New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-08
MERCHANTS UP In ARMS
FIGHT SUBWAY PLAN.
Afdarit Says 1t Is Not Necessary
to Tear Up Broad1cay.

The Broadway and Fifth avenue merchants who
object to the tearing up of Broadway and Fifth
avenue in the building of the proposed Lexington
avenue subway yesterday, through their counsel,
George Zabriskie, submitted affidavit by Edwin
s. Jarrett expert alleging that all Of the work
on the subway be done by the deep tunnel
method without disturbance of the surface.
The merchants who have taken up the fight
against the "cut-and-cover' method and conse-
quent blocking of traffic, include w. & J. Sloane,
Of No SS4 Broadway; Lord & Taylor, OF No. 9Ol
Broadway B. Altman Co., of Fifth avenue and
S4th street; Aitken. Son & Co, of No S73 Broad
way; Park & Tilford. of Broadway and 21st street;
Brooks Brothers. of No. S3S Broadway: A A. Van
tine & Co. of No. S79 Broadway; Second National
Bank, Of No. 1870 Fifth avenue; Lincoln Trust Com
pany, of No. 20S Fifth avenue; George c.. Boldt,
of the Waidorf-Astorla Hotel; Theodore B. Starr.
of No. 200 Fifth avenue. and the Gorham Company,
of Fifth avenue and Seth street
The room was full of protestants yesterday when
the Rapid Transit Commission began the public
hearing on the form of the proposed contract for
the Lexington avenue line. Mr.. Zabriskie was the
first speaker. He said that the merchants along the
route desired the tunnel built by the tunnel method
and in no other way. He called attention to the
great damage done TO The merchants IN AID street
when the first subway built, and declared that
many Of the merchants there had been ruined by
the blockade Of the street. He presented petit
ton containing the OF four hundred mer-
hants, asking the board TO do the work by the
tunnel method which Mr.. Zabrislde asserted was
no more costly than the other method.
MI Jarrett, who is a partner IN the Foundation
Company which makes speciality Of sub-surface
work, says, in part, IN his affidavit;
There are no conditions. physical mechanical or
otherwise, which would prevent the construction OF
by means Of a deep tunnel upon a level which
would bring the TOP of the tunnel at the fuTthest
surface It is perfectly possible 10 construct the
PROPOSED underground r9HI3su IN tat s iISIe5.
Inc ola water courses ana me Gepos!s % eTaI me ne
teTial which are 70 be found adjacent to the PRO-
sng ne OF {e IL possihe that in sons
places water or soft material VIII be found to some
extent in the Of the rock. or IN pockets even
win present no serious dflcuty In the way Of drv
ing such tunnel as am speaking Gf II d is ei{ TREY
tically employed engineering methods TO deal with
a shaft will be sunk at some point on the line
between Fifth avenue at S5th or S6th street and
heSassaTg sVg snS Shafts Tor this portion Of
route at oIheP pages a1 IN scnaTng to this
method would not cost more than CONSTRUCTION in
such indicated and nerm!tted by the proposed
form OF contract.
Following Mt. Jarretts statement comes
n sworn statement from Edwin Hatch. jr-. Of Lord
& TayIors, detailing the serious situation that
would confront the Broadway merchants II cut
and-cover' methods were used Fire risks, because
Of torn up streets also pointed out. Similar
andavits are appended signed by J. Edgar Leay-
/ craft. r. T. McCusty Of the real estate hrIn OF
Charles II Easton s Co, and by William T.
lines, Of the real estate firm Of lines & Center.
J. Hampden Dougherty. representing the Mer-
chants Association. opposed the open cut method
allowable under the proposed contract, and asked
for a provision in the contract which would protect
property owners along the line from loss directly
or indirectly account Of the construction work
II W. Jessup, representing AitNn * Co. and
! other merchants. also asked for provision thar
would insure the merchants along the route from
dlRproportionate loss.
T. W. ITiurichs, representing tho Citizens Union
opposed the proposed loop feature at A5d street
and Lexington avenue. and said that tho people
demanded greater Caudor and opcnncss on the part
OF the Rapid Transit Commission,
Nicholas OCOun0g. representing the Borough
President Of Manhattan. asked that the contract
throw greater restrictions around the granting or
permits for opening street surfaces.
H. G.. Wright, OF the CITY Club. had tin with
Controller Metz. who asked him II b" did not think
/ the Rapid Transit Commission possessed sound
"Why d!d you put that loop feature In the con-
tTact2'' asked Mr. Wright, referring 70 tho pro-
. posed connection AT 43d street and Park avenue.
/ der" said the Controller.
THAT IS why demonstrate against the form
! Of contract" retoTted Mr.. Wright.
Or. George l. Shearer, O! the American Tract
Society. spoke for tho Citizens East Side Assoca-
/ ton.
A. \ Gardiner Of the Iuterborough company.
called attention to certain manifest incOnRruttes
IN the contract and asked for alterations He IN
terested tho board by reason Of the fact that his
company undoubtedly intends 20 bid FOR tho Lex
| ingtOn avenue contract
No action taken. The commission probably
its next meeting authorize the advertising for pro-
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