New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-09
READY, SAYS WINTER.
Says Investigation of Woodbmy's
Contract WM WhitezCash Il. II. II.

PRESIDENT Winter of the Brooklyn Rapid
transit Company says an investigation of the
street Cleaning Departments contract with his
company for the removal of ashes will give the
company a clean bill of health
Borough President Coer charges that the con-
tract made by Major Woodbury. involved a
waste OF city funds. as certain contractors
We're willing to cart away the ashes at a
much lower figure than is being paid to the
pany. He has inspired the aldermen to order
an investigation
The contract will not expire tin a wear from
next October" said President Winter yesterday
10 tribune reporter. II do not know how much
the Proht on the contract will be by that time,
nut L dc know that at the present showing the
eompanys profit is only $4,000 on the three and
a haIf years work. The plant required for
handling the ashes according TO Commissioner
Woodbury's ideas cost the company more than
100000
Major Woodbury. called on me soon after 1
became president of the system and told me that
MI Kennedy, who originally entered into con-
tract with the city for the disposition of the
ashes' was not financially able to carry it out
ana ne asked me to have the company take it
OH henhedys hands. l told the Commissioner
'hdt the company had enough to do to meet the
requirements Of a passenger carving road and
lhat would not undertake TO carry the citys
"'''N'' Hr. w woodbury. said that the BROOKLYN
Rapid Transit would be comforting a great favor
on the city by taking care of the ashes as the
opd system OF transporting them left the streets
Uttered and blocked car traffic He said that he
intended TO appeal to the directors of the road
10 enter INTO the contract. whether I opposed
nm or not and understand he did go and see
some OF them. He told the directors that there
would be large profit for the company in
handling the ashes. but 1 met his argument by
teHng him that was in the passenger carrying
business and that the company had no business
to go outside of that
commissioner Woodbury. finally prevailed
upon the directors of the company to take over
the Kennedy contract. AS soon as he submitted
ms ms plans for collecting stations told him that
tIeS were lmpractiCable. He admitted that they
were. and gladly consented TO changes In fact
all the departures from the original contract
we're acceded to by Commissioner Woodbury.,
aIter que consultation with the financial officers
or the city. All the clamor against Commits
sioher woodbury. and this company on account
VI the contract is entirely unwarranted Mr.
woodbury. did what he believed to be the best
thlhS Tor the city. and 1 must say that | ad-
mire his spirit in putting through an idea that
and his department '
whether the contract is really advantageous
10 the city or not is another matter. The fact
remains that the contract was duly made and
me company and city are mutually bound by its
t .S never considered 1t advantageous to
the company L think the company would be
better off without it"
is there not an indirect profit for the COM
psny In filling I'm swamp lands down F1atlands
way?' asked
We certainly get paid for dumping the ashes
down there said Mr. Winter. but the land Is
not ours. Just what the owner of the land
makes out OF 1t do not know. think 1t is a
good thing for the city TO have those marshy
lads hlled In, as it is gradually lessening the
mosquito breeding area. However, that is a
matter that we are not specially Interested in
Announcer thing for which this company is be-
Ing criticised is for running the ash cars in day
time When Commissioner Woodbury. brought
the first proposed contract to this office he had
IN 1t the provision that the ashes must be moved
at night. told him that this would be entirely
lmpracticable, as he would not be able to com
pei his own employees to do their part OF the
work at night. He acknowledged that [ was
rlSht about this. and suggested that the con-
tract be changed to leave il in our dis
erection TO do part OF the hauling in the day
time " ''
The company would be glad 10 do all the
hauIlng at night If it We're practicable but un-
less the street cleaning men co-operated with us
II would not be at all feasible. L don't know
anything about the rumors that various con-
tractors would be willing to do the work we are
doing for a quarter OF the cost per ward 7 am
inclined TO think that many of those stories are
without the shadow Of foundation. All that this
company is particularly concerned about ia
carrying out the terms of a perfectly valid con-
tract made by the city after the fullest consid
Grafton" O--9-N