New-York tribune., 1909-06-20
lNTERBOROUGH ROUSED
BUSY ON ITS PLAN.
BradIey-Gafney-Steers Proposal
PIeascs MCCGrOU and Met2.

The offer Of the Bradley Ga rnev-Steers company
to build new and extensive subway system, in
Guiding the Broadwav-LeXington avenue and the
Iafay cite avenue Broadway routes and TO operate
these lines with the Fourth avenue route and the
Canal street and bridge loon sections for a single
fveCent fare stirred up the directors Of the Inter
borough Rapid Transit Company yesterday. and a
number of conferences We're held with view TO
rushing the work on the Interborough's amended
proposal Indications now are that the INTERIOR
ough'S new plan will be placed before the Public
Service Commission early this week. On the au-
thorv Of director II can be stated that it will in
volve the expenditure of nearly s15o,00o,0oo
Interborough officials refused yesterday 10 com
ment the Bradey-Gaffney-Steer plan but 1t
was studied with great care at the Interborough
Offices. The InterbOrough wants the Broadway
Lexington route as an extension 70 the pres
ent city subway. and VIII not give it up to rival
company without fight. In bidding on this line
It will have one great advantage, in that II can
offer transfers TO the present subway
William r. Wilcox chairman of the Public Ser
vice Commission was not at his Office yesterday,
but Commissioner McCarroll. acting chairman
discussed the Bradley GaffneySteers plan freely He
seemed to be favorahly impressed with the terms
He said the commission would try 10 pass on the
plan and get it before the Board Of Estimate and
Apportionuent before it adjourned for the summer
on July , He said he believed the men back Of
the new plan were strong financially, and denied
that the New York New Haven & Hartford Rail-
road Company WIS interested 50 far the com
mission knew.
COMMISSIONER MCARRoLLs VIEWS.
There are several different ways Of construction
open under the present rapid transit law. said Mr.
McCarrou The commission may and can consent
10 alternatives For instance there is the possibility
Of the construction by private capital under the
indeterminate franchise. or the route may be con
structed at the citys expense This last suggestion
is capable also of another alternative, and that is
that a part Of one route could he constructed
partly by the city direct by bond issue and partly
by assessment on aburting property
The assessment theory and the theory Of con
struction direct would work out in this instance in
this fashion: In the sections already built up.
which would not be so greatly benefited by sub
way. the construction work would be done by the
city as a whole; the other hand. districts less
improved. where a great benefit would accrue from
subway. and property values would increase, l.
would he distinctly proper thing TO construct by
assessment levy the property 20 he benefited.
The commission believes the assessment plan /
perfectly feasible. having in mind the great advance
in property values the result Of the construction
Of the present subway and has already received |
one application TO build a subway by assessment on /
property benefited from residents along Eastern .
Parkway. Brooklyn, and neighborirE sections
"One Of its advantages is that it takes care OF /
Brooklyn in a comprehensive way The Bronx also /
is taken care Of and. he readily seen, tri-
borough plan must be advantageous 70 the city. I .
call this very distinctly comprehensive plan. Now.
II We can suggest 10 the Board of Estimate and .
get favorable action by that body before the sum
ner on the route and plans for construction, SO .
that we can work during the summer months .
the detailed plans. when the Board of Estimate .
conveues i'm the autumn it viii he possible either
then or shortly thereafter TO submit form of con
tract That should give results speedily and per-
nit us to see ground broken at no distant date"
LOOKS GOOD To METZ
THE BradIey-Gaffney-S Steers proposition looks
good to me-" said Controller Metz yesterday. If /
ba1 n adv hat va r011iu 7 GIId
not have made plans for trip on July 13. How
ever. that will stand I'm the way of proper
consideration Of the offer. Nv deputy will act for
me and If one deputy does not vote properly I'll
see that another one does The Broadway-La-
favette loop section is the key to the subway
situation in Brooklyn. and if the people will do
as they say do not see why the city cannot work
with them
mo one knows Vet what the Court Of Ap-
rcals will hand down the debt limit action
eyrcct that We shall get the decision the last
week in June and I apprehend that General Tracy
will he sustained i'm some respects. hardly think
he will he sustained the contract liability queS-
tion II he is then in the interest Of sound bust
ness practice We should have a new law making
contract liability charge against the debt limit
If Justice Inrraham's opinion with reference to
deductions in the value of special franchises Is
sustained then it seems to he certain that We
shall lose about 100000 of our supposed debt
margin. against which we have already issued
bonds Even at that we still within the debt
limit and the city will have considerable leeway
for subway purposes
THE new bidders seem irdisposed to build the
Fourth avenue subway The fact that the Public
Service Commission has awarded a contract for
that system does not prevent the people from
bidding for IT, The contract is not valid until it is
certified by the Finance Department. 1t can be
readvertised without difficulty. and the Public Ser
vice Commission give the job to the most ad-
bidder. 1t to that the
neopIe do not that system because OF the
uncertainty Of the cost Of acquiring the easements
This will be a troublesome factor in the situation
until the city obtains exact knowledge to what
the easements are going to cost
LAS to the financial responsibility Of the new bid
7ers we can all wait for that 1t is to be assumed
that they will not jump into such a vast undertak-
Ing without the right kind of backing. Depositing
a sufficient bond will dispose Of that point"