New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-04
WHY I'D" CLAUSE WASIN
Charles Ste1cart Smith Says Su5zcay
Hinged on 1t.

Charles Stewart Smith. who was a member Of
the committee which drew up the contract told
last night just why the clause about adver-
tlslEg was inserted. Neither he nor anv other
lhe1nber OF the commission wanted dishgurinE
signs IN the subway any more than an7 mem
Der Of the Municipal Art Society. he explained
Dur 1t was question Of the completion of
great utility which was destined 10 be a benefit
10 the entire city
MT Orr George L. Rives and I were mem
oers OF the contrac: committee" said MI
smith whose function it was to prepare the
contract with the aid Of the counsel 70 the COM
mission, to call the attention Of prospective bid
ders to the provisions OF the contract as we had
drawn II, and 10 ask for suggestions from such
bidders as they might deem advisable regard
ing possible changes in the specifications Of
the contract we had drawn it, We con
suited with and submitted the contract TO the
late William c. Whitney, his counsel. Elihu
Root being present. We had long interview
with MI Whitney regarding it, trying to in
terest him to become a bidder for the Metro
politan Street Railway Company
/, representing the contract committee had
an interview with Mr.. Gould to try to induce
him TO become a bidder for the Manhattan COM
pany Thess gentlemen declined TO become bid
ders for thei- respective companies recall
that Mr.. Whitney told me a man would no an
idioJ 10 bid for this contract without perpetual
lease The members Of the Rand Tra ns.t Corn,
mission VIII recall that at that time. and for
year or two previouS Offering this contract
Tor pubic competition, some OF the best citizens
of New-York were very positive in their convfc-
tons and predictions that the rapid transit nm
mel would be positive failure
4 recall that one Of them advised me that
what little reputation had made in New-Yorls
wouId De absolutely lost by my continuing in
the Rapid Transit Commission and he advised
me as a friend TO resign. We heard from ali
sides criticisms Of the hole IN the ground the
which u
mel was then dignifed. The Rapid Transit Corn,
mission, in their faith regarding It's future sue
cess. had at that time very few substantial
hackers. The instinct OF the people who voted
that IT should be built with the city money was
wiser and more prophetic than the capital
classes.
WHY SIGN CONCESSION WAS MADE
AT that time the Rapid Transit Commission
was not at all sure Of getting bona fde bidder
who could give the requisite bond and obtain
the capital necessary TO carry out the provisions
Of the contract Among other provisions we
came to the article regarding the use Of signs in
the subway. such used IN the streetcars
in all railway stations. omnibuses and many
public places in London.
Every member OF the commission was op-
posed TO the use Of these advertising signs We
made the concession which appears IN the con-
tract, that the contract shall not permit ad-
vertiseTnents in the stations or cars which shall
interfere with the easy Identification Of stations
or otherwise with efficient operation because
there was danger that unless we made this CON
cession and some others that were more or ass
important we could not get a bid and exceDt
for the pluck Of John B. Mcdonald and sub
sequently Of the group Of ca pitalists which Au-
gust Belmont brought behind Nj NcDonald
should have waited a number of wears nrob-
ably. before the rapid transit subway was com
menced.
The difficulties connected with the rapid tran
sit project seemed at times almost insur1nount-
able, and 1t is largely due to Alexander z Orr's
confidence, courage and backbone that the work
was commenced at that time
in the Brooklyn contract made before wa
heard anything about this question of signs
provided that signs should be used In
that section Of the rapid transit tunnel without
the consent OF the commission in writing