New-York tribune., 1905-12-29
CITY MAY BUILD SUBWAYS
Viii Act Promptly IN Case of
BeImont's DELAY.

The Rapid Transit commissioners unit in
determination to fight the new Belmont-Ryan
traction combination If the combination shows
disposition to hamper the city in working out
rapid transit problems.
This was made clear yesterday, when President
Orr, Controller Grout and others talked freely
about plans for building new subways in opposi-
tion to the Belmont system
Shortly after the commissioners gathered for
their weekly meeting President Orr said:
There is anxiety on the part of the public
growing out of the fact that merger has been
brought about between the Metropolitan and In
terborough interests, but the board is Of the
unanimous opinion that this influence, which, it is
feared, might prevent the further development and
construction of new subways. is unduly exagger-
ated, and believe that. when prepared
to advertise for bids for new subways, there will
be other bidders than those in the combination.
The board is going ahead as If no merger had
taken place, as rapidly it can, 10 obtain con-
demnaton commissioners from the Appellate Di-
vision to pass upon the routes and give the board
the necessary consents.
What is the basis for the belief by the board
that there will be other bddeFs7' Mr.. Orr was
asked
I'VE believe that capital will be attracted by the
fact that the present subway has proved to be fine
investment said Mr.. Orr. THE people not dis
posed to relinQuish their efforts for the building
Of more subways. We believe that the subway is
the solution Of the rapid transit problem, and II
necessary shall apply to the legislature Tor
the needed relief to forward our plans
Controller Grout. in telling of what had gone on
in executive session, said:
I'VE discussed the possibility Of new bidders.
we believe that the enormous value of the sub
way franchises Will attract capital from all over
If there is indication that there will be re-
sponsible bidders in addition to the Belmont-Ryan
interests, the feeling is that we should go to the
legislature and ask for necessary legislation. One
o oud bin be proyed % Rdds for BOTH the
ton and operation Of the road by the city city "A =
operation separately. Another measure of RELIEF
would be for the tax tax 0f & to TaSs ba tnS oSS @
crease the debt mourning capacity OF the city by
'SThe Belmont interests have not improved their
condition by taking over the Metropolitan," said
Of cats and dogs not worth their feed and their
position from being as strong as 1t was before
'ils Albert B. Boardrnan counse! to the commission
IF the commission cannot get responsible bddders
for competing subway system; t tpen a1 we sreag
within bounds when say that we %e %TSla tbortS Ds 70 70
favor of asking the he iegsa5vFe 0e @ tSns Is cer
tain and that is that we won't lie down.
tee of the Citizens Union yestsrday sent letter
to President orr of the Rapid Transit Commission
he d S JRpsgsoR RsSsaF q f05 fuS4a Sat1 tR
Tays yo Confer 9 on cqn the kapd Fsnst
pOwsE p1coDs ef rant nteFests Inc points ths
If defeated at the coming session mere 16 m naS
ekna1st ans W belmont Of the 1nterborough company
eTIIne TO the resolution passed at tna last meet
ing az The commission. said that the Work OF con-
e e. 4sSrctin- the subway the Broadway line norn
4s1b is progressing expeditously as pos
hie II 6t he was unable to say when the entire line
RFeeardnZ the complaint that expresses are not
~.te5 nm On tbe third track of the subway nortn
Dsiuk s dks+i,st Mr. Belmont said that the present
cbeSIIe permits trains to stop at the seven sta
tons north OF e6th-st. and that the service as nov
ooTnducted accommodates more passengers tna1 tt
the were run , on sIay sne S;na T1nAe HaSA ~
PrSSens ernssrTesentative Of the washington Heights
r,a,ar3y Owners Association told President OFT
nat M Bryan of the Interborough company mac nae
sSfa,-nei him sornstine ago that the broaoWaS
into[aleot t,na xrould be running to Spuyten DuyVn
suy ~ rs5sarnber ~ He complained that he now IIoers
tends that the northern eno OK LAsb Aiio WIN hOs
ne opened until April next -. ,.,,4 49,. ~-orlr
OsSSto+ TSn9ineer Rioe when asked about the WORK
II hss he thought the upper part OF the Broad-
sS line ought not to take longer than a., monh @ 20
eor1nieta He requested 70 pooA Ato 4to 4iA''ot
Sv5 trenort at the next meeting. - -,
111| SE5o1sonhTlrst and Bath Beach SUBWAY Asso-
1ae in letter invited the members OF the com
5SsSon and also the chief engineer 20 go over tne
,-oSte proposed by the ASSOCIATION Aot Subway
Tha Invitation was aocepted'