The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-23

the Battery, connecting there with the
Brooklyn extension, and to extend north
from Forty-second street and Fourth ave-
nue. into The Bronx. The leasees of the
present subway argued for this plan that it
provided an East Side and West Side line
which could be built with the least possible
expenditure OF time and money.
The Metropolitan interests proposed to
build an independent subway altogether,
running from The Bronx down Lexington
avenue, Irving place, Broadway and Will
liam street around the Battery, thence
under Church street, Hudson street and
Eighth avenue to The Bronx, with con-
Meeting crosstown lines at Chambers street
and at Thirty-fourth street
The committee on plans OF the Rapid
Transit Commission duly considered these
proposals early this year. practically re-
jected both and came out with plan OF
its own instead. This il the plan and route
which is pretty sure to be adopted when
the time comes to fx definitely the route
OF the next Manhattan subway.
1t follows In lar &c measure the proposals.
Of the Metropolitan Street Railway interests
for an independent subway. The CON-
mittee proposed to start the new hne at
14eth street and Third avenue, the north
eastern terminus OF the present subway
proper: to carry the line. with loop terminal
half way, under the Harlem River TO Lex
ington avenue; down Lexington avenue
to Fourteenth street, making a short curve
to Broadway and crossing under the pr esent
subway at Fourth avenue; down Broad
way to Chambers street. turning east there
and passing under the existing subway
again just north Of the Bridge station, to
William street; down william street, o,irving
east to South str eet and rounding tho Battery
into Greenwich street and running thence
up that street and West Broadway to Wash
ington Squar turning west there TO Seventh
avenue and up Seventh avenue to Thirty
fourth street and thence under Thirty
fourth street back to Lexington avenue.
To bring this huge loop Of a subway into
harmony with the existing line and provide
for an easy passage from one TO another
the committee proposed two short spurs.
First there was to be little one running
from Lexington avenue and Forty-hfth
street diagonally across to the present
subway at point about Fortieth street
and Park avenue. Then from Seventh ave-
nue. and Thirty-fourth street on the West
Side there was to be a short line running
directly up Seventh avenue to meet the |
present subway at Forty-thi-d street
For Brooklyn 1t was propose ed to build a
line long in demand, starting from Fort
Hamilton and running under Fourth avenue
as far as FlatbuHh avenue, then along or
beside the Brooklyn subway extension as
far as the junction Of Fulton street, and
thence direct to the end Of the approach
OF the new Manhattan Bridge, over that
bridge to Manhattan. turning off there to
Canal street and meeting the present sub
way at Canal and Centre streets.
1t wasn't proposed to build all these
new subways in lump OF to give the job |
necessarily to one bidder. 1t was proposed |
to divide 1t into five separate sections and |
invite bids on these separately, single |
contractor, however, not being, Of course,
prohibited from bidding for the whole.
Well, the committee proposed its plan,
the commission held a public hearing on
it, at which neither the representatives OF
the Metropolitan nor the marlborough
interests raised serious objection to 1t,
though each side thought they could offer a
plan which was a little better still. And
there the matter rests now
With the first subway open, the debt
limit taken Oft and the way clear for further
action, the Rapid Transit Commission may
be expected to busy itself again with the
plan, and something will be done almost
to carry out at least part OF
these comprehensive proposals,
Discussion OF the plan presented to the
by its committee did, however,
bring out several features. One was that
Il the second subway were let In sections
{ was possible that the steam railroads,
the New York, New Haven and
Hartford on the East Side section, and
possibly the Brooklyn Rapid Transit or the
long Island Railroad on the Brooklyn
tide, might enter into the competition for
he construction and operation Of the lines.
Another and more impor tant feature still
vas that the o,n mission In awarding the
lew contracts for these future subways
will be guided by the transfer facilities
hat the contractor and lessee can give
he passengers to existing lines, rather
han the price that will be paid directly
o the city for the franchise,
When the Metropolitan interests pro-
osed their plan for a new subway TO the I
Thomas F. Ryan announced Z
n their behalf that 10 the plan was adopted
nd the contract to build and operate the 9
Dad given IN the Metropolitan, tranaers q
0 the company's surface lines In Man. ! q