New-York tribune., 1904-10-24

Benjamin Perkins They made a report on June o.
1892 approving the Broadway and Boulevard route
for an underground road. as already announced
with the following extensions:
From One-hundred- Observation-Disclosures north ,n-
der Eeventh-ave. to One-hundred and -nineteth-
st; then by viaduct TO the Kingsbridge Road: then
Two-hundred- and nd-seventeenth-st.: then by a via
canal; then by various described curves in tunnel
or Dy Nadqct as the conformation Of the land re-
creek; ana on to Rock-st and Forest-st to the
Also loop from Broadway under Mail-st. City
Han Park, Park Row and Chambers-st., and again
Also brSnch 'e reute dyengynE e FROM ~, main
llne at Fourteenth-st- and going up Fourth-ave.
TO torty-second-st
The report was accepted by the Supreme Court
and the formalties of laying out the route were
compiled with, the cost of the Rapid Transit Com
missions work. including the court proceedings
amounting 10 that time to $4,000 Everything then
looked favorable for an underground road in
Broadway.
FAILURE TO GET GOOD BIDs.
The high hopes of the Rapid Transit Commission
were blasted on December %. 1892. when an at
tempt was made TO sell the franchise for the pro-
posed underground road. In the presence of
large crowd at the City Hall the commission was
humiliated by failure to get a respectable bid w
\. Amory. who had failed 10 get the necessary
consents from the Broadway property owners and
who later became secretary of the Third Avenue
Railroad ilr Company made two bids. which the
mission would not accept. One of his bids was $500
In cash and one-half of per of the gross re-
ceipts from the operation of the road after the
road began running. His other bid was 81 900 for
the great franchise. without any conditions.
Greatly disheartened by the failure of any large
corporation or syndicate to bid for the franchise
offering to the city a reasonable amount for the
enormous privilege. the Rapid Transit Commission
declared that It saw no hope for an underground
road. and that it would give its attention 10 the
furtherance of plans for extending the elevated
railroad system. Accordingly the commission
turned to the Manhattan Railway Company and
began to offer to that corporation additional fran
chises which the company wanted. The trouble
was that the Rapid Transit Commission was not
willing TO give away the franchises for nothing
and the company seemed disposed not TO pay any
thing for the right TO make extensions to its ex.
listing lines.
STRIFE IN THE COMMISSION.
Commissioners Starin and Spencer nearly came to
blows at meeting June 7. 1898 because Of n
disagreement over the terms TO be offered TO the
Manhattan people Mr.. Starin declared that there
was something behind Mr. Spencer's eagerness to
advance the interests of the elevated roads and
Mr. Spencer called Mr. Starin liar The next da v
commissioners Steinway. Inman. Spencer and
Bushe sent their designations to Mayor Gilroy. d.
clarlng that they were unwilling TO the city
longer. because the work of the commission had
ent object to force the resignation of Mr Star
In and have the commission reorganzed. but Mr.
Starin declared that he would not resign and he
went through the form Of holding a meeting by
himself, transacting business. however. The
other four commissioners later withdrew their
designations at the request of Mayor Gilroy, and
Al a meeting on June 10, 1892, the four other
nr S4mms5oqeps 81 voted down ~, proposition Of Nj
George and Kinssbridse. on condition that the
company SnONQ pay Slt5.CD yearly into the city
treasury for the franchises. but united with Mr.
franchises on condition that the company should
pay to the city annually % per cent Of its net
Commisssioner Spencer again resigned, declaring
tinuing with the commission. His resignation was
accepted June p by Mayor Gilroy who appoint
Ar S9encers place.
ANY hope that the Manhattan Railway Company
would pay the price designated for franchises was
resolution declaring that it was ix0a passfd 20
then passed resolution declaring that il was
done with the Manhattan people and would Law
out independent route for a new elevated line
on November 80. 1898. tho Rapld Transit Com
which was to run from Battery, Place along West
ST. broadway and the Boulevard 70 One-hundred-
and seventeen h-st thence along the Kingshrdge
Creek and BY various twists and turns to the SH
line. i route was laid ont also for "A branch line
f6Fdnsh centre cana Wooser spa running ang
Fourteenth 70 connect with the main line al
Seventh-ave. II came 20 nothing and was con
demned by The public generally as a plan to Gre
ate another elevated line which ultimately wouId
be gobbIed up by the Manhattan Railway Corn-
pany.
ABRAM s HEWITTS PLAN
II was not until Abram 5. Hewitt laid before the
Chamber Of Commerce on March l. 1885, plan for
an underground road TO be built with the citv's
credit that the public was encourag ged to hope for
something substantial in the way Of real rapid
transit AS ex-Congressman with an honorable
record and as ex-Mayor who had won the conf
dence Of the best people Of the city. Mr. Hewitt
was listened 70 with attention. The resolutions
which he presented to the Chamber Of Commerce
had been prepared after long and careful study
Their adoption was a I'm the movement
for rapid transit. They show at this time that
ir. Hewitt had thought out the problem so per-