New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-02
TO FIGHT P. R. R. PLAN.
OBJECT TO OPEN CUT.
Property O5cnerS Arc Not United
.Against Ercaration. HOzcercr.

While the expected opposition To the ditchlng
Of portions of West SD and SD streets by the
Pennsylvania Railroad for its crosstown tunnel
became manifest yesterday it was far from
unanimous. As a rule, those VINO owned or con-
troed the older buildings, which would be af-
fected, were more or less IN favor Of t-oue or
two Of them emphatlcally-whi those control
ling modern buildings and hotels We're greatly
opposed to it. Many representatives Of the af-
fected interests, however are "on the fence"
and are waiting the reports of specially engaged
engineers before taking a decided stand one
way another
The opponents of the contractors who do not
desire to have the streets closed for nearly
year base their opposition not only on the loss
of business and the Inconvenience which would
result, but the danger from weakened foun-
dations. Those in favor Of the ditching believe
that the tunnelling process would be equally un-
satisfactory Albert =. Ashforth, who controls
practically every building on the south side Of
33d street, between Fifth avenue and Broadway
comprising the John Jacob Astor estate, summed
up the attitude Of this faction yesterday. when
he declared that loss Of business from ditching
was much more TO be desired than loss Of life
from tunnelliug.
Consultations between those with property
other interests in the affected districts hayc
been frequent recently. One yesterday was held
at the WaiQOit, ana George & tSOldt. several
engineers and others concerned IN tho project
discussed the case. Mr.. Boldt was not willing
last night 10 say at what conclusion he had
arrived. but It is practically certain that he viii
firmly oppose any cut and cover" project.
So far the conferences have al been OF an in
formal character. but il is expected that before
the Rapid Transit Commissioners meet on
Thursday formal meeting OF those opposed TO
ditching in any form VIII be called to consider
means to block the scheme Several property
owners declared yesterday that they would Ger
tainly seek to enjoiH the railroad and the con-
tractors from pursuing that method If the Rapid
Transit Commissioners granted the permissiou
The contracting firm building the tunnels is
the United Engineering and Contracting Com.
pany and the Pennsylvania Railroad is said to
have received assurances that the application
made az the last meeting will he considered next
Thursday. II said further that while the
Pennsylvania had converted certain interests TO
lis side. II far from certain that its request
would bs granted If not, the officials say
long delay III tie completion of the work is In
evitabe. They are not prepared to say how long
1t will be.
The contractors wish to open 32d and 33d
streets at four points the list of which was
printed in The Tribune OF yesterday. An official
OF the contracting firm said yesterday that the
'cut-and-cover excavations would not amount
more than four hundred feet altogether. This
distance represents about one-slxth Of the total
work still to be finished between Fifth and Sew
enth avenues in both cross streets.
STATEMENT BY CONTRACTOR.
The contractor issued explanatory state
ment yesterday morning, which follows in part:
The chief reason for asking permission TO do
the work from the surface under suitable tra(-
nc roadway pavement is that by this method tho
adjoining property can be best protected against
the possibility Of damage. In this way the
building foundations may be carried down as the
excavation is deepened, until solid bedrock
reached Many Of the buildings and all Of :he
important ones are bedrock and in
no way affected. It is the lighter buildings that
the contractor offers to strengthen. number
of the most prominent owners along the streets
have readily agreed to the plan as outlined to
them and the 10 be followed
The contractors had. four engineers examine
the ground before making their application
Tbev all reported that the company's plan to
.,orlx from the surface was the most practicable
ore and to the best interests of the property
owners along the route. These engineers wtge
exrridge Commissioner Gustav Lindenthal
Charles Sooysmith, Robert A. Shailer and How
ard A Carsen, of the Boston Transit Comms-
sion.
The work from the surface, the engineers say,
MIL allow the foundations OF the buildings not
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