New-York tribune., 1904-10-05
EAST SIDE SUBWAY PLAN.
STEAM ROADS MAY BID.
Contracts To BE offered in Sections
I'm 0inpers 0t Work.

The plan or the Rapid Transit Commission for
an East SIDE subway, as sketched yesterday for
a Tribune reporter by Alexander z. Orr the
president Of the commission. does not agree in
all its details with either the plan OF the Bel
mont syrdics u or thu plan recently presented
BY the metropolitan management In the prep
srafion of the com MISSIONS plan Mr. Orr said,
the controlling thought was rot how best 10
please either Of the traction companies. but how
best 10 serve the interests OF the people of the
city IA obtaining future improvements in rapid
transit
While no definite route has been laid out by
the commission for an East Side line, there is
q general agreement that part OF the route viii
be Lexlngton-ave.. from the Harlem River TO
Forty-second-st This viii be regarded as a sec
fion of the next subway system for which the
commission viii invite bids Another section
VIII proceed I'm Lexington-ave. q considerable
distance south Of Forty-second-st, and continue
on 70 the Battery by route similar to that
proposed by the Metropolitan management, and
paralleliag the route Of the present subway
south OF Forty-second-st The exact lire Of the
second section after il leaves Lezington-ave will
depend on the results Of the borings and other
investigations now being made by the engineers
Of the commission.
The line returning from the Battery. Mr.. orr
Gays. VIII follow the general route proposed by
the Metropolitan management less closely as
The commission prefers Broadway Seventh
ave. north Of FourteenIh-st., to Eighth-ave. In
one respect. however the commissions plan will
agree with the Metropolitan plan for the West
Side loop. in that Il viii form a connection with
the Pennsylvania station and tunnel
The commission has agreed Mr.. Orr said TO
offer the next subway system in sections. so
that the Belmont syndicate and the Metropolitan
rav a. aa,,eS oh otl,a An
sections viii be offered at the same time with
the understanding that the successful bidder
may decide which section shall be completed
first
The lowest bidder for the entire subway sys.
tenn may not get the contract necessarily. be-
cause the commission will take into considera-
ZION what the bidders can offer in the way Of
transfers to existing lines Of railway and other
inducements Of benefit TO the travelling public.
Z viii thus be seen that the Pennsylvania and
fbs GeW-Yo Central may become interested in
bids for the next subway system.
Mr. Orr could not say yesterday when the
commission could decide on q complete route for
the next subway SYST n. which is tC include
the East Side subway. Action viii have TO be
deferred he said. until the engineers who are
making the Investigations can report on the
various sections. some Of them tentative. giving
fun details. This preparatory work viii have
70 be suhhcienty thorough 10 be the basis OF
estimates for the contracts which will be Of
Geped to the bidders
Among the New Workers who have been in-
terested in rapid transit for the East Side for
long time is John D. Crmnins
4 was interested long before the first COM
mission was appointed by Mayor Grant" said
Mr. CriInmins yesterday "and instru-
mental in having that first commission appoint
ed. II was apparent TO me from the time the
route OF the present subway was fixed that there
had been ~ci5ed failure to take care of the
Interests OF tue Harlem and Bronx sections Of
s the city People Of those districts cannot have
red rapid transit so long the subway goes to
the far west in Manhattan before turning east
the corner Of Central Park direct East
Side line OF express trains win be the only solu-
Iion OF the dificuity.
It is apparent TO many people that IL the
Metropolitan people should be permitted to build
their proposed East Side line and give transfers
10 the surface lines they would get most Of the
travel for the great mass Of the people live on
the East Side, while The Bronx is filling up at
that indicates that the transit facilities OF
the East Side line viii be taxed to the utmost
as soon as II is built Interborough stock would
be worth less than il is If the Metropolitan
had the right 70 build an East Side subway"