New-York tribune., 1909-05-28
,ALLPLANNINGS GSUBWAYS
r. S. C.. AWAITING OFFERS.
Chairman WMcor Says Ne1o Lac
WM Not Preuent Building by City.

rrivate capital and by assessment Of property
I'VE are ready tc act" said William r Wilcox
chairman Of the Public Service Commission
making use OF the phrase recently employed by
the Interborough Rapid Transit Company in its
extensive advertising campaign in the local
newspapers THE commission has the power
now, and what It wants propositions from
subway builders. big and little
The commission received no amended p0opo-
Eitions yesterday from the Interborough, the
Bradley -Gaffney-Steers Company. the moving
platform syndicate the Wilgus freight and
interterminal belt line people. but In reply to
the commissions letter urging prompt action
all the companies mentioned sent word that no
time would be lost in submitting new PROPOSE
fions TO the service board.
E W. Winter president of the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company. called on Chairman Wilcox
in person and discussed the development Of his
Eystern. but nothing definite was proposed II
IS understood that the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company will soon submit plans for extensive
improvements and developments calling for the
expenditure Of at least S2OO00,000
Theodore P. Shonts, president OF the Inter
borough metropolitan company, had no plans TO
announce but il was intmated that the Inter
borough would present plan TO the Board OF
Estimate and Apportionment next week Ihls
new plan is understood 70 be the most comPre-
hensive rapid transit development scheme ever
outlined for New York City. Edwin Ha"IeE'
who recently became a director OF the INTERIOR
ougl-Metropoltan company is understood 10
tave had a hand in drafting the plan. which
will call for the expenditure of at least S1oo'-
0Oo noo The directors Of the Interborough RAPID
Transit Company are scheduled TO hold spe-
cial meeting next Wednesday
arthur J. Baldwin counsel for the Bradley
CaTney Steers Company. which has put III q
bid to the commission TO build a subway from
Brooklyn Bridge 70 The Bronx by way OF Lex
ington avenue. said that his clients would take
a few days 10 study the provisions OF the
Travis Robinson law and would then SEND an
amended proposition TO the commission.
I'VE are anxious to build said Mr. Baldwin.
''we feel that our proposition conforms entlrely
10 the new law and that the II per cent en-
gineering profit which ask is not exorbitant-
We have decided tc meet the suggestion OF the
commission and make southern terminus
the Battery instead of the bridge loop subway
The question Of the northern terminus will
have TO be taken up with the commission. We
intend TO stick as closely possible to the
Broadway-Lexington avenue subway route, as
laid out by the commission
William ] Wigus. president of the Amster-
dam Corporation which wants TO build an inter
terminal belt line and freight subway along the
waterfront Of lower Manhattan. with connecting
crosstovn subways in 59th street and saith
street SAID:
Most assuredly intend 10 go ahead We
are making all our plans. and the Public Ser
vice Commission will hear from US again in a
few days"
Max E. Schmidt president of the Continuous
Transit Securities Company. which recently pre-
sented plan to the commission for eight NOV
ing platform subway routes. said:
TT does not seem expedient at the present
time TO build the eight moving platform routes
at first proposed Within few days shall
send TO the commission a proposition for a
moving platform. built in the arcade form. TO
extend under Broadway from Union Square TO
Times Square. I viii offer 10 the commission
at the same time taeo other routes. Each route
viii cost S100o0,000 10 build. We bust
ness"
Chairman Wilcox Of the Public Service Com
mission said he wanted j: understood that the
new law would lot in any way interfere with
the building OF future subways by the city, if
the municipal authorities desired. In a
statement he said:
The Travis-Robinson law in way alters
the provisions OF the Flsberg law for The CON
struction Of subWays by the city. II simply
anplifies that law by providing another method
by which sUbWays may be constructed If for any
reason the city finds itself unable build with
its own money. Under the law, the com
mission and the Board Of Estimate are en-
powered 10 accept propositions for the building
Of subWays by private capital and also for de-
fraying the cost Of new subways by assessments
upon the property benefited.
The attitude Of the Board of Estimate has
been that the city is close 10 the debt limit
that it is financially unable TO undertake its
own account the building Of additional rapid
transit lines. The injunction restraining the
Board Of Estimate from appropriating money to
build the Fourth avenue subway in Brooklyn is
still in force awaiting a determination by the
Court OF Appeals of the question OF debt limit
When told that Controller Metz had recently
expressed preference for the construction Of
the Broadway Lafayette avenue subway route
IN Brooklyn. Chairman Wilcox said:
t'The commission has begun the preparation
OF plans for the Broadway Lafayette subway in
Brooklyn. At recent meeting Of the Board Of
Estimate and Apportionment. however the Con-
trouer introduced resolution TO the effect that
subway construction should not be begun in
those streets where easements along the route
fhad not first been acquired by the city.
"If this policy should be adopted by the Board /
Of Estimate and Apportionment, it would be |
fsome time before any contracts for subways in |
the streets Of Brooklyn could be awarded. for /
the reason that practically all OF the streets in /
that borough are in the same category as is |
Fourth avenue. so far as easements in the !
streets are concerned"
Mayor Mcclellan said yesterday that he was 4
En favor OF taking advantage Of the assessment /
clause in the Travis Robinson bill and building
the Fourth avenue. Brooklyn. subway without /
further delay. provided the people want it.
Il don't why shouldn't build the Fourth |
avenue subway. now that the law says it can
be done by assessing the cost on the property /
most bepefted." said the Mayor. Z believe that
fhe enhancement in the values along the line OF |
the Fourth avenue route would warrant the
assessment OF the cost on those most benefited |
II the people benefited willing to pay the /
cost OF constructing the subways I don't see /