New-York tribune., 1908-05-27
MAY RIVAL B. K. I.
INTERBOROUGH'S OFFER.
Willing to Build Subzuay in Brook-
Inn and GiUe FiUe-Cent Fare.

Commission in awarding the contracts for the
six sections of the Fourth avenue (Brooklyn)
subway, the Interborough Rapid Transit COM
pany lost no time in forwarding to the cornnls-
sion an offer which may have a most important
bearing on the advancement of the subway The
last of the six contracts, that for Section L.
was awarded on Monday morning to James r.
Graham Before the contracts were sent yes
terday to the Board of Estimate and Apportlon-
ment the commission received from the inter-
borough Rapid Transit Company an important
offer. The Interborough showed Willingness
to extend it's traffic operations in Brooklyn anu
to contest for share of the passenger traffic
with the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company
Another surprise was sprung yesterday when
it was announced that the Brooklyn Rapid Tran
sit Company would make no proposal about op-
Grating the subway loop now under construction
The offer of the Interborough, as presented TO
the commission at its regular meeting yesterday
Is to build a subway from the Brooklyn ter
minal of the Manhattan Bridge along F1atbusn
avenue to its junction with Fulton street. Where
it would connect with the existing Brooklyn
subway, for the Of S1.2Oo,OOo. ana theI
lease it from the city. By this arrangement
trains could be run from the present terminal
Of the Brooklyn subway at Atlantic and Fiat
bush avenues the elevated tracks 10 De
| erected on Manhattan Bridge to the terminal of
| where the Interborough offers to transfer pas
sengers to any point any of the elevated
! roads for a single fare Of five cents
The offer undertakes the construction OF a
| double track subway from the present subway
| at Flatbush avenue and Fulton street 10 'no
| bridge plaza between Nassau and Sands streets
| whence the trains would be carried over 'he
! Manhattan Bridge to the Manhattan terminal
| From the junction of Flatbush avenue and ul-
| ton street the Interborough proposes TO use the
| two outer tracks of the present subway, thus
| leaving only the section from that point 10 tne
| terminal to be completed. The route outlined
in the offer includes that Of the first section OF
the Fourth avenue subway from Nassau street
| IN WIourhby street. which was awarded on
| Monday TO James P. Graham. and a considerable
part of the route of the second section from
! willoughby street to Ashland Place MI Ira-
| ham. who got the contract for the nrs' sectlon
despite his unwillingness to take 1t. mace q oio
| of 81 121 800 while William Bradley, the sue
| cessfnI contractor for the second section, re-
cefved the contract at a little under So'oooUoo.
ADVANTAGE TO BROOKLYNITEs.
! In making it's offer. the 1nterooroush company
.,,nbaszes the advantage that the building OF
| s1ch a subway would be TO Brooklyn1tes IN saN :
,ng time to Canal street and the Bowery and
+he bane6o;aJ effect it would have in divertins
/
| +re7c from the East River tunnel route ana IN
| a,,.,,i,g the congestion at Brooklyn Bridge IN
! IT'S letter to the commission the company says
! The nresent running time from the Atlantic
| avenue terminal to Canal street by way Oh Ine i
| existing subway through Bowling Gfeeh' Is
| .hir.aaS and one-half minutes; by the proposed
| ronte over the Manhattan Bridge the tllhe oe
| tween the terminal and the CandI SUI .I eot 80 =
| of the Third avenue Elevated fSail"aS "0utu
| ~, ayceed seven and one-haf minutes
| As showing the further advantage to be gained
| -. prooLlvnites attention is drawn to the in
| creased convenience that would be afordeo II
| thew could make a transfer to the elevated ROAD
| and reach with considerable saving OF tlne their
| n1aces of business the lower East Side beio"
| chatham Square. In this particular the Inter
| borough does not seem to have been unrninolui
| Of the increase of incor.e which would result
| from, the Increased traffic below that point.
Chairman Wilcox. when seen yesterday after
| noon said that the commission had no state
ment to make in regard to the proposition Of the
! Interborough He said that the contracts as
| awarded for the Fourth avenue subway had
| been forwarded to the Board Of Estimate and
Apportionment, and that rapid transit In Brook
| lyn was dependent upon the attitude that body
would take in regard to the construction Of the
new subway
The Interborough's offer, it is generally sup
posed, is not looked upon with the greatest favor
| by the commission. In view OF the lower sum
that would be required to make the addition to
! the subway, it Is questionable what action the
| Board Of Estimate and Apportionment will take
| on the contracts for the Fourth avenue subway.
METZ OPPOSED TO MONOPOLY.
| Controller Metz said yesterday that he was
| opposed to giving any company monopoly of
transit facilities the Manhattan Bridge
| This offer, however. gives the Mayor and the
| Controller weapon with which to make further
| opposition to the building of the Fourth avenue
| subway but should the rest of their colea CUES
vote in favor of the appropriation of the money
| necessary to build the new route at the meet
| ing of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment
| the Mayor and the Controller will be helpless to
| undo the work OF the Public Service Commission
| In commenting on the offer of the INTERIOR
| ough company. Borough President Coler said
| yesterday: This is simply the Controller $
proposition with which he endeavored to kill
the Fourth avenue subway, end I sure it
will have no recognition from the Public Ser
| vice Commission Mr.. Coler said the offer
could be traced to the company's disappoint-
nnent at the vetoing of the Travis Robinson bill
| by Governor Hughes.
Mr.. Coler still believes in the necessity of con-
! structing the Broadway Lafayette avenue sub
way IN Brooklyn, and agrees with Commissioner
| Bassett and Mr.. McCarroll to the necessity of
| completing the Brooklyn section of the loop.
| which will make direct communication between
| the Brooklyn and Williamsburg bridges inde-
| pendent OF the action Of the Brooklyn Rapid
| Transit Company
B. r. T. WON'T MAKE PROPOSAL.
Commissioners Bassett and McCarroI acting
subcommittee gave an unpleasant shock.