt is off your shovel Wall
Street doesn't give damn for YOU"
Hedeclined to interpret this epigra mmatic
remark or to admit that by Wall Street he
meant Mr. Belmont
1T is rue he said, "tha, have not been
asked to speak at the opening ceremony,
but am rather glad of that, for l never
made a speech in my life. All that I have
10 say Ia that in the subway the city will
have fine piece of work and hope that
Il will be appreciated at it's full value"
viii you lend the celetra,ion?" he was
asked.
oh. yes I'll be there he said, smiling
broadly.
That Mr.. Mcdonald was moi asked I O take
speaking part in the celebration was con-
frmel by Rapid Transit Commissioner
Woodbury. Langdon, one of the committee
in charge.
.No arrangement has been made. he said,
'iorMr. Mcdonald to speak
When it became known yesterday that
Mr. Mcdonald had been left out Of the
celebration and Mr.. Belmont showed to
the front there was much comment theron
10th among Wall Street men and city Off
Gals. 1t was pointed out that although
Mr. Mcdonald had turned over his. inter
ests in the subway to the construction
and operating companies, nevertheless
he was generally regarded by the public
AZ the man who had built the road, and for
that reason there was more interest in
him personally than in any other man
connected with rapid transit development
in New York
That there has been friction between
Mr.. Belmont and Mr.. Mcdonald has long
been known by those with inside kno Wedge
Of subway affairs. Mr.. Belmont, it was said
Yesterday, has always resented the promi-
nence given to Mr.. Mcdonald in the news
papers and elsewhere in connection with
the great enterprise.
It began to crop out 4s long ago as Janu-,
cry, ssoN, when the Arst rshcveifzl Of earth
was dug out for the tunnel by Mayor Van
Wyck In the City Hall Park. On that
occasion Mr.. Mcdonald was pushed into
the background, just as he is going to be
pushed into the back ground at the celebra-
tion next Thursday.
Soon after the building OF the subway
began an important statement was issued
from Mr.. McDonald's office concerning
certain features Of the work. Mr.. Belmont,
it was recalled Yesterday, was very angry
about this statement, and gave orders
that thereafter all news ncerning Rapid
Transit construction should come from
% Nassau street which is the office OF
Belmont Il Co.
Reporters, however, persisted in seeking
information of Mr.. Mcdonald. because
they looked upon him as the man qualified
by experience to talk about this work.
Then il began to be limited that Mr.. McDon-
aid was but a salaried employee Of the
Subway Construction Company and that
the only genuine toad in the puddle was
A. Belmont, whose banking house was the
agent for the people furnishing the neces-
ssrv capital for the enterprise.
Mr. Mcdonald is regarded as a modest
man. II he feels any bitterness over the
treatment accor ded him by those in charge
of the celebration he did not show any
traces OF it yesterday. He did not even
call attention to the fact that. as the builder
Of the railroad tunnel under Baltimore,
he had honors showered upon him by that
CITY, and that he was the central figure in
the celebration held to mark the compile
ton Of the work