New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-16
TO ACCEPT SUBWAYBLDS
FOR LEYINGTON-4VE LINE
Belmont Viii Probably Bald Large
Traffic Carrier.

The committee on plans and contracts of the
Rapid Transit Commission yesterday decided to
recommend TO the board at its meeting to-mor-
row the immediate advertising for proposals for
q subway for the Lexington avenue route The
plans and specifications are ready for bidders
II looks if the Belmont interests would
he the lowest responsible bidder. The Lexing-
ton avenue subway would supplement the pres
ent subway as & traffic carrier. 1t is known
that President Belmont wants TO build it. Next
10 the present subway it doubtless will prove to
be the largest traffic carrier in the city, as IL
VIII connect the financial district with both the
Pennsylvania and Grand Central stations, and
run under Broadway from 42d street TO City
Hall Park.
As originally laid down. the Lexington ave.
nue. division provides for four tracks. Some
notifications may have been made in the plans.
hut Substantially II is believed 10 be as follows
Route No. kRoute No s is for four-track sub
ington avenue. from 18th street TO 42d street
Route No, shall include the following. sections.
A four track extension through private
and I'D street to present subway in Park
: B-A four track subway north of l27th street
through Lexington avenue 10 129th street and
through private property and under the Harlem EN-
avenue and Morris avenue. and private property
Route 40 5 shall be made IN combination With
the following sections: G and n.
through lexington avenue to both street through
private property; thence under the Harlem River
I37th street thence loop through Third avenue.
Morris aTenne 70 Lowell street and pIiDsT@ prop
to Third avenue: thence south on Third avenue 10
d Beginning at 42d street and Lexington ay g.s
HTe fbence easterI on gsh Street one took to
Third avenue, and westerly two tracks 10 rlttl ave-
55tt street. Also two-tracG subway through Lex
ngton avenue from $etl street to Both street nence
vest 10 Fifth Also 36th and 18th streets
to Seventh aven1le These tracks 10 run south on
Seventh avenue TO the Pennsylyania Railroad "a
avenue TO 35th street four-trsck subway south
h0gsh Fa IEfoge 3 Union square
continuing through Broadway TO Chamoers stree,
Sbam6ers Street with a two-track subway south
an TO 5fop to O. Chnr street
through Church street 70 Greenwich street through
Greenwich street TO a terminal station al Battery
Route No "a crSss0gn T9-'r ark, sullivan {Ho
Twelfth Avenue to terminus OF the Backwels
Island Bridge, thence crossing bridge 10 Borough
8 A crosstown subway on 94th street. from
Route No. "A crosstown subway from West sd
Route No S-A crosstown two-track subway on
18th street. from Eleventh avenue 10 point be-
connect with tunnel under the East River TO the
Borough OF Brooklyn
The estimated cost Of the proposed system is
The contract will be framed under the pro-
visions Of the Elsberg Law. which limits lease
10 twenty years with renewal Of twenty years
after a readjustnlent of the terms Some OF the
other provisions of the Esberg law Yearly
rental 10 he paid: city to have right 10 buy
equipment the expiration Of any period
should it not desire 10 renew the contract; city
20 have first lien upon rolling stock and equip
ment. and 10 have the right TO foreclose at any
time IL operating company fails to live TO the
terms Of the franchise.
The Belmont interests own a power house
which. with comparatively little expense, can
furnish power for another subway. Another
bidder will have TO raise about S10,000.O00 with
which 10 build new power plant. This is the
main reason for the belief in the financial dis
trct that the Belmont interests viii be the
cessful bidder.
The advertising OF the contract viii take three
weeks. il is likely that there VIII be alternative
bids. one covering the entire route given. and
the other providing for a subway from 42d street
nOTthWard only. AS operating proposition
the entire route * urusually. attractive. as the
rad would undoubtedly carry traffic 10 the limit
Of its capacity the greater part Of the twenty
four hours. For that reason II is believed in
Wall Street that the Belmont interests Will try
The experiment Of a short term lease rather than
Jet rival operate over most advantageous
route.
M. Rice. chief engineer OF the Rapid Transit
Commission said yesterday that he did not
agree with the report of the commission. when
told in The Tribune yesterday. stated that
the proposed William street subway loop would
endanger property owners because the soil in
The street is composed of quicksand. The only
objections TO this route came from the property
owners near the end Of the route Mr.. Rice
said this difficulty could be overcome by elimi
mating that part or the route. The Rapid
Transit Commission could easily remove the
difficulty by connecting the subway loop pan
with either the BeelIman street or Maiden Lane