New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-24
SUBWAY BID DOUBTFUL
SHONTS NON-COMl[TTTAL.
Short Term of Proposed Contract
Causes Tnter.-Met. Hesitation.

Causes Tnter.-Met. Hesitation.
The directors OF tls Tnterborough- metropolitan
company divided in opinion the question Of
bidding for the new subways. President shonts
said yesterday that they had come to no decision.
and he did not know whether the company would
submit any bid not.
Bids for the proposed Seventh and Eighth avenue
and Lexington avenue subways to be opened
tomorrow by the Rapid Transit Commission-that
Sc. If there are any. So far known the Inter
borough Metropolitan interests alone sufficiently
interested 20 bid Independent bidding is not looked
for. President shonts was asked fatty yesterday
whether his company would bid
''Candidly. do not know he replied. and the
directors do not know. II is matter that is under
daily consideration by the directors. We had a
meeting to-day 20 discuss the matter. and shall
meet again tonight. tomorrow and perhaps to-
morrow night We want TO do the right thing. as
We feel that under moral obligation be-
cause Of our control Of the present subway. &c do
the right thing by the city. II do not put In
formal bid We shall make statement that We be-
heve will set us straight with the public
rs the company going 10 furnish its own money
n IL builds the subway"
That cannot say. The fact that the franchise
term has been cut down 10 twenty years does not
absolutely prohibit a bidder from furnishing his
own money. Naturally. where the contract i'm
poses serious costly disabilities the bidder will
ask more for his work. It is very much the same
as n with the Panama Canal contract The
conservative bidder took into consideration per
hHps dozen contingencies which might enter into
the construction work He had 10 make allow
anoe for all OF the twelve II by good fortune six
o. these contingencies never entered into the con-
etructon at ALL then the contractor would be just
that much ahead. But the contingencies mus; he
guarded against. and under the Elsberg law what
ever new conditions imposed vii; he taken into
consideration by any bidder in figuring on the cost
OF the work.
The reasonable assumption is that the Inter
borough Metropolitan company, after making
Tvry face some Of the rigorous conditions IN
tie contract viii bid for the subways so as
10 cnch its hold on the subway system OF the
city. Cutting down the franchise term 10 twenty
years with a possible renewal Of enty years. is
distasteful TO the Interborough people. and The
contract ties the company hard and fast the
matter of incidental damage 10 property owners
on account Of construction A refusal 10 bid might
bring about easier conditions but il also might
suit in the city going 10 the Legislature at
and getting the necessary authority build and
operate a subway % its The pros and cons
Of the problem are keeping the PETERBOROUGH peo-
pie up nights.
one Of the features Of the new contract not at
al TO the liking Of the Interborough is the one for
longer platforms, so as to permit the running OF
ten-car trains. II the marlborough people build
the new subway they would like have the plat
forms uniform with the present ones. Ten-car
trains cannot be loaded in the present subway An
other distasteful feature OF the new contract is
this:
The contractor shall obey any order Of the Ichefl
engineer TO support secure adjacent property or
Rny surface structure thereon: but The con
tractor shall not be relieved responsibility either
Dy conIllace Win any such order or by failure
or omission Of the engineer give any such order
or to give notice Of any danger.
And again:
II is the intent Of this agreement that in addi-
ton 10 ineennifying the city against claims for
damages, the contractor shall also be liable 10 the
owners Of adjacent abuttinE property or of
buildings structures thereon and to ali tenants
OF or persons in such buildings structures, for
al physical injury TO property or person which
even in cases where such owners tenants or other
persons have no legal claim against the city for
such injuries
These clduses and others like them are in the
oontraety ana IRE likely prove expensive to the
builder -ef-the next subway, unlocked for acct
dents migm cause loss Of hundreds of thousands
OF dollars The city is to pay the damages for the
caving in Of Park avenue, but under the terms OF
the new contract the contractor would be bound
70 indemnify the city for such damages
Moreover. the price labor and interest on bonds
are higher than they were in 1901 and altogether
u looks as II the Interborough If il bids al all for
The new subway tomorrow, will name such stiff
hgure that the Rapid Transit Commission will
hesitate about closing the deal.
me Board OF Aldermen. motion of Alderman
Peters, passed a resolution yesterday recommend
ang 10 the Rapid Transit Commissioners and the
Board OF Estimate that in the letting of contracts
Sor the proposed new subways all propositions save
shose made for construction alone be rejected 81
that the city may lease the subways after their
completion, when their true value is known or CD
crate the subways itself il has the power 10 do
slndeF the provisions OF the Esberg law.