New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-17
SHRWAY TANGLE LIKEI.T
roo MANY NEW ROUTES.
cor;toE Viii Shup Parallel Tubes
Grout VII Bid.

-, belmont Ryan traction merger brings
inc 'N...ae+i,,r developments in its wake as
na". onitsIists work out the plans for holding
u0 Holm Z. Mcdonald will sever MS
'0-f -, with the Metropolitan company H.
o" s his resignation is not already IN Ed
n Grout. who, as Controller, was acONo
-oading the Rapid Transit Commission 10
u = o,,+ mans for many subways, has entereu
map 90 90 prospective bidder with Mr.. Nc
lis for future subways- In the proposeo
poIa1I mans which involve the paralleling OF
stems and tortuous routes arises ta'eie
s'sI'" hitch the commissioners have already
begun 10 WoTr!- - i,,+erest
ybo live in The Bronx is the proDa-
~. that the Belmont-Ryan combination VIII
'ii', 80 take an interest in building thlro
HO Sou-n 3d-ave from the Harlem River 10
-, SQUARE The merger has killed the
.+;+,on oP existing lines. and, as the peopie
~ r,ro,x have TO come downtown, the cap
.,sr+s vii not be anxious to go to the expense
rerv track which would not increase rev
- From petitioning for the right 10 pullu
~ .t,r7 track The public is likely to see the
- reople opposing it until forced 10 us
-+-,o+ion bv public demand or the Haplu
Transit Commission ,.z ..
Iuyust. Belmont IS said to be disappointed d.
-, rgb- in which the public looks on ms lrac-
-, efforts When he departed from MS reg
BUSINESS to engage in subway construction ne
-,,.,,.7 that he was rendering the city service
"a .bo+ credit would be given him. lie REEFS
= that This was q deluston. and IN blddlhg on
r,uro subHays he is likely TO be governed
orel,, nv what ne believes will be Inc earning
.o,aci+v in the term of years between cons'ruc-
lin and the handing over Of the system 10 the
city.
There was much discussion yesterday among
traction people about the entry OF ex-CohToileF
crout into the subway construction field. IL is
admitted that he has formed combination Will
1obn P Mcdonald ard ]. Edward Swanstrom.
There are said 10 be two groups Of prospective
bidders on future subways outside of the Bel
nont-Ryan combination. but the one headed by
crout and Mcdonald is the only one which has
,oten tangible form So far there has not been
hint as to what banking houses or capitalists
IRE hack Of them Wall Street has the impress
zion that they are as yet without backing, but
that thew will go ahead and obtain a contract
snd tbe, ind hackers as Mcdonald did with
his original subway contract.
In speaking of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ttrom activity yesterday a traction manager
who has been frequently consulted in regard to
The recent merger said:
NJ croYt as controller did much 10 retard rapid
transit when he obtained control over the com
mission and undertook a solution of the complex
bi,, Y,i-fc1 mas resulted In a most confusing
assumed a knowledge OF traction and transportas
i'm matters No doubt his efforts were those Of
an honest earnest official. yet they caused the
RsriS Transit Commission 10 depart from tIte
prginal plan lay out routes and invite bids for
sincere applications OF corporatons were aecedea
a dams which would occasion the expenditure of
more than $3.50 $4,000 and create such competition
Of parallel roads would cast considerable doubt
On earning capacity -,
The public is DESTROYS of seeing new routes estab-
ished BY the commission ana work begnn- i ne
field IS open to al corners and It makes no differ
the Grout- MCDonald-Swanstrom combination does
The building Every subway as soon as IN opera
Se..s he bJii5i-g Of competitive lines The first
bidders must keep IN view the building operations
given to the paraleling of lines. II makes no
difference II the bonds offered have city or cor
remains VIII the operation justify construction?
J! looks though the commission would have 70
revise its plans be unable to interest capital in
Several tines August Belmont either by letter
or hearings, has stated that safe and real rapid
transit at high speed on tortuous routes II mad
Missile, and that the operation OF the present
system he desired mai the civ should own com
Prehensive plant, that would be safe against
dangerous competition in the future He cautioned
The city against making the present subway, in
which the city las vested interest. the weakest
link in a chain Of subway development. 1t was at
this time that Mr.. Grout excited the commission
with the idea Of competitive bids. and now he
cones forward bidder himself.
II is understood TO be the purpose or the Grout-
Mcdonald Swanstrom syndicate TO bid on a sub
way under 2d-ave. from the Battery to The Bronx
Immediately completion. such route would
ener into competition with the present subway and
The Sdave. surface and elevated roads. If the city
hul this sQbwaE II would enter directly mo coll-
petition with It's own property, now operated by the
PETERBOROUGH under lease 1t is doubtful how
hnancers would regard such construction
John B. McDoualds resignation from the In
terborough did not affect that corporation in the
building OF the present subway He obtained
great reputation in building this tunnel and
that will undoubtedly be his chief asset in bid
olrg FOR future subways.
Ex-ControIler Grout called on Mayor McClel-
Ian YESTERDAY. and it was learned that they
talked Of the building Of subways and Of COM
letitive bidding When the Mayor was asked