New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-25
10 MAKE SUBWAY OFFER
TRANSFERS, LOW FARES.
VI. S. Il. Independent Route from
Battery to Harlem.

The Metropolitan Street Railway Company
will to-day make a tentative proposition to the
Rapid Transit Commission for an independent
subway route from the Battery to the Harlem.
1t is understood that the Metropolitan's big
card" will be a proposal. in it is allowed
TO build the subway. to give free transfers TO all
its lines in Manhattan and a reduced fare
the Union lines in The Bronx.
The proposition 10 be presented to the Rapid
Transit Commission does not comprehend the
financial features Os subway contract. That
will come later. The subject Immediately before
the commission now IS a route from the
Battery to The Bronx.
The Metropolitan officials were uncommunica-
tive last night when ssked about the route. II Is
understood that it would run from the Battery
up Greenwich-st. to Hudson-st., to Eighth-ave
10 the new Pennsylvania Railroad Station at
Thirty-second-st.. thence under Thrty-sixth-st
to LeXington-ave. and then north TO the Har-
lem Rumors were IN circulation few days
ago that the Metropolitan favored a route under
Second-ave from the Harlem TO Houston-st..
then under Chrystie or Forsyth st. and other
streets TO Willlam-st. and South Ferry. thus
tapping the financial district close TO Wall and
Broad sts
II is understood that this plan has been
abandoned in favor Of the Lexington-ave. route.
to give the Metropolitan cars access to
both the railway stations in the heart OF the
city. Dipping under the Harlem at One-hun-
DIRE i-and thirty sxth-st.. the Metropoitans pro-
posed route VIII reach it's northern terminus at
about One-hundred- and thirty eighth st. where
Il will be IN direct connection with the lines OF
the Union Railway Company, now controlled by
the Metropolitan interests.
This connection with the Union company's
lines at the lower edge OF The Bronx Is counted
4oLa ha ATT 70
the Rapid Transit Commission than any plan
thus far laid down by the Belmont company
The Interborough company sent to the Rapid
Transit Commission on January 2S letter from
Mr.. Mcdonald to Mr. Belmont embodying the
views Of the Interborough officials with refer
enoe to the most desirable route. In that letter
Mr.. Mcdonald. among other things. said:
was not In favor OF abandoning the Broadway
extension. and I still OF the opinion that
Vital necessity exists FOR the extension Of the road
then proposed. either to Fourteenth-st. or to
twenty thlra-st 'shd TON tiaI pot ue%h lIt,l-
with Brooklyn extension. The next extension
ia importance. and one which the Rapid Transit
subway construction Company should request from
the commission, IS the CONSTRUCTION OF a three
track tunnel from Forty -second-st up Lexington
ave. TO and under the Harlem River through
lines in The Bronx.
While it is a matter Of conjecture. II is be
Heved in local railroad circles that when It
comes to building the new tunnel the bidders
will offer TO 90 it without asking the loan o.
the city's credit II will be remembered that
the Belmont company offered to build the
Brooklyn extension for S2.OOOOOO. although the
work viii cost the Interborough company about
S9OOOOOO The Interborough got the contract |
its proposition being far more attractive than !
that submitted by the Rapid Transit Company
OF Brooklyn.
The Iuterborough and the Metropolitan may
not be the only companies 10 submit bids when /
the Rapid Transit Commission asks for pro-
posals. Railroad men generally are greatly in
terested in tunnel projects in this city. and it I
would not surprise the commission If one or two /
propositions from outside and comparatively un-
known bidders submitted.
II is practically certain that the commission /
will restrict the contractors who build the next /
subway TO doing practically all the tunnelling /
without breaking up the surface of the streets. /
If the Rapid Transit Commission insists the /
work being done with the minimum OF incOn- !
VeuienCe to the public the cost of the tunnel /
will be enormously increased. The work in 1
lower Broadway is costing nearly douDle What |
IL cost some Of the sub-cOntractOrs to build /
four track tunnel in other parts Of the city by /
the open ditch system.
Despite the cost. there is little likelihood OF
the commissions permitting any more open
ditch work
is the only big thing to come before the /
Rapid Transit Commission at its meeting to- I
gay. II was reported last ulSnl IHdl august
Belmont will to-day lay before the commission .
his plan for new subway from the Grand Cen I
trai Station under Forty-second-st and the I
East River TO Long Island City to give 4
the subway proper a connection with Queens /
Borough. Mr.. Belmont some time ago acquired /
from the owners the control of the Steinway \
system Of surface lines in Queens. with the !
franchise for the tunnel begun nearly twenty /
years ago and abandoned by its builders after .
q bad accident on the Queens side. II is likely /
that the InterborOugh company will utilize some /
Of the franchises it owns in Long Island City /
for fast subway trains to reach Belmont Park.
just over the line IN Nassau County from the \
village Of Queens. where MT. Belmont and his /
associates building the largest racing park \
in this country This park will be the new
home Of the Westchester Racing Association .
after the old Morris Park track Is abandoned. /
1t is believed that Mr. Belmont will not stop 4
till he is able TO run subway trains out to the .
track in Nassau County although il may take .