New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-22
" LOYAL" TO MCCLELLAN,
CIRCUIT TURNED DOWN.
Borough Heads ignored Requests
for fiction on Stein5cdy Tunnel.

II became known yesterday thet Mayor Nc
flelaall's action in requesting Corporation Coun-
sci Delany and Borough President Ahearn 10
act in she matter Of the StetnwaE tunnel "Crao
IN z2d-st, and prevent the Accomplishment "H
stealth Of a project defeated in the legislature
owing to The Trihune's exposure. had been ante
dated by more than month by similar action
ia Controller CIRCUITS Office In other words
more than a month before Mayor Mcclellan
took any action in the matter, and before MS
sttesation had been called the matter by
Lawrence WELLER -of the City club the whole
affair had beer brought 70 the notice OF
Corporation Counsel nelany hy the Con-
troller, and that even prior TO that the
same information had haen lodged with
President Ahearn The loyaltE Of the Nc
clellan administration 70 its chief and 10 me
interests of the people is shown by the fact
that although the letter from the Controllers
Office was sent to M Delany on August 10 1t was
necessary for the Mayor. more than four weeks
later. acting or the suggestion Of the City Club.
TO recall this matter 10 the attention OF both
his subordinates
The letter from the Controllers Office to Bor-
ough President Ahearn was under the date Of
July IS and contained the plain request that
Ahearn instruct the Commissioner of Public
Works 10 Withhold permission to construct
tunnel in 42d-st.. running westward from the
East River The Withholding Of the permit
would result in forcing the Steinway tunnel PEG
pie TO bring legal action. as this letter pointed
out and such legal action, 50 the letter from the
Controllers department sgnifed, would be
easily defended. a further letter from the same
source was sent to Borough President Cassidy of
Queens. requesting him To withhold permission.
this tine Under the terms Of Long Island City
franchise of 1891
The communication 10 Corporation Counsel
Deiapy then cited in detail the facts that were a
month later noted by the Mayor in his formal
action on Mr.. yeiller's information. 8fr. Delanys
attention was called to the fact that tunneng
on private property in Long Island City without
the permit of the Borough President Of Queens
was going on. and also Man of Wars Reef
and the Importance Of checking the work at once
dWelt upon. Moreover. the letter contained
q definite offer from? the Controllers office to
Detail assistant to cooperate with the Cor
poration Counsel in any action that might be
deemed wise TO check the grab. Despite this let
ter there was action The part OF the Cor
poration Counsel for more than four weeks,
while the whole work was going on and the
effort 10 get a perpetual franchise at the eX-
pleted
The action of the Mayor after month. when
his suhordinates who knew about il, in one
case for two months. in the other for one-may
give evidence Of good faith on his part, but II
also Indicates the lack of relation between the
head of the city government and the Tammany
officials and its danger 10 the public interests.
The action of Borough PRESIDENT AheaFn IN
revoking the permit to sink a shaft for the Bel
mont tunnel in East 42d-st has created much
talk in Long Island City on account of the large
number of men employed by the Belmont in
terests in getting the tunnel work under way
There has been rapid progress on the tunnel in
Queens Operations began only few weeks
ago. but already of the shafts is down fifty
eight feet and 4 heading is started toward the
East River that already extends through the
rock for rs feet.
The cutting so far has been through solid
rock It was expected that soft spots would
be encountered. but nothing softer than solid
rock has been found. A machinery plant has
been set up the companys property in 4th-
st and the place is scene Of great activity
The contractors have been anxious to demon
strate that the Yankee method" is superior to
the so-called English method" employed by
Chief Engineer Jacobs on the Pennsylvania
tunnel contract. not far away. The Belmont
syndicate has invested about 100000 in real
estate in Long Island City. and owns more than
half the block bounded by 4th and 9TH SITS.
and Jackson and Vernon ayes. It is under
stood in Long Island City that the Belmont
people viii go ahead with their work the per
nit revocation in East 42d-st- not affecting
them on the Long Island City end.