New-York tribune., 1907-01-24
SHONTS FOR INTER-MET.
SUCCEEDS Mr.. BELMONT.
To Taice Charge of Whole System of
City's Transportation.

Theodore P. Shonts. chairman Of the Isthmian
Canal Commission, was elected president of the
marlborough Metropolitan company yesterday,
succeeding August Belmont who was made
chairman OF the company's board of directors.
Al the same time John B. Mcdonald. the con-
tractor for the subway. elected vice-presi-
. dent Of the company, TO have charge of new
subway construction.
Mr. Shonts viii not retire from the canal COM
mission until March 4. after which date he will
give all his time to the Interborough- Metro
politan company it's president. The promo
lion Of Mr.. Mcdonald is said 10 be proof that he
and Mr.. Belmont are friends again. Mr.. Nc
Donald left the Interborough and went over TO
the Metropolitan soon after he finished the task
OF building the subway but the merging of the
two great corporations brought him and Mr..
Belmont together again The differences which
had caused their estrangement were not known
TO have been settled. however. until the action
% yesterday wss announced.
The bringing OF AIr. shonts into the corpora
zion which controls passenger traffic in Man
haitian and The Bronx. the elevation OF Mr.. Nc
Donald TO a high Office in the corporation and
the recent retention OF William Barclay Par
sons. the former chief engineer OF the Rapid
Transit Commission. who planned the subway.
the chief consulting engineer OF the corpora
ton are all intended, IL Is understood. TO
strengthen the 1nterbOrOugh-M Metropolitan in
bidding for new subways.
THE COAIPANY's STATEMENT
The following official announcement was made
by authority of the companys board of direct
yesterday afternoon:
The Interborough-Metropol Company has
secured. with the consent OF President Roose-
welt the services of Theodore p. Shonts. who
will come 20 New York and take the presidency
Of the Interbofough,A Metropolitan company, as
suIning charge of the whole subject or trans
pOrtatiOn covered and TO be covered by the
constituent companies OF the system.
This has been accomplished by Mr.. Belmont
because he felt that the subject was one to
which a man must give his entire time and un-
divided attention his large business interests
making this inpossible Mr. Belmont. how
ever win become the chairman Of the board
OF directors. and the company viii have the BEN
eft of his general supervision and cooperation.
This step was taken only after consultation
with the President, and securing his consent TO
the release of Mr. Shonts from his present Of
fee. Mr.. Shonts will. for the present give such
attention to the work as his time Will permit,
and after March 4. when the President will def
nitely release him, he VIII come 10 New YORK
and take up his active duties.
Mr. Belmont in like manner. and for the same
reason has taken the Craftsmanship of the board
of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company,
end Mr.. Bryan has been elected president. MI
Bryan and Mr.. Vreeland thus continuing TO be
the chief operating officers in charge OF the
two principal companies.
John b. Mcdonald has been elected vice-presi-
pany. TO have general supervision of the con-
struction Of new subways.
MI shoRts did not attend yesterdays meeting
OF the InterborOugh- Metropolitan directors He
started for Chicago In the afternoon. Before
leaving the city he said he considered that his
chief duty at Panama ended when he had so
organized the work there that nothing remained
TO be done except the execution OF a contract
with responsible contractors to build the canal.
He had accepted the duty Of clearing up the
numerous complications in which when he took
.harge the great canal work was involved. had
organized its executive, engineering and operat-
ing departments and had superintended the
plans for construction. Mr.. ShOnts further re-
marked that he never contemplated supervision
Of this construction: his work went only from
chaos 10 contract.
Mr. SHONTS on TRANSIT.
or the transportation situation I'm this city
Mr. ShOnts said he took deep interest in the
problem Of moving two millions of people a day.
IN practically two flights one up and one down
town, with speed and comfort. He said he
wanted 20 adapt better 20 the needs OF the great
travelling public the city's transportation ma
chimes the subway, the elevated lines and the
great web Of surface lines. now under one con-
troll.
IL Was said yesterday that the Interborough-
Metropolitan would be active bidders before the
Rapid Transit Commission for all new subway
routes planned. for the bridge loop and for
the Brooklyn Fourth avenue contract.