New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-15
THE NEXT SUBWAY.

When the subway having been practically
completed Mr.. John B. Mcdonald severed his
relations with the marlborough company, The
Tribune exclusively pointed out the probability
of bis reappearing before long as an impor-
tant factor in underground railroad operations
and an ally of the Metropolitan interests Yes
terday Mr. Mcdonald was elected director
of the Metropolitan Securities Company, which
controls all the surface car lines of this borough
and The Bronx. and announced his intention
of promoting far possible that company's
plan for establishing competitive system of
rapid transit below the surface.
Mr.. Mcdonald desires to discredit the some
what confident reports Of serious friction be-
tween himself and his former associates ex-
planning that his present determination is based
on belief that the transportation requirements
of the city can be fully supplied only by the
corporation which is able to transfer under
ground passengers at all convenient points TO
and from the surface lines. When the Metro
politan company first published its scheme for
an East Side underground road, with verte
braI extension to the south and loop around
the lower end of the city. we said that of
its chief attractions was the promise Of free
transfers to the existing streetcar system, and
undoubtedly that will be strong point in the
company's favor when it presents its case to
the Rapid Transit Commission. But there is
another important consideration to which the
commission will be expected to give due weight
So long the marlborough and the Metropoli-
tan are rivals In the transportation business
their competition for traffic would naturally re-
suit TO the advantage of the public. 1t will
shortly enable the commission, as may sup
pose, to make a contract for the next subway
on terms particularly favorable TO the city, and,
if the contract should be awarded to the Met
rop0litan, would naturally tend TO the mainten-
ance of q superior service on both systems,
The opinion has often been expressed that
sooner or later one great combination will be
found in control Of all the railroads of the city,
above, on and below the surface. The stock
market has sometimes lent support to that sup
position. and should not be surprised to hear
it said that an arrangement Of the sort was III
concealed by Mr.. McDonald's change of base
But, even If such conjectures are worthy of
attention, the fact remains that lively COM
petition for the next subway contract, whether
it was part of a deep game or not. would pre-
sumably put strong cards in the commissions
band and promote the permanent interests Of
the community. We do not wish TO have it I'M
derstood that we are supporting the appltca-
ton Of the Metropolitan company. The COM
mission may have given the subject thorough
consideration from every point of view and for
good reasons have & strong preference; but,
II so, the PUBIC mas not Ueeu duHlllLeu 10 Iue
discussion and has no suitable basis for a
choice. There is a good deal to be said on
both sides Free transfers between a second
subway and the first might be as valuable IN
the estimation Of many persons as the facilities
which the Metropolitan company has to offer.
But two things are certain, namely, that ex-
| perience has made It easy to do better for the
| city next time and that vigorous competition
| for the franchise. such now seems probable,
ought to give 1t additional advantages of posi-
! ton.