New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-02
SFCOND-AVE.TUNNELPLAN
~ r. WILL SUBMIT 1T.
pr,naring for a E0ely Contest Scith
Belmont Interests.

ITO, reached members OF the Rapid
=. Commission yesterday that the inter
-, r,or,nanv. or the Metropolitan stree'
-. rs n is better known, VIII supih1 10
= o.ris Transit Commission al an carry Gay
-, fo- a subway under Second-aFe-, instead
:, ,,,sar any West side thoroughfare- Inc Al
- intention OF the Interurbsn TO favor an
-. side route was q surprise 10 the cornr1lis-
sion. -,-,,-. .,s
4, has already been told IN The Tribune tne
.--,tssion he's requested the local uanspoIta-
-, coulpanies 70 submit tentative plans Inc
,,,,-,ent company wants 20 build an extension
- .bs present subway up Lexington-aNe. 10
rss Bronx II also wants 10 cross over % 'ne
,.,,+ SIDE SO as 70 touch the proposed Penn
s,lvania Railway tunnel station and 80 0o""
a.. west Side ,nder Seventh or Eighth ave. 70
tbe Ba-te-y. or BY way q broadway, Flfth-aFe'
.na West broadway. Il Is understood that Tor
this route the Irterborough company Is Wiling
70 put in most advantageous hid, Es il would
make SIS system n Manhattan more coulprehen-
Eive.
Until a shor. tirre ego The Metropolitan people
Nere not disposed to pay much attention to sub
eay aca.rq. The conviction has been growing
t5uever. that the subway, now nearly com
Acted :- going 10 be q fne dividend Garner n
tsuuch as the Joss from operating expenses on
account Cf damages Will be kept az a minimum.
THE Metropolitan company az present pays
Tremendous amount Of money each year u SET
element of lawsuits as 6oes slso the Brook
tyn Rapid Transit Company. Furthermore. the
Metropolitan has nearly reached its limit as a
passenger carrying concern. It's cars are loaded
o. nearly ali times or tho day. and the unused
franchises in this borough are not cf character
20 warrant the hope that the daily receipts can
be largely increased. A new subway up the East
Side would probably give the Metropolitan ac-
tess to all the bridge terminals. and enable Il
60 tap the financial district by going down either
Nassau or wnliam-st., thus insuring a heavy
traffic at al hours OF the day.
A CHANGE IN SENTIMENT
a sudden change Of sentiment toward a new
Independent subway is reported in local railway
rrcles. A year ago the Rapid Transit Commits
ton, under the lead Of President Orr. seemed 70
favor a unilcation Of the subways, so as 10
guarantee a single hve-cent fare, with transfers
30 all the tunnel lines. Commenting on this
change IN sentiment one Of the commissioners
eaid last night:
While there certainly would be a great advantage
" having a unified system Of subways. still the
bar5T he yra-rar+ed ia cine- lie control ~ ri
the subways wholly with operating company
'lletlt A1ltIlN last year aLhDctlel t1e Eillliilf
@ an independent system. and the ElsberE hfl
iast year provided for such project The Net
ierests at hs Tine and besides The citys finance.
Nera not available 10 take uD the matter seriously
Now t Is different Tho Metropolitan people want
q get IN. and they viii submit bid for tunne
Nnder Secoud-aYo. The commission will have O.
decide between their bid and the one favored dy
Tie Belmont interests. IL looks now as II the
- the sentiment seems 20 be growing IN favor Of
havinr independent system. 50 as 20 Judge OF
the merits q the two systems after they are in
practical operation.
Mr. BoARDMAN's OPINION.
Things are in a somewhat nebulous state.
Eaid Albert B. Boardrnan. Of counsel for the
12apd Transit Commission. While I have heard
Il suggested that the Metropolitan interests
Would submit a proposition favoring a tunnel
under Second-ave. ] very much doubt If there
IS anything definite about their plans. That
they are going 10 put in a bid for distinct
tunnel system. however is quite certain. ] sup
pose the commission Win have to choose between
the two propositions when they are submitted.
There isn't any doubt in my mind that the sub
ways are going 10 prove extremely popular with
the travelling public. 1 rode downtown the other
day with unusually intelligent conductor He
tod mo that the running time between -Four
feenjh-st aEd the Battery had been lengthened
tbout seven minutes. because Of the growth OF
The traffic In Broadway. and the practical i'm
t'"7i'illtH hl II'Alle me blodQNey cars :s IdSl
g formerly. Perhaps il is some such condition
OF affairs that has prompted the Metropolitan
people 10 try 10 get z tunnel franchise. I look
70 zee The city drive pretty hard bargain with
the builders of the next tunnel. Controller
Grout seems TO be disposed TO 90 the limit In
demanding favorable terms FOR the city. and It
strikes nle that traffic conditions in this city wiz
con1el TIE carrying compsnics 10 accert almost
any terms The city may feel Inclined 20 impose.
'Gt course. u Is 10 De assumed that the city
Nli deal fai-ly with The companies, bat al the
same time Il looks as 81 the CITY would he more
e.2ct-ls in building the next tunnel than 81 was
WITH Mr Belmont and Mr. Mcdonald. They as
tlneJ the big risk as pioneers. ard doubtless
vii Pc Mea rewarded Tor it. The risk in build
lng The next tunnel viii NOT be 30 great and for
'lat reason the city ought to have a number
@ 9lcoers. Ine Mayor is in favor Of a bin
winch VIII authorize the Board Cf Estimate and
.tiportionfnent 20 place at the disposal OF rhe
Rapid Transit Commission whatever money &C.
needed Tor the building OF further subwaye and
extensions The bin is likely 70 pass II n sops.
- y ie1soNaoe TO assume that a new contract
W & De rtaoE 70 let BY about the time the pres
ent SUBWAY Is fully opened for trsflic.'