New-York tribune., 1904-10-24

4 the commission adopted the plans and route
The widening of Em-st. and it's extension into
Lafayette Place already had cost the city an i'm
mense sum, partly account of the dilatory and
expensive action of commission appointed by the
Supreme Court to condemn property for the i'm
prOvement. The adoption of the EIm-st. TO
Fourth-ave., and the continuation OF the line
through Fourth-ave. and Forty-second-st. to
Broadway il was announced would lessen the cost of
change of route wouid enable the commission 10
get consents for the subway along the greater part
1t was necessary. however. to apply 70 the court
for another commission in order that the court
the new plan were held during parts Of April. July
August. September and October of 1891 The APP
proval of the Supreme Court strengthened the posi-
ton of the commission, and efforts were made be-
fore the close of Mayor Strongs term TO get bid
ders for the underground road as planned.
Early in 1898, when Mayor Van Wyck and Con-
troller Coler had become ex-oficio members Of the
commission, IT became apparent that the Ianmany
id transit. The Mayor refused 10 attend any meet
ngs of the commission and Mr.. COler declared that
ting of any rapId transit contract The Rapid Tran
sit Commission persevered in its course adopted a
same time granting some franchises for elevated
On March a. 1899 the Metropolitan officials. OF
whom the late William c. Whitney was the leader
commissions plans with private capital and pay
into the city treasury per cent or the gross re-
ceipts of the road when it began running. provided
the company should have a perpetual franchise
for the road. The commission old not accept this
The announcement that the debt limit obstacle
had been removed by the large increase III Ine
assessed valuation Of property in the city came In
June, with other evidence that the Tamnany off,
Mavor Van Wy,K mad broken his vow not to
tend meetings of the Rapid Transit Commission.
H p9TsCna attention to % the Rork Of drawing up
contract which would protect the city IN. every every
syndicate 10 bid for the contract Mr. Orr was
merce by Morris X Jesup in May. 1899 Mr.. Jesup
therefore becoming an ex-Ofhcio member or the
Rapid Transit Commission In order that Mr..
Orr might be continued president Of the COM
mission, John Clafin resigned, and Mr. Orr was
elected president of the commission
MDONALD's BID ACCEPTED.
On January 10. 1900 bids for the subway contract
were opened. John B. Mcdonald and Andrew On
derdoEk were the TWO bidders. and Mr. McDonald's
bid accepted. BY the terms OF the accepted
bid the city 10 pay the contractor SS5 100000
for the construction of the subway and sim
not exceeding s. 100000 for terminals. station sites
and other purposes the city to issue its bonds 10
raise the money payments were required.
The construction be completed in four
years and half, and the term of the lease from
with renewal at TIE option OF the contractor for
twenty-five Years at rental to be agreed upon by
then preceding years. The rental for the fifty
year term was fixed at an amount equal 70 the
for construction and l per cent additional to ere
cent during the first ten years to be contingent in
part upon the earnings Of the road
Mr.. Mcdonald the city required him deposit
10000 in cash as security for &C construction TO
for bd N ana y d e92en @ and to iaTlSh
for the performance of the contract The city. In
addition 10 this security had under the provisions
ment. and it should be mentioned that at the ex-
pration of the lease and renewals Of any the
an agreement or arbitration upon the question OF
the price to be paid for it by the city.
SUBWAY CONTRACT SIGNED.
Mr.. Mcdonald obtained the aid of August Bel
tion Company to carry out the contract. The con-
tract was signed on February "a. 1900, by Mr.. Nc
Donald and the Rapid Transit Commission consist
ing OF Mayor Van Wyck. Controller Coier Presi-
dent Orr and Commissioners Starin. Smith Lang
\, month later & on on March "a Mayor % Van Wyck
Hall The work Of subway construction was unier
Elm-st.. Fourth-ave. Forty -secOnd-st and Broad
way 70 The Kingsbrdge station of the New-York
and one-half miles long, about two miles being on
viaduct and the resi- OF the way being subway or
hundred thlrd-st., three-track road from
One-hundred- and third-st To One-hundred-and-
forty-hfth-st.. and two-track road the rest Of
dred-an j. -fourth-st. under the corner Of Central
Park and under the Harlem River al Lenox-ave.
and into The Bronx far as the Bronx Park az
d-seventy ty-seventh-st and the Bos-
ton Road Is nS@'ly seven IaleS ohs anq mas & thIee
ave and Ore-hundred and forty -ntnth-st. and a
The plans and route for the extension OF the
subway to Brooklyn. now being constructed. were
adopted by the Rapid Transit Commission in the
summer Of 1902. and the contract awarded to
the Rapd Transit Construction Company. In 1902
also Mr.. Belmont formed the Interborough Rapid
Transit Company, which Is to operate the subway.
This company has built the big power house and
has furnished the equipment for the road
In the construction OF The present subway two
der PaTk-ave. between Thirty-fourth and Forty
second stsr sor which Ira a. shaler was the sub
contractor. An explosion of dynamite January
D. 1907 killed several persons and damaged the
Murray Hin Hotel In the following March sew
eraI houses in Park-ave. were Und, rrlincd BY the
sliding OF the rock under them into the subway
excavation. Later MI Shaler. who had been in
dicted account Of the dynamite accident, was
hit BY a piece of rock which fell in the subway
He dlcd from his injury On JUNG g. 1907