New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-26
SHONTS STILL HOPEFUL
EXPLAINS BID FAILURE.
Says Cost Under Ne10 Terms Would
Double That of old Subway.

There were no BIDS yesterday for new sub
ways. Theodore p. shonts. chairman OF the ex-
ecutive committee of the InterborOugh Rapid
Transit Company told the Rapid Transit Com
mission that a new subway up Lexington ave-
nue.. from 42d street and south from 42d street
10 the Battery would cost SIS. 100000. includ-
Ing tho cost OF easements terminals. interest
during construction and equipment.
Mr.. shonts said that the Interborough peo-
pie would build subway on the lines laid down
by the contract under certain conditions They
VIII build It at cost, the city 10 furnish the
money and the city TO pay the interest on what
ever the equipment may cost
Mr.. Shonts said that the present subway, as
It stands to-day. cost S7l.OOOOOO. Last year. the
subway earned between and per cent
Mr.. 6honts declared that under existing con-
citions. with the Of capital and labor
higher. and with more onerous conditions i'm
posed by the Elsberg law and by the proposed
contract. the new subway would cost from 10
% % per cent more than the first one, and
would not pay the interest the bonds.
II became apparent yesterday that William
Barclay Parsons. chief engineer OF the Inter
borough company, does not relish the idea OF
building subways under the direction OF his
former subordinate George S. Rice. Chairman
ShontE said that the double decked Lexington
avenue plan was an operating monstrosity'
and intimated that he would have none Of II.
Because OF failure 10 get bidder the Rapid
Transit Commission viii have 10 readvertise
the contract. and perhaps modify IT, Chairman
shonts said that he hoped still TO see the city
and the Interborough people sit down together
and agree on the main features Of tunnel that
could be built and operated He said that he
and his company felt under moral obligations
10 provide additional transit facilities but that
under the terms proposed II was a financial I'M
possibility
In executive session the Rapid Transit Com
mission late yesterday afternoon requested its
counsel. George L. Rives TO prepare a state
Enent setting forth the variations Of the first
subway contract as compared with the one
covering the Seventh and Eighth avenue and
Lexington avenue propositions This deadly
parallel" viii be considered next week
Chairman Shonts's letter to the Rapid Transit
Commission is as follows:
Ever since the opening Of the existing subway
Als company has hoped that II would have an op-
rapid transit subways by continuing the East side
!ine north Of f2d street 10 The Bronx and by con-
me Battery so thar there would be as originally
planned by your board. two complete longitudinal
rapid transit lines connected by a crosstoUrn line
under 42d street The increasing congestion in the
the rush hours has emphasized the need of these
aootuonal lines, and this company had fully in
tended 10 submit bid for their construction and
operation which IL was hoped would be acceptab
20 your board.
WORK A FINANCIAL IdPossIBILTTY.
1t is, therefore. with great regret that have
now 10 advise you that after careful study By our
engineers and officers OF the plans ard speci1ca-
lions Tor the new subways and the proposed form
the directors company have been forced To-
SonSLuee mar the building OF the proposed four
rack oouDle dech Lexington avenue subway north
OF Nd street and the four track West Side subway
IN connection with the existing subway. under The
is,t i eg go1r proposed contract and the
There are several reasons for this conclusion In
nitted herewith, or e5p = 5d, S epoi5 SUP
ing William Barclay Parsons and John B. Nc
Donald, agree in the conclusions that the proposed
extensions exclusive OF pipe gaeries). built IN
conformity WITH the plans and specifications OF
your commission, would under existing conditions
cost eneluding an allowance for easements and in
So 9uGlng eons'ruciion not less than 100000
EneHt including tracks rolling stock. power plant
less than 100000 making tie aggregates cost Of
building and equpping about thirty-nine miles sin
SnOsOo0 for building and eaunnin The ~ i I9%ut
rapid transit lines dncluding the extension to the
BatterE). comprising about sfxty-three miles Of
single track
This increase IN is due partly TO the require
Gents OF the present Law, the increase the price
miles s s sa t n the s't 1 taf aPq ns
= on an elevated structure while eli the new lines
sIe enoeEgrouno but the increase IN cost is chiefly
que 10 onerous provisions not required by the ex-
plans ard specifications which provide: First for
unnecessary increase OF cost OF construction: sec
OF the subway; third. for the purchase OF private
property for station entrances. fourth for great
y Increased responsibility for damages, and NTH
for an Increase IN the diameter Of the tUnnels-an
tncrease which viii be OF no value for extensions
20 the existing subway system.
Ihe fact that the express and local tracks on
Lexington avenue upon different levels also
adds materially 10 the cost The result Is that our
? engineers estimate that the OF the new sub
ways fully equipped will be the rate OF So 80 90
q mile OF single track compared with the cost
of sl,l60,O0 a mile for the existing rapid transit
lines an increase OF about 100 per cent. This est-
mate s more than substantiated by the contract
recently let for the construction OF the Manhattan